For Executive Chef Kathy Jones, supporting Second Helpings is “a perfect fit, all the way.”

Jones, who previously served as Second Helpings’ Executive Chef from 2017-2022, says “everything about Second Helpings is a good fit for Iozzo’s.”

Iozzo’s Garden of Italy is a family-owned Italian restaurant in the Old Southside neighborhood of Indianapolis, known for their family recipes, signature cocktails, and backyard courtyard.

Iozzo’s has become a consistent partner of Second Helpings, supporting the organization in just about every way possible.

Jones and Iozzo’s have participated at both our Corks & Forks and Souper Bowls events, hosted pasta drives for our summer Gr8 Pasta Push campaign, and organized give-back nights on Giving Tuesday the last two years.

One of our favorite ways to work with local restaurants is as an employer for graduates of our Culinary Job Training program. Iozzo’s has hired numerous graduates at their downtown location.

Richie graduated from our Culinary Job Training program in Class 160 earlier this year and now works at Iozzo’s.

One of those graduates is Richie Sanchez, who has worked at Iozzo’s since May. A graduate of Class 160 earlier this spring, Richie started off preparing salads and now works as an “expo,” or food expeditor. He makes sure an order is prepared correctly, looks presentable, and is served to the correct table.

Richie’s favorite part of the CJT program was the class on Life Skills led by longtime volunteer and Board member Elaine Gaither.

For Jones, the most important skill developed in the Culinary Job Training program is dedication and a respect for the industry. “CJT graduates develop a lot of basic kitchen skills, but it’s most important to me that they show up and are ready to keep learning. We can teach you what you need to know in our kitchen, but an employer doesn’t have the time to train people to show up and work hard – so I think that’s the number one value that Second Helpings tries to instill in students.”

Woking with graduates, volunteering in the kitchen, and participating in events is a win-win for Jones and Iozzo’s. “It doesn’t just help the graduate, it also makes me feel good to play a part in offering someone a second chance and supporting them in their new career.”

If you’ve never been to Iozzo’s, Chef Kathy recommends the meatball martini appetizer and the chicken piccata. But not the lasagna.

“Don’t eat the lasagna if it’s your first time here, or you will never want to order anything else.”