Winning season two of the CNBC competition “Restaurant Startup” last week gave creative culinarian Ian Kleinman the extra incentive he needed to open his first restaurant. Now, he’s thisclose to signing the lease on a space at 2020 Lawrence (next to Lower 48).
And when the ink is dry on the document, Kleinman plans to debut The Inventing Room ice cream shop on June 1.
The show, which much like the popular series “Shark Tank”, puts restaurateur and TV personality Joe Bastianich and chef and restaurant operator Tim Love against each other to invest their own money in food concepts they believe will make them millions.
In the series finale March 17, Love committed to help finance The Inventing Room concept.
“We did some negotiations with Tim Love who wanted to invest with us, but it didn’t work out,” Kleinman said. “We’re still going to open a store, but we’re going to do it on our own.”
Rather than gleaning financial backing from the show, Kleinman was able to work out the prototype of his restaurant – from design to color scheme to the logo – for free.
“For me, I just wanted the opportunity to build this brick and mortar restaurant I have had in my head for seven years,” he said.
Kleinman, who is best known for molecular gastronomy – a way of chemically altering the texture of food primarily with liquid nitrogen – has been perfecting his craft and wowing crowds through his catering company.
The ice cream shop will feature composed confections such as a compressed mango and strawberry kabob with salted carmel and chocolate, a carrot cake cookie ice cream sandwich with toasted marshmallow and cream cheese ice cream dipped in liquid nitrogen and a robot that will make chocolate truffles.
Oh, and you can also get a pedestrian scoop of ice cream such as Kleinman’s popular hot fudge flavor and classic vanilla bean.
“I have always opened places for other people,” he said. “This is something I’ve dreamed about for a while so I will have as much fun as I possibly can.”
Mike Coberly, who competed with Kleinman on the show, is the shop’s sous chef.
As to the “Restaurant Startup” experience, Kleinman said, “It was like going to restaurant college.”
Ian Kleinman, left, and his sous chef, Mike Coberly, pitch the Inventing Room to the judges. (CNBC photo)
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