1776 now has a chef

Hungry entrepreneurs at 1776’s Crystal City campus, and soon the 15th Street campus, now won’t even have to leave the building for some brain food.
1776 announced on Monday that the company has hired chef Aaron Butler to run its “food program,” which includes making daily lunches as well as doing food service “for some of 1776’s signature Washington events.” Butler most recently worked as the sous chef at the Bloomingdale restaurant Red Hen, a popular, Italian-influenced spot.
In an interview with the Washington Business Journal, Butler said his job is about more than food. The lunch service (included in membership) is an integral part of creating connections within the space of the incubator.

“We’re trying to build a community,” Butler said. “You have all of these disparate groups of startups in different areas and different industries that are probably all facing the same issues. But they are so singularly focused on their issues with their company that they become kind of isolated.”

It’s also at least a little bit about keeping the entrepreneurs healthy. “Entrepreneurs have a lot of unhealthy food habits, living off pizza and junk,” 1776 cofounder Donna Harris told WBJ. “At least with this, they’re getting one nutritious meal a day.”
Butler has thus far been serving lunches at the Crystal City campus, but a press release indicated that the perk will be available at 1776’s downtown location soon. Who’s ready for some Tuscan pork ribs?

#Lunch this week pic.twitter.com/lg0oeCgjdr

— A Butler (@ChefAaron1776) April 18, 2016