A SLC area small business that specializes in unique and delicious foods made from beans! Virtual workshops and local pick up available - Vegan & Gluten Free
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“I’m just a girl, looking at beans, wanting to turn them into something delicious!”
I am often asked, “What got you into beans?” Well, it’s all because of Karen…
I have a full-time job working for a company that practices five core values: Safety, Integrity, Passion, Caring and Fun. Now, within this company, I am fortunate enough to be a part of a team that feels more like a family. Many of us have traveled together, shared difficult personal experiences together, celebrated happy times together, taken on outside hobbies and interests together and have always supported each other. One of these friends is especially dear to me. Her name is Karen.
Several years ago, Karen learned that she had food allergies. Her health issues are complex and she has to avoid many foods in order to feel good. Gluten, sugar, soy and dairy are the biggest offenders. At the time of her diagnosis, she felt like there was nothing in the world she could eat.
Now, remember when I mentioned the values of my employer? Well, the “fun value” is one that is practiced regularly in the form of team potlucks. With Karen’s new diagnosis regarding her health, she was often left out of these activities.
The “caring value” happens to be one I really like. I made the suggestion one time that on Wednesdays, we only bring food that was “Karen friendly.” It would be a challenge, but we were all up to the task.
Me and Karen at the office
Fall, 2014
In providing a “Karen friendly potluck,” one item seemed to show up each week: Hummus. Karen’s body could tolerate hummus and she liked it with vegetables. Over time, many store-bought flavors and brands were brought in. I didn’t love any of them. I thought, “This needs more flavor,” or “This could be so much better if it only had in it.” I found a recipe for hummus on the back of a can of garbanzo beans and made it over and over, adding “this and that” until I came up with the recipe that started it all: Lemon Garlic Dip
As time went on, and because I like to cook, I tried many vegan recipes for our Wednesday potluck lunches. My views on food were enlightened. It was exciting to be learning so much and my biggest “take away” was that it was so simple and so delicious. I went gluten-free and sugar-free for two years in an effort to truly understand Karen’s situation and to see how it would make me feel. I won’t lie, it was pretty rough at first. The experience was interesting and educational. Daily I had to “rethink” the food I was eating and the options I had. I liked this new way of eating and found food to taste and “feel” better than ever. I’ve have since added gluten and sugar back into my diet, but many things I ate before this experience, no longer taste good to me and I’ve rarely eaten them again.
So, we learned that Karen could eat beans. This took me in a direction where I tried making all kinds of things with beans: Bean burgers, bean cookies, marinated beans, etc. My brain opened up with “bean creativity” and I liked it! My kids were all grown by this time, I had divorced and started a new life and I found that I had time on my hands. Being a girl that began working at a young age and has that has always had a strong work ethic and desire to “create,” it was natural for me to want to turn this into a business.
I joined the local farmers market scene in 2013 with Polka Bean Foods. I had two savory flavors: Lemon Garlic and Roasted Red Pepper. They were well received and I quickly moved on to include two marinated bean flavors: Lemon Garlic Chickies and Basil Beans. The Park Silly Sunday Market in Park City, Utah is where I began. I learned a lot about that world and “got my feet wet.” I met some amazing entrepreneurs and hard working people in this setting and I wanted to be as successful as they were.
In the years to come, I participated in many other local “pop up” markets and have been a full time vendor at the Downtown Salt Lake City Farmers Market, Wheeler Farm Farmers Market, Sugarhouse Farmers Market and Downtown Winter Market. I’ve tried my hand at selling at local grocery stores. I have operated my own online store providing local delivery. My products have been purchased and sold at the Red Butte Garden for concert events through Cuisine Unlimited Catering. I routinely give product to non-profit organizations for charity auctions and events. Polka Bean Foods has grown to be a food staple for many in my community and, for that, I am humbled.
My goal with this little company was never to become rich or famous. I thought for a “hot minute” that I wanted to be in big grocery store chains, but quickly felt that I didn’t want to lose the personal touch I give to my products and go into “mass production.” I love my full time career that has nothing to do with beans and knew that Polka Bean Foods would always be my “side-hustle.” I knew that I wanted to teach and encourage others to make their own. A cookbook is “in the works” so stay tuned!
