Restaurant Roundtable

Chef & Owner, Chapman's Eat Market, Ginger Rabbit Jazz Lounge and Hiraeth Events and Catering, Columbus, OH

BJ moved to Columbus in 2019 after helping open some of the best restaurants in America, including Husk in Charleston, SC as well as Michelin-starred Rose’s Luxury, Pineapple & Pearls and Little Pearl in Washington, DC.  In 2020, BJ opened Chapman's Eat Market in German Village, followed by Ginger Rabbit Jazz Lounge in 2021 and Hiraeth Events and Catering in 2023. 

@EATCHAPMANS

Kate Djupe’s culinary journey of over 25 years across the food industry has shaped her into a seasoned entrepreneur. After owning two quick casual restaurants, Kate launched her first original concept, The Commissary, a 16,000 sq ft maker space that allowed over 100 small businesses to launch and grow their Big Ideas and fostered a vibrant and supportive food community. Her next adventure includes scaling her commercial baking business and introducing innovative concepts to the market. Heyacake, her latest venture, has already launched its first vending machine to sell artisan cakes into the late night hours - because who doesn't need cake whenever they crave it?

@HEYACAKE

Shanika Sheppard,is the Co-Founder of Marlow’s Cheesesteaks and The Water Ice Shoppe. Prior to entering The Restaurant Industry, Shanika was in corporate retail for 20+ plus years and have worked for Macy’s, Five Below and Ascena Retail Group.

In 2021 the couple received the opportunity to set up at Easton Mall outside the splash pad which gave them great visibility and made them the second black-owned business at Easton. While running the cart, they also participated in festivals and were intrigued by the fact that Columbus locals have an appreciation for all types of cuisines.  Since they already had the Water Ice up and running, the two decided to keep the Philly Theme going and introduced Cheesesteaks which birthed Marlow’s Cheesesteaks. Marlow’s started as food trailer in 2021 and based on the strong response they were blessed to open their first B&M location in April of 2022 followed by location number 2 on March 5, 2024 inside of Cameron Mitchell’s Budd Dairy Food Hall.

@MARLOWSCHEESTEAKS

Avishar Barua is a chef who loves to poke fun at himself as much as he does at the culinary world. His journey took him from local restaurants in Ohio to the high-stakes kitchens of New York City, including stints at WD~50 and Mission Chinese Food. Avishar made waves with his Cheesy Brisket Crunch at Service Bar, a dish that got him into the pages of Food & Wine magazine—though he’ll tell you it’s just a fancy Taco Bell knockoff. He went on to compete on "Top Chef" Season 18 and somehow managed to beat Bobby Flay, much to his own surprise.

In 2022, he opened Joya’s Café and Agni, where he’s known for creating "Seriously Fun Dining" experiences. Both restaurants were recognized as some of the best new spots in Columbus by Columbus Monthly in 2023. Avishar is passionate about improving the culinary industry, and while he’s racked up awards, including a James Beard nomination, he’s more focused on making the world a better place, one plate of food at a time. 

@DINEATAGNI

Jomar Sheppard is the Co-Founder of Marlow’s Cheesesteaks and The Water Ice Shoppe. Jomar has always had an interest in entrepreneurship. In 2017, his wife Shanika Sheppard received a job opportunity that would require the family to move from Philadelphia to Columbus, OH. He convinced his wife to take a risk and accept the job position which turned out to be a great move. In 2021, the couple started Marlow’s Cheesesteaks inside of a food trailer and opened their first B&M location on April 30, 2022, followed by their second location inside of Cameron Mitchell’s Budd Dairy Food Hall on March 5, 2024.  Marlow’s Cheesesteaks has been voted best cheesesteak and best new restaurant in 2023 by 614 Magazine. Future plans include growth and expansion that will make Marlow’s Cheesesteaks a household name within Central Ohio.

@MARLOWSCHEESTEAKS