Flavor C A T E R I N G NONA’S MARKET
Maria Kelly Cooks Up New Business Written by
JACQUELINE RUSSELL
M
aria Kelly knows how to roll with the punches. The woman
behind
Nona’s
Market has changed her business to fit her needs, all while sharing her love of food with others. Formerly a brick-and-mortar store focused on selling Kentucky Proud goods, Nona’s Market is now a
catering
company—allowing
Kelly to showcase her culinary talents. She
decided
to
close
her
physical store when she realized
family.
several cultures. My mother is Cape
“I’ve always loved food, and my
Verdean, and her style of cooking
husband and I have eight children.
was just amazing to me, and my
Everybody always said, ‘well, you
dad was southern.”
can cook for eight, will you help
me cook for 10?’” she said. “I
dishes that keep hungry clients
was always helping with birthday
coming back for seconds.
parties and things because I knew
how to make big quantities. So,
you cook with your heart, you can
everybody just started calling me
never go wrong,” she said. ”Mostly
and next thing you know, it turned
we just do American cuisine with
into a small business.”
a Cape Verdean twist. I don’t use
“I think food is the one thing that
But her food isn’t what you
traditional seasonings, and I think
connects us all. And I knew that.
might expect to find in Owensboro.
that’s why our flavor is different
You’re always going to want to
Its flavor comes from a variety of
than others here in town.”
eat.”
influences.
Kelly’s
cater
“I’m a military brat,” Kelly
caught the eye of the Favorite
weddings,
said. “I’ve lived all over the world,
Chef Contest, a competition to
private dinners and more, but it all
and I lived overseas until I was
win $20,000 and a feature in Bon
started with cooking for her large
about 20. I was able to experience
Appetit magazine.
she couldn’t be as available as customers needed. Kelly was caring for ailing parents and didn’t have time to keep a shop open between doctor’s appointments. So, she went back to her roots and what she knows best—food.
“You have to be flexible when
you’re working with the public and you have to be flexible when you’re a small business,” she said.
Kelly corporate
62
and
her
events,
team
Owensboro Living N O V E M B E R / / D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 1
She blends her influences into
“I believe that you know when
unique
flavors
also
