The Vintage Garden Kitchen

The Vintage Garden Kitchen is one of those places that could easily fly below the radar. I'm not sure where I heard about it, but I've known about the VGK for quite a while now. It has a very robust website, but there was always an air of mystique surrounding this business. I remember calling and leaving messages but never received a returned telephone call. This week I made a diligent effort to find out what this place is all about. Now I'm hooked.

There are a few things about VGK that make it unique. First, it is not a restaurant but a "soup to go" establishment. It offers limited delivery to certain zip codes. The location is a little out of the way, on Labarre south of Airline Highway across the railroad tracks. There is a big sign that says "We Make Soups" which points in to a fenced off parking lot. The soup can be picked up between 8am-4pm Monday through Friday. The pick-up is located in a nondescript building that looks more like an office building than a soup vendor. The staff is very nice and enthusiastic. Not to mention the menu is filled with many different options including meat and vegetarian friendly.

The soup is sold in pint and quart sized mason jars. If you keep the jar and return it you get a punch card. For every 10 returned jars you receive a free pint of soup. I decided on the Moroccan Chickpea Stew, the Fiery Shitake Mushroom and Barley, and the Rustic Vegetable and Bean. It didn't take long to finish off a jar of soup, and the remaining soup will likely be eaten within a few days. The VGK grows most of its ingredients on its organic farm. What it doesn't grow it obtains from local producers.Another great aspect of the VGK is it that it is partnered or working closely with Arc of Greater New Orleans which is a 501(C)(3) organization. Arc is dedicated to the empowerment of adults and children with intellectual disabilities and supplies labor to the VGK for farming and producing the soups.

In my opinion the VGK gets a high score for several reasons. First, the soups are absolutely delicious, seasoned to perfection, and prepared with fresh, hearty vegetables. Another plus, the ingredients are mostly organic which makes me feel better about eating it, and which means VGK is dedicated to sustainable practices and outputting the highest quality of foods. Additionally, its cooperation with Arc of Greater New Orleans is a great way of empowering those with intellectual disabilities. Therefore, the VGK is not only producing great soups but it is doing it through positive social impact and change. A little out of the way, but well worth it.