Meet Our Makers: Current Entrepreneurs

4th generation baker making delicious, from scratch baked goods in Lansing. They can regularly be found at Farmers Market Pop-ups around the area. They customize baked goods for weddings and parties, and are always on point when it comes to pączki season!

Harnessing the amazing abilities of sea moss, Natures 92 LC, is creating fruit smoothies that contain many essential minerals. Sea moss is also been used for skin care as well. Removing dark spots, diminishing wrinkles and restoring elasticity. This is all done in a mission to help us reach stable health.

Catch them selling these smoothies and skin care products at Middle Village Micro Market.

A BBQ catering business that is adept at handling Weddings and special events. They utilize a custom reverse flow, Cherry and Hickory fed smoker to achieve traditional Texas style BBQ. They have a their own custom BBQ sauce line that can be found at many local retailers!

Kathleen is an experienced educator with over 25 years of expertise. In the classroom, she shapes young minds and fosters a love for learning. Passionate about baking, she creates delightful treats that bring joy. With her background and love for both teaching and baking, Kathleen nourishes minds and bellies alike.

Founded by Uday Palkar in 2023, who owns a food business for 10+ years in Mumbai, India before moving to the US in 2019.

Mumbai 28 now brings authentic Maharashtrian and Mumbai-style food along with customized Indian cuisines to the Lansing area.

The goal of Backup Kitchen is to provide cost effective nutritious vegetarian food for busy people to make their life easier.

Community engagement is the driving force behind Handheld, an all-inclusive food truck concept. They have a passion and focus on authenticity, creativity and innovation that has shaped the unique twists they put on their menus, aiming to spin the ordinary into something extraordinary.

Mitten Harvest Projects brings the incredible produce of local food growers closer to the community by preparing them into food that is easy to reach for. This past summer season, They offered vibrant seasonal salads, sauces like pestos, and other delicious options at local farmers marekts. Joanna looks forward to harvest seasons and the creativity that comes with fresh produce!

A Black-owned and family operated local food truck, offering special events catering services and late night eats past midnight.

Joan started her catering business with the Allen Neighborhood Center. She impressed guests with a myriad of custom menus for events, but focuses healthy business lunch caterings.

A botique-style bake shop concept by Sharice Cooper, Ms. Money Cakes is a way for Sharice to create deliciousness, relieve stress and empower women in entrepreneurial roles.

ChOil is a small-batch, big flavor, company redefining how people experience chili oil/crisp. Founded in Michigan by Jason and his wife, Angie, the brand began as a home kitchen experiment inspired by a love for bold, unforgettable food and grew into a mission focused on crafting the perfect condiment that has a balance of heat and flavor. Every jar is made with purpose; to turn ordinary meals into moments worth savoring, one spoonful of flavor at a time. To ChOil, food is connection. It’s the way families gather, friends bond, and strangers find common ground. Food is the universal language that turns moments into memories, and the right flavor can turn a simple meal into something worth sharing.

Joe Cesario grew up working in his family's Italian Deli outside Chicago and carries on the tradition of homemade sausage products.

Northern Made: A Sauce Company is a Lansing based sauce company set out to make delicious sauce using simple ingredients.

El Bodegón Cubano is a vibrant pop-up experience celebrating Latino culture through food, music, and community bringing sabor, ritmo and tradición to life, one moment at a time.

Tap Truck Mid Michigan hit the pavement in Spring 2023. Their vintage 1955 Dodge Panel Truck has been completely restored into a stunning mobile bar that adds a touch of class to any event.

Tammy specializes in Cotton Candy and other sweet treats. They spin Cotton Candy at events and you can find their products in Horrocks, Capitol City Market, and Kean’s anytime you’re feeling a sweet snack.

Selina and K started Peculiar Coffee Co. in May and have loved every minute of building community around coffee. For them, coffee is a way to connect, slow down, and share joy with others. Their coffee is sourced locally and each syrup is housemade. Coffee is what wakes them up and community is what keeps them going!

Brian, the pitmaster, owner, and founder of Traveling Smokers LLC, has spent the last decade perfecting his Kansas City–style sweet-heat barbecue, driven by a lifelong love of food and a belief that feeding people is his purpose. What began as a hobby quickly grew into a passion for slow-smoked meats and bringing people together, officially becoming a business in 2024. Today, Brian uses Traveling Smokers to build community one plate at a time, sharing bold flavors and warm hospitality wherever he goes.

G3Food4All is all about making food everyone can enjoy. They specialize in Gluten free and Allergen free dishes, with emphasize on Italian and Latin American cuisine. Many recipes stemming from adapting family favourites, don’t miss out on their specialty dinners or take n’ bake specials!

Hobie’s is an “honest to goodness” family-owned and run East Lansing tradition. It was established by Ernie St. Pierre fifty years ago in Trowbridge Plaza at the corner of Harrison and Trowbridge Roads in East Lansing. Today, Hobies enjoys a different business model, catering from the Allen Neighborhood Center kitchens.

Hobie’s has been providing delicious soups, sandwiches, wraps, and salads to nearly three generations of MSU students, faculty, and staff. The fare has been popular throughout the area since 1962.

Shirley Boucha is the owner of Nasi + Mee, translated to ‘rice and noodles’, a Malaysian street food concept operating in the incubator kitchen. Her father also owned a Malaysian restaurant, making Shirley a second generation chef bringing her cuisine to the Lansing area. She believes that good food is the product of proper ingredient sourcing, flavors that create symphonies together and heartwarming intention.

Dessert shop serving chilled treats weekly along with custom orders!

Jay’s Dogs is all about fun! Capturing that excitement you feel at a festival and the food that goes with it. Jason brought his vision for event food from Georgia and always delivers. By joining community events, he hopes to make them all memorable through the excitement Jay’s Dog can deliver!