Commune, the acclaimed locally and sustainably-minded Coastal Virginia restaurant, will reopen its downtown Norfolk location on Saturday, Aug. 15 as an evolved, first-of-its-kind culinary concept, in partnership with The CROP Foundation (CROP). The new CommunexCROP will be a student-led restaurant and nonprofit, housed by Commune and led by CROP, an organization dedicated to building the next generation of innovative, conscious and sustainably-minded young leaders in food, agriculture and hospitality.
At CommunexCROP, guests can expect the same level of service, quality and commitment to local and sustainable foods they’ve come to expect from Commune NFK, but with an even stronger focus on community.
“Now, when people eat at Commune NFK, they are not just supporting local agriculture and purveyors but also providing education and real-world learning opportunities for young culinary enthusiasts who are beginning a career in food service, hospitality, food advocacy and sustainable food-related fields,” said Kevin Jamison, owner of Commune and its Pungo-based New Earth Farm. “It doesn’t get more community-minded than helping advance CROP’s mission right here in our own backyard.”
In this partnership, CommunexCROP will serve as an immersive classroom, providing culinary students with the opportunity to train and work in a real-world kitchen and restaurant environment. Additionally, students will participate in educational community events, cooking classes, community outreach, on-the-farm training and other such programs aimed at providing them with comprehensive industry experience – all under the guidance of a group of culinary mentors led by Kip Poole, CROP’s executive director.
Read more on CoVaMag.com.
