Indigo Smoke Restaurant

Original Art
Happy People
Smoked Pork and Sweet Potato
Cookin'
Turnip Green Soup with Lobster
Bar
Roast Salmon with Deviled Eggs
Original Art
Herb Fried Baby Chicken.jpg
Snapper with Risotto
Original Art

"Indigo Smoke is also dedicated to soul food – with a twist. From Knowling’s extensive experience as a chef in high-end restaurants like Butterfield 81 in Manhattan, he has wed soul food with special gourmet touches"

The Star Ledger

quotes

"For five years, chef Lance Knowling’s Indigo Smoke has served excellent Kansas City barbeque and “new-city” soul food in an upscale setting" "with a chic industrial groove"

NJ Monthly

Page 2

"a trim, dapper, soul-infused restaurant"

The New York Times

Page 3

"His hand-picked jazz, R&B, and funk soundtrack sets the stage for a barbecue experience that is still upscale yet down-home"

NJ Monthly

quotes01

"Indigo has serious food"

NJ Life

quotes02

"traditional Kansas City barbecue served in an elegant but unpretentious setting"

The New York Times

quotes03

"Indigo is a morale booster" "enjoyable food that is a wonderful value"

The Star Ledger

about

original indigo circa 2002

original Indigo Smoke circa 2002

Birth of the cool......Barbecue/Soul The major player in the food culture of Kansas City is barbecue, loved by the area’s natives like Lance’s dad. Mr. Knowling prided himself on knowing all of the neighborhood places featuring great “Q” – those spots that would not be found on a “barbecue map.”During his years in the east, Lance longed for those memorable flavors and harbored a dream of opening a “little bbq spot,” the kind that Pop would have taken friends to.Like many modern chefs, Lance evolved from classical structure to more and more personal elements in his design and creation of dishes. Meanwhile, over the course of the 1990s, diners evolved to wanting excellent food without formality. The convergence was perfect for the development of a business plan in winter 2000-2001. Lance worked on his original logo, nick-named “grill guy,” while pondering a name befitting his vision of a very cool barbecue spot. Mom noted that the word “smoke” or “smokehouse” was most strongly associated with KC establishments. The former seemed a fit with the word “indigo,” already chosen for its ability to conjure the feel he wanted: cool … jazzy. Jazz greats of the 20th century loved KC as a center for sharing their talents, collaborating with each other, and enjoying barbecue. From this set of concepts and history, Lance wanted to draw “cool smoke.”The final business plan with architect’s plans launched in Q2-2001. On Lance’s birthday in 2002, the little barbecue spot that Pop would have loved opened its doors.
catering

casual

clients

event

venues

casual

Barbecue Ribs
Indigo Smoke Fried Chicken
Indigo Smoke Crab Cakes
Mixed Leaves Salad
mac n cheese
Chocolate Pudding Cake

casual menu

indigo smoke catering menu-009.jpg
indigo smoke catering menu-010.jpg

pdf

event catering

Mini Ruebens
Scallop and Roast Pepper pesto
Scallion Wraps
Bruschetta
wine glasses

event catering menu

indigo smoke catering menu
indigo smoke catering menu
indigo smoke catering menu
indigo smoke catering menu
indigo smoke catering menu
indigo smoke catering menu
indigo smoke catering menu
indigo smoke catering menu

pdf

clients

Partial Client List

Essence Magazine

Vibe Magazine

Ingersoll-Rand

MLB Studios

NY Jets Organization

NJ Nets Organization

Indigo Smoke has always been a popular destination for the many artists, entertainers, and celebraties in our geography

dinner club

ABOUT

The Dinner Club was created by Chef Lance Knowling in 1992. Chef Lance created the club to bring reasonably priced meals to families. The club was later expanded to include a variety of dishes and services. Whether you are single and want to eat great meals without spending an arm and a leg, or you have a family and sometimes you just need a break. The Dinner Club is your answer.The Dinner Club is Essex County's most unique, easy, and inexpensive way to enjoy restaurant-quality food at home. It is a home-delivery food service that allows you to plan meals days and even weeks ahead. How does it work? You see our dishes online, you order at least 1 day in advance, we deliver your meal, and you just heat it up. It's as easy as that.We make several different dishes along with weekly specials. All of our meals serve 4-6. You may mix and match dishes from our single meals and have them individually packaged, either for variety on your dinner table, or for your freezer.You place your order by 10pm the day before, and we make your dinner fresh the next day. WE COOK, YOU EAT!
No Frame

visit site here

press

press

Barbecue Ribs with Sides

Marinated Beets and Feta

Canapes

Sign

The best in New Jersey dining 2009

THE NEW YORK TIMES Best Of

THE NEW YORK TIMES QUICK BITE

Star Ledger Review 02 and 03

THE RECORD Review and ZAGAT SURVEY

NEW JERSEY MONTHLY Review 07

NEW JERSEY MONTHLY Review thru 10

New Jersey Life and Travels Review

Local Publications-Reviews

events coming soon

team

gm

mixologist

catering

dj

chef

Lance Knowling
Lance Head shot Smile.jpg

Lance Knowling

A Chef is BornFrom childhood, Lance watched his mom working wonders in the kitchen and sought to learn from her. Attributing her skills to her chef father, she would share family secrets and encourage his creativity. A love of home cooking gave great food a prominent role in every gathering of family and friends.Beloved teacher Miss Fannie Nelson gave ongoing motivation to a talented student in her Culinary Arts Program at The Kansas City Technical Education Center. She helped him research The Culinary Institute of America and advised him on European-style apprenticeship programs. Lance moved on to the apprenticeship program of Dallas ' El Centro College, executed at the Park Central Hotel's 4-star restaurant Laurels.In his Apprenticeship in Culinary Arts, he studied French, American, and Southwestern cuisines under the instruction of Emil Bigler, Peter Saint John, and Timothy Rodgers; he gained his pastry skills under the instruction of Austrian pastry chef Karl Reisenberger.He then became Saucier at Enjolie, the 4-star restaurant in The Four Seasons hotel. When Marriott Corp. purchased the Las Colinas property, the Executive Chef invited Lance to NYC for the lead role, Chef de Cuisine, in the fine dining restaurant of their flagship hotel Marriott Marquis on Broadway.Later, Lance chose to complement his corporate experience with several years in smaller fine dining operations that would give him the perspectives for running his own small business.Lance has received acclaim working in venues such as the Park Avenue Club, America Bar and Restaurant, Le Delice, and Hudson Place. He was also the opening Chef de Cuisine at New York’s critically acclaimed Butterfield 81.His entrepreneurial ventures before Indigo Smoke included Chef de Cuisine Catering, independent consulting, and his original edition of The Dinner Club, known by many across Essex County.Lance’s experience as Chef and restaurateur has earned him a reputation as one of the most successful talents on the culinary scene in New Jersey and beyond. His restaurants and skills have been highlighted in The New York Times, The Star Ledger, Zagat’s, New Jersey Monthly, and New Jersey Life, among others.

"because food is life"

Person

Page 2

contact

click here for more information

new location coming soon

investors

Text

Investment

Indigo Smoke is currently offering unique investment opportunities. Our restaurant group is planning Indigo concepts as well as other projects in major cities across the country. If you are interested in becoming an investor, simply click below

investors contact

business plan

menus

bar

Lamb Chops

Mixed Leaves in Bowl

Barbecue Ribs with Sides

menus

bar

plan

back

Indigo Smoke

home

about

catering

dinner club

press

events

team

kansas city bbq & soul food boutique

new location coming soon
Twitter bird|

freedom sound

Summertime

Please Pardon Me (You Remind Me Of A Friend)

My Favorite Things

I Say a Little Prayer

Wake Up Everybody (Part I)

Soul Searching

Tappan Zee

lance knowling designs