Army veteran to open The Preservery, international soul food concept in Pizitz food hall

In early February, The Preservery Bham will open in REV Birmingham’s Reveal Kitchen space in the Pizitz food hall. The Reveal Kitchen space presents an opportunity for culinary graduates of the REV and Create Birmingham’s CO.STARTERS program a chance to open their dream restaurant before they secure a permanent location in Birmingham.

Dre Foster, the owner and executive chef has been in Birmingham for years. She originally came to Birmingham from the cultural melting pot of Southern California to attend UAB in 1999.

Dre joined the Army Reserve and spent nine years serving our country. While on active duty she met her husband, an Alabama native, and they decided to make Birmingham their home.

Dre’s roots played a part in her early decision study at UAB; her grandmother and family are from Clanton, AL.  Maybe it’s those southern roots, along with her travels, that influence her cuisine.

“While I’ll serve as executive chef, I’m excited that Chef Ryan Propst, of IronBark Kitchen, and chef Jerome Jones of Finale’ will be joining me in creating exciting, international inspired soul-food dishes.”-Dre Foster.

Preserving home and history in a hundred languages

The Preservery Bham will offer upscale soul food with Caribbean, South American, and Philippine influences. One menu item Dre is excited about is the Filipino specialty Lumpia. Oh and there’s her jerk fried-chicken…and the soul-food inspired spicy street tacos…and the salmon croquettes…and the collard green wontons!

Lumpia is a spring roll of made of thin crepe pastry skin called “lumpia wrapper” enveloping a mixture of savory fillings. It sounds like a menu of some cool international entrees, with a side of southern comfort food.

“We have joined the Urban Food Project to source our food from local and regional farmers, farmers’ markets, and food artisans to create a menu that will change with the seasons. ” Dre Foster.

Baked okra and green sriracha aioli. Via- FB.

Keep an eye out for The Presevery’s opening in the Pizitz Food Hall, located inside the historic Pizitz building in downtown Birmingham, 1821 Second Avenue North.

This might be a great place to try a new spin on old favorites. The RevBirmingham Reveal Kitchen lease is for six months. The program developed by REVBirmigham is a rotating business accelerator. Dre hopes to secure a permanent location on 1st Avenue North.