Q House Farmers Market Launches, With New Mac & Cheese Twist

Kismet Douglass debuts her signature mac and cheese at Wednesday's Q House farmers market

Dixwell got its first taste of farmer market produce Wednesday — and Kismet Douglass’s bacon and roasted chicken-topped mac and cheese. 

Douglass, a Yale chef launching her own food business, landed a spot at the inaugural CitySeed Dixwell Q House farmers market on Dixwell Avenue.

Dixwell Alder Jeanette Morrison, CitySeed Executive Director Cortney Renton, and leaders from cosponsor LEAP came together to hear music and celebrate the first market, which will operate in front of Q House every Wednesday until Oct. 26. 

Dixwell doesn’t have a food market, and we came together as a community to create this space for Dixwell and New Haven residents to gain access to fresh food and hopefully alleviate food deserts in Dixwell,” said Morrison. 

Olmo GM Zena Alexiadef giving away bagels.

The market featured a wide variety of different local vendors including Olmo bagelry, Pedals smoothies, and Massaro Community Farm in Woodbridge.

Since this is the first farmers market in Dixwell, we wanted to pitch in and provide free bagels to everyone that attended to commemorate this great market,” said Olmo General Manager Zena Alexiadef. We’re going to be here every Wednesday through October.”

Cass Friend with fresh greens from Massaro Farms.

CitySeed is also matching all SNAP and EBT vouchers at the farmers market. Residents can redeem $5 of SNAP benefits and receive $10 to spend at the market.

The doubling of benefits is possible through Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP), which provides grants to organizations like CitySeed across the nation to supplement SNAP and other nutritional aid programs.

CitySeed is still looking for vendors to partner with for the food market with 10 current vendors attending the Farmer’s Market.

We’re hoping just throughout the season to be bringing anyone really who wants someplace to be to either spread the word about what they’re doing, or run some kind of activities or classes. I think we’re kind of looking forward to the possibilities possible here,” said Marketing Coordinator Frankie Douglass.

One vendor at the event has a unique story: Kismet Douglass and her food catering company Momma Kiss Kitchen cuisine.

Douglass, a Yale hospitality cook, wanted to kickstart her own personal cooking business.

I just love to cook, and I’ve been cooking for Yale for a while. I wanted to do something for myself,” she said.

She applied for one of CitySeed’s entrepreneurship programs. After several tries, she received an acceptance and completed the course a few weeks ago as a member of a Collab New Haven cohort.

Since then, she has kickstarted her catering company, Momma Kiss Kitchen. She plans on attending every farmers market. Her menu for Wednesday included a base of mac and cheese that could be garnished with tomatoes, chicken, or pork.

CitySeed was key to me getting here today, and even right now they’re supporting me and helping me get started on my own company. I’ve already received a surge in interest, and am excited for the future of my company,” Douglass said. 

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