For the first time this year, Soul Kitchen Chicago is participating as a vendor at the Austin Farmers Market, showing off its authentic Caribbean and soul food made with fresh, locally sourced ingredients.
The weekly farmers market at town hall offers fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs and other staples directly from local farmers. In addition, visitors can find baked goods, vegan meals, artisanal breads and prepared foods and handmade goods from local vendors. The market also creates a community atmosphere with cooking demonstrations, a kids’ corner, live music and performances, massage therapy, community resource tables and special events.
As such, Soul Kitchen fits right in but adds some added spice.
Noel Peters, founder of Soul Kitchen, said that she started her catering business during the COVID-19 pandemic. Growing up watching her mother cook had already sparked her passion for cooking.
“I began selling plates to family and friends right out of my kitchen, and as demand grew, I started hosting pop-ups in my neighborhood, which really took off. That’s when I decided to turn it into a business,” she said.
Peters had been following the Austin Farmers Market on Instagram for a few years before deciding to apply in the spring.
When Peters applied to be a vendor, she met with the market organizers for an interview and had a meaningful conversation about the mission behind the farmers market. Their values aligned and Peters saw the market was clearly the right fit.
“Being a vendor in this market is important because it provides access to healthy options for prepared foods, fresh produce and locally sourced ingredients. Everything I cook uses fresh, local ingredients. I’m all about connecting through food, and that’s what makes this meaningful to me,” Peters said.
At the market on July 31, Peters served Rasta Pasta, a creamy pasta dish with a Caribbean twist, mixing jerk seasoning with colorful bell peppers – usually red, green, and yellow. It’s often made with chicken or shrimp
“For Rasta Pasta, you have bell peppers, fresh thyme, Scotch bonnet peppers, coconut milk – all of these are what I’d consider traditional Caribbean ingredients,” Peters said.
Other offerings included jerk wings and the most popular item among customers is mac and cheese. According to Peters, the jerk wings and mac and cheese are consistently top sellers. Peters brought up the soul bowls, noting their popularity.
“I serve all of my soul bowls at the farmers markets I participate in and they just became popular,” Peters said. “Usually, they include a protein and two sides. For example, a soul bowl might have jerk wings, mac and cheese, rice and beans and cornbread.”
Peters recalled a visit from the previous month when the offerings included jerk wings, mac and cheese, green beans and cornbread. She said that the menu is always mixed up and rotated with different dishes to keep things fresh
Peters will also be at the South Loop Farmers Market next week and the Evanston Farmers Market.
Next month, she plans to vend in Bronzeville during the Bronzeville Art District Trolley Tour where the theme will be an old-school fish fry. This family-friendly event runs every third Friday from June to September, offering a free double-decker bus tour of Bronzeville art galleries.
“I would just encourage everyone to come out to the Austin markets and experience all of the great vendors,” Peters said.
