The Kind Kitchen Express in Pacific aims to provide people with nutritious and filling meals ready to eat.
Sam Mueller, 38, of Pacific has created a kiosk inside the Beauty & Barber Bar salon, 203 N. First St. Unit 1B, with refrigerators and a self-checkout station. Customers may pick up pre-ordered meals or purchase available meals on-site.
Mueller, a personal chef, said she cooks the meals at her private commercial kitchen in Union and stocks the kiosk as needed.
The Kind Kitchen Express is stocked with healthy, pre-made meals that people can pick up and pay for inside the Barber & Beauty Bar in Pacific.
The kiosk opened Nov. 16, and Mueller said she refilled the fridges three times by Nov. 20.
“People are loving it,” Mueller said. “I feel like I’ve been smiling ear to ear all week, just with the compliments I’ve received and people saying how quick and easy it is, and how it’s so nice to have healthy food because it’s really hard to find healthy food out in this area.”
The kiosk will offer about three different meals in single-serving containers every week, along with a salad, soup and snacks, including Mueller’s creation – the “pronut,” or protein doughnut.
For larger, family-portion sizes, Mueller said people may place pre-orders on her website, thekindkitchenexpress.com.
“A very popular meal has been a balsamic parmesan turkey sweet potato bowl, a mouthful to say,” Mueller said. “I just use ground turkey, and I cook it in a balsamic vinegar sauce that I create myself. It has roasted sweet potatoes and asparagus and sauteed spinach in it. It is topped with shaved parmesan cheese and a balsamic glaze.”
Mueller said many people like the idea of eating healthy food, but they don’t know where to start. Her business aims to make meal preparation easy.
Mueller is a self-taught chef who has been cooking and baking for 18 years.
“I’ve just always loved healthy food and fresh food, and so my goal is to bring healthy, convenient meals to families who need it,” she said.
In 2016, Mueller began making freezer meals for friends and family, eventually growing her clientele to warrant renting a commercial kitchen. In 2021, creating personalized menus and frozen meals for clients became her full-time job.
Mueller said she’s well-known for her high-protein cake doughnuts, made with protein powder and all-natural, low-calorie sweetener.
“People are always trying to hit their protein goals,” Mueller said. “What’s a better way than to have a sweet treat? I started making those in 2020. Now I do all sorts of protein treats, but I’m famous for the high-protein donuts.”
Customers at the kiosk may purchase “pronuts” in a two-pack or four-pack.
Starting out
Mueller said she took the opportunity to open a retail space for selling her meals after her friend, Dena Alonzo, the owner of Barber & Beauty Bar, said she had some space available in her salon. Alonzo and Andy Nemeth, who owns the Little Ireland Coffee Co. across the street, have been very supportive of The Kind Kitchen, Mueller said.
“Dena has been my rock, and so has Andy,” Mueller said. “Those two businesses really helped put my name on the map in Pacific and helped me create a name for myself. In the business aspect of it, you know, like any type of question I have, they are always willing to help me and encourage me.”
Mueller said she’s not worried about the honor system being taken advantage of at the kiosk. Either workers at the salon or herself will always be there to monitor it, she said.
“This particular service attracts a certain type of clientele,” Mueller said. “If (theft) happens, it happens, but it’s not a huge worry of mine.”
Any tips that Mueller receives are used to support the community. When Pacific sustained heavy amounts of rain in early November, leading to flooding, Mueller made meals for the Pacific Police Department thanks to donations made by her customers.
“For Thanksgiving, we will serve meals for three families,” she said. “I’m really blessed, and I believe that God’s blessed me with this amazing talent in the kitchen. I want to use it to just bless people and bring that glory.”
The kiosk is open for pre-order pick-ups from 2-6:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, 4-6:30 p.m. on Wednesdays and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursdays.
The kiosk is open for grab-and-go meals 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Mondays, 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Fridays and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays. The kiosk is closed on Sundays.
For more information, visit The Kind Kitchen & Express Kiosk Facebook page or email sam@kindkitchensocial.net.
