Known for its pickles and preserves, Once Around the Kitchen is wholesaler and pop-up preparing to open a specialty food shop focused at 1919 St. Claude Ave. in the Marigny. Owner Dré Glass recently told What Now New Orleans she plans to transform the two-room space into a community-focused hub for locally sourced, small-batch goods.
For Glass, a native of Niagara Falls, Canada, the brick-and-mortar expansion is a natural progression of a business she started during the pandemic lockdowns while she was in financial and immigration limbo. The name of the business is a tribute to her family roots in the wine-and-farming country of rural Ontario and a resourceful approach to cooking.
“The name Once Around the Kitchen is what my grandmother called leftovers,” she explained. “You know, before you went to the grocery store, you had to go once around the kitchen with Grams.”
That spirit of no-waste resourcefulness defines the shop’s mission. By partnering with farmers across Louisiana and the Gulf South, Glass ensures that her product line shifts with the seasons, utilizing every bit of produce at its peak.
“The whole ethos is no waste,” she said. “So, I’m using what’s in season to its full potential, using scraps to create additional food offerings.”
Glass said she plans to offer a rotating selection of seasonal items and grab-and-go provisions like soups. However, she envisions the space as more than just a retail storefront. Regular community meetings and educational workshops will aim to help New Orleanians with everything from cooking to navigate rising food costs.
“I’d like to try to share recipes with low waste and how to stretch your food to make your grocery bill more economical in these current trying times, while still eating healthy and locally,” Glass said.
The 15-year resident of New Orleans who has lived in the Marigny for years, said opening in her own neighborhood was essential. Having secured her city permits, Glass is currently building up inventory for the holiday season, and planning a soft opening in early September, with a full launch expected in October. Until then, her products can be found at local retailers including St. James Cheese Company and Farmer’s Butcher and Farmstop.
