Combining Culinary Arts & Conservation: Kelpi
What is Kelpi?
Kelpi is a seafood restaurant and conservation project created to help protect US waters, both salt and fresh, saving indigenous species from the rapidly growing population of invasive species. How is this done? By fishing up invasive species and turning them into delicious dishes.
So What’s With the Horse?
The kelpie is a Scottish mythological creature often a warning and foreboding omen. Most of the myths surrounding the kelpies are tales meant to inspire terror and fear, warning people off riverbanks and lochs. Only a few ever mention a friendly, eager-to-help kelpie. However, this kelpie needs our help to restore its home, clean up the waters, and bring balance back to the ecosystem. A kelpie also fits the brand as the restaurant uses various types of kelp (seaweed) in its dishes, ranging in flavors from sweet to salty. Hence, kelpi was born.
What’s on the Menu?
The restaurant partners with various organizations to help clean US waters such as Lionfish Divers which harvest the invasive lionfish in Flordia, Mexico, and Jamaica. As well as the Northern Snakehead, which is native to East Asia, has invaded the freshwater of New York. Taking inspiration from Asian dishes incorporating the snakehead to deliver a flavorful experience. Kelpi also embraces the health benefits and flavors of seaweed in various dishes. We offer many flavors, there is something for everyone!
Want a more in-depth look at our menu? Dive in!
Our Website
Want to book in advance for a large party? Check out our menu or when we’re open? Or maybe even to call us and ask a question? Everything is listed on our website at www.EatAtKelpi.com.
A Relaxing Environment for Everyone
Kelpi was designed to be a calm and relaxing experience. Many plants and foliage cover the walls, paired with indoor fountains and koi ponds, letting nature take over the indoor space. Kelpi also features many kelpie and seaweed motifs, bringing back a sense of classiness with marble sculptures and mosaics. Come in formal or casual attire, we are happy to serve you.
Dive Into Deliverables
Are you in a rush? Or want to enjoy our meals at home? Order takeout! We will package your meal in 100% recyclable materials. We want to create an impact on you, not the planet.
Coast With Collateral
Kelpi does more than just delicious dishes, we also have apparel. Custom illustrations on premium quality shirts. A portion of the proceeds go to marine conservation organizations of our choice to help restore the environment and wildlife population.
We also have a brand of experimental seaweed wine. Explore the rich taste of seaweed extracts infused with ocean minerals. Comparing the taste to that of a fine Sherry, fortified, aged, and blended to perfection. Pair this bottle with your seafood and good company. A toast to sustainable food and drink harvested from the sea!
Anchor Onto Advertisements
See some of Kelpi’s advertisements in the wild, whether you are waiting for the bus or passing through the subway, you may spot Kelpi there with you!
Concept of Kelpi
This project came from my love of the sea and a desire to find a solution to reduce our impact on the world. Overfishing is a huge problem and as this occurs invasive species wreak havoc on the population already trying its best to recover. Upon researching what I wanted my restaurant to be about, I originally wanted it to be a hybrid of a restaurant and aquarium, however, once I found the culinary use and environmental benefits of incorporating seaweed, I knew I found my restaurant.
As an illustrator and printmaker, I took inspiration from an artwork I made months prior, thus beginning the branding of Kelpi with colors and the creation of the logo. Other marks such as the fish, were originally carved from a block of linoleum, inked, printed, digitally scanned, and used for the creation of the menu. Other illustrations for the advertisements were drawn digitally.
Wrapping it up
Overall, this project was challenging but rewarding. I learned a lot and thought this to be a valuable experience. Branding and creating everything from scratch to this degree was certainly new to me. I want to thank Nathan Young, my instructor, for guiding my class and I throughout this project and the semester. Also, thank you for checking out my work.
Credits
Creator: Gabriella Tucci, Instagram
Instructor: Nathan Young, Tyler School of Art and Architecture, Temple University
