When it rains, it pours... fabulous coverage for A Taste of the Philippines! If you missed this great Chicago Tribune story, it's an awesome read. Congrats Kathy! We love you❤️ Excerpt: ...To Kathy Vega Hardy, success also depends on the community rallying around a fledgling food business. Vega Hardy, 38, started A Taste of the Philippines in Denver before moving the food truck and catering business to Chicago in 2018. She began by working at Daley Plaza farmers’ markets and as a pop-up in the South Loop. She opened her first brick-and-mortar iteration in the Chicago French Market in July 2020, just as outdoor dining was opening up and restaurants were fine-tuning new ways of offering takeout. Less than a year later, she was moving into a new slot in the market with double the capacity. She had to hire a full-time sous chef to keep up with orders, Vega Hardy said. “The ultimate compliment is when customers say we feel like home or having our food makes them miss their mom,” Vega Hardy said. During times when dining out — or any kind of out-of-home leisure — was a scarce luxury, food became one of the only sources of entertainment. “Another big compliment is the community and their support, loving our food both in person and liking and sharing our food on social media,” said Vega Hardy. “Black, white, Filipino — everyone.” “We have our regulars, and we also have people who just landed in Chicago coming in right from the airport from New Orleans, Los Angeles, Texas,” Vega Hardy said. “Our reach is going beyond just Chicago.” Just as important as a network of eager diners, the Filipino food community in Chicago is tight-knit and devoted to uplifting one another. Vega Hardy has a collaborative kamayan dinner planned with Chicago French Market neighbor Saigon Sisters (Chicago), and also has plans for lunch and dinner collaborations with Crumbs and Creams, maker of silvana cookies. #InTheNews #chicagotribune #chifrenchmarket #thewestloopisthebestloop #frenchmarket #tasteofthephilippines (at Chicago French Market) https://www.instagram.com/p/CVk0urNL0z9/?utm_medium=tumblr
