Adrian Lipscombe is chef-owner of Uptowne Cafe and Bakery and founder of the 40 Acres Project. A native Texan, Adrian opened Uptowne Café restaurant on the Northside of La Crosse, WI, as a catalyst for urban change, working with the community to help revitalize the area. Uptowne functions as a community impact space, operating an open-door policy and providing a safe haven to everyone in the community. Adrian’s food focuses on southern cuisines while using local ingredients and working with farmers in the Coulee Regional and Organic Valley area. Adrian draws inspiration from life experiences and African American culinary history to tell the story of African American influence in our food culture today. Currently, Adrian is working on the 40 Acres Project, whose mission is to preserve the legacy of Black agriculture and foodways by purchasing land for Black farmers to practice traditional agriculture methods, provide resources for the food industry, create education opportunities and a historical archive of information on traditional Black agriculture and foodways, and partner with organizations, Black farmers, and the hospitality industry. Adrian holds a master’s in architecture and is currently a PhD candidate in urban and regional planning at the University of Texas at Austin, concentrating on the behavior of minorities for land use and transportation. (La Crosse, WI) @adie_eats