FoxGardin: The Intersection of “Fresh” and “Pub”

Writer / Jimmy Girot III

Photographer / Keeley Miller

Nestled along Main Street in the rapidly-growing town of Fortville, FoxGardin’s modest exterior welcomes its guests into a top-shelf environment of both food and drink. From the delicious food, the ultimate collection of local craft beer and the world-class customer service, it’s easy to see why FoxGardin Kitchen and Ale is already becoming a local favorite.

“Fresh” and “Pub” are two words I wouldn’t typically associate, but FoxGardin Kitchen and Ale is far from typical. I visited FoxGardin to indulge in some Midwestern classics, and I spoke with Fortville’s newest restaurateurs:

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What are your backgrounds and what are your roles within FoxGardin Kitchen and Ale?

Jacob Burgess, Chef/Owner:
• 13 years in the hospitality industry
• 8 years in fine dining
• Former regional chef of Prime 47
• Started at Mozzi’s (Fortville) at the age of 15 and worked through college

Toby Shelton, Managing Partner:
• Ball State graduate with degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management
• Former food and beverage management team at Omni Severin Hotel

“We tackle as much as we can together: advertising, marketing, menu development, trends, service standards, food quality and so on. We are a small business, so we like to look at all aspects together and use our collective experiences to come up with the best possible solution.”

How would you describe the food? Is there a theme?
“Fresh pub classics, utilizing the freshest ingredients to compose Midwestern favorites.”

Why the name FoxGardin?
“Jake’s mother’s maiden name is Teagardin, and Toby’s mother’s maiden name is Fox, so we combined the two to come up with FoxGardin.”

What will make FoxGardin unique?
“The atmosphere, the service and the food. The only thing in my freezer is ice cream, so product comes in and goes out. Nothing frozen in a great pub atmosphere.”

FoxGardin Kitchen and Ale is located on Main Street in Fortville, Indiana. For more information, visit the FoxGardin Kitchen and Ale website at foxgardin.com or call 317-485-4085.