Triumph Kitchen serving up kolaches and coffee

Chris and Sommer Wadsworth’s non-profit educational facility Triumph Kitchen is now in its first semester, training at-risk youth in culinary, hospitality and life skills. The former chef of Restaurant IPO is starting with eight students.

The facility has started serving coffee drinks and kolaches to the public weekdays, 7 a.m.-11 a.m. This week’s kolache choices are roast beef and pepper Jack cheese, smoked salmon, sausage and citrus thyme preserves, the Elvis with banana, Nutella and peanut butter, and grilled cheese with cheddar, Colby Jack and pickles. Among the coffees are blended and iced options, mochas, lattes, espresso and cappuccino.

Brewed coffee is available on the honor system, and visitors can donate or tip. Specialty coffees and kolaches are available for purchase. Delivery is also available by calling 377-7046. The kolaches are made-to-order by the students each morning, and proceeds go to support their training.

So far, the couple has been in awe of the local support. The inside walls have been painted with murals by local artists to show off Triumph Kitchen’s sponsors, and the wall space has been filling up.
Some businesses that have purchased walls to help fund the students’ semester and program expenses include Gino’s, Slap Ya Mama, Community Coffee, Visit Baton Rouge and many others. The artwork will remain up for 12 months.

Chef Wadsworth has been enjoying the pace of Triumph. In his down time, he’s keeping busy, prepping pop-up events and cooking for functions. In late April, he’s putting on A Taste of Downtown at Hollywood Casino. The event features chefs and restaurants from downtown and Mid City. Tickets are available now for $50.—Matthew Sigur