Hi.
Hi.
Hi.
What's your name?
My name is Chao Tao.
Hi.
Nice to meet you, Chao.
Nice to meet you too.
Yeah.
So, you know, we're here at Outwood Fest and we are capturing stories from the community.
And you are right next door to us with some delicious food.
Do you want to tell us about what you offer over there?
Yeah.
So, we are called Kia's Kitchen.
We offer appetizers such as egg rolls, crab raggunes, butterfly shrimp, and we also
have a variety of hot foods such as patai today and fried rice.
Yeah.
I tried the potato cakes, yes.
Is that what they're called?
Yep.
Potato pockets.
They're delicious.
Yeah.
And then other people here.
Yeah.
We love the food.
So, tell us a little bit about like how you guys got started and what it is that, you
know, the events where you were frequent so that, you know, people were part of it.
For sure.
For sure.
So, my mom has been in the restaurant industry all her life and she has a lot of recipes
that she's always want to try out.
So, this year is our very first year.
We started Kia's Kitchen, vending locally at Farmer's Market.
We first started at the Hellbale Farmer's Market and Pale Light and then now we are also
at Belleville Farmer's Market on Tuesday nights.
Tuesday nights?
And that happens all throughout the summer?
Yes.
All through October.
Oh, okay, perfect.
Yeah.
It's Kia's Kitchen.
You know, have the tent that says that and everything so people can find you, right?
Yes.
Yes.
Any plans to open a restaurant or something like that?
Our goal, our first goal is eventually to get a food truck.
Our restaurant is further down the line.
Further down the road map.
Yes.
Yes.
Yeah.
That's great.
And are you originally from Madison?
I am originally from Madison.
I have moved to Belleville in...
Been in Belleville the last three years.
Okay.
And how have you seen the community evolve, especially, you know, since you've been here
a while, right?
Like, it's obviously grown.
What other changes have you seen?
Yes.
I've not seen much changes.
I've been in Madison most of my life.
I kind of grew up in this area and at whatever note here.
Okay.
Just down the road.
I'm really straight and bald when...
So I'm familiar with the people in the community here.
Yeah.
I'm not seeing...
I guess I don't go out that much to really see a change.
Yeah.
Every time I do go out, it's very familiar to me.
So I don't see that change.
Yeah.
And do you still have a lot of friends that have stuck around?
Oh, yes.
Yes.
Definitely.
A lot of people that I see recognize here, a lot of vendors that I also know.
And talk to on a daily basis.
Yeah, that's great.
And a lot of people here.
That's cool.
Yeah.
No, there's definitely a tight knit community here in Madison, especially in the east side as
far as I can tell.
Yes.
All right.
Is there anything else you'd like to share with us about, you know, either life in Madison
or you're the restaurant or upcoming things?
Well, upcoming next week we will be in the Belleville Music Festival on Saturday.
Okay.
Later down the road, we are also at the good.
Happy Harvest in Monroe on October 5th.
So you guys can see us there on and then Labor Day Week and we are in the art festival
in the A.O. line.
Okay.
So you guys can also check us out there too.
That's cool.
Yeah.
Well, great.
Thank you so much for, you know, stopping by and we love the food.
Thank you very much.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Perfect.
Perfect.