In a nation where food is made fast and health is sometimes an afterthought, it is tough to make healthier choices in what we eat. There are some changes in the area that have caught my attention and are an inspiration to be more health-conscious. Three years ago, Jess Dal Santo and her former civics teacher Maryann Storz decided they wanted to provide local families with healthy meals at a reasonable price. They started experimenting with soup by buying local produce and creating all the ingredients from scratch. From soups to salads, to now full-course meals, people in the area started to order more frequently from The Lady in the Kitchen.
Both Jess and Maryann were brought up in households where eating home-cooked meals was a tradition. Not having a large selection of home-cooked foods, the two felt that it was important to offer such a service to the local community. Jess, once a vegetarian as well as a vegan, has a passion for ethnic flavors and creating food from scratch by using only the freshest ingredients. The Lady in the Kitchen has rotating menus that are based on what produce is in season. They avoid any pre-packaged food items and shop at local farms. During the farmers’ market season, Jess has a stand at both the Wilkes-Barre and Dallas farmers markets, where she calls herself the Soup Chic.
“Since everything is made from scratch and with natural ingredients you can really taste the difference,” said Jess.
Currently, The Lady in the Kitchen is renting a space in the Masonic Lodge on East Union Street in Kingston. Because the food is cooked to order, all of the food products are bought fresh and they are able to offer one pickup day a week currently. If you have a large order, they will accommodate by delivering your meal.
“We are a unique cooking service that provides quality, homemade food to go,” said Jess. “We strive to fill the gap between cooking at home and frequent ordering and eating out by keeping our food cost effective as well as convenient for the average family.”
These days, not too many individuals realize what it takes to create something from scratch that’s made with natural ingredients.
Jess recently opened the SoupChic Café located inside of the Wilkes-Barre YMCA on Northampton Street. The grand opening will be on Wednesday, May 5 with a special $3 taco buffet. The café is open to the public and provides soups, salads, locally roasted coffee, fresh artisan bread, baked items and other local goodies. Jess and Maryann will also be catering their very first vegan wedding this summer.
“I am proud that people would ask us to cater an event such as a wedding,” says Jess. “We will cater based on an individuals needs and provide unique foods that are specific to what our client’s lifestyle is.”
After experimenting with different recipes, the two have found what works and want people to feel good about what they are eating.
For more information, e-mail theladyinthekitchen@gmail.com. To contact The SoupChic Café, call 570.823.2191 ext. 147 or go to facebook.com/thesoupchic. w
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