Spicy Fiesta Pasta needn’t be fussy, just tasty. Photos: Chris Emeott
An entrepreneur juggles her love of cooking with catering, classes and a food truck.
Growing up in Vadnais Heights, Joor Erin remembers always eating dinner with her family. Her parents were constantly in the kitchen, preparing something delicious. A passion for cooking was ingrained in Erin from an early age, which inspired her to take one of her first jobs, making takeout orders at a Chinese restaurant when she was just 13.
After that, the culinary world followed her to her next job making pizzas, and at 15, Erin became the assistant to the executive sous chef at a Holiday Inn. On her very first day, she introduced herself as Joor, and the executive chef immediately said, “Oh, like soup du jour.” That moment made an impression, and Erin realized from that point forward, the name Soup du Joor would one day play a special role in her life.
Joor Erin has a full menu of business ideas, and she’s putting them all on the table.
Over the next several years, countless experiences molded Erin’s journey. She studied in Mexico and Europe and often visited New York City, immersing herself in their respective food scenes. “I would taste things and then come home and have that inspiration and try to recreate it and be able to do that just solely off of what I know of food and the taste,” Erin says.
In 2005, her dream took shape after two years of working a corporate job. One night, she came home feeling distressed, realizing she only wanted to cook for others and teach. This shift in perspective inspired her to consider a new career path that felt aligned with her passion for cooking. That is when Erin became a private chef and started her catering company, serendipitously named Soup du Joor.
Blackened Citrus Salmon with asparagus offers simple elegance with its flavor profile and visual appeal.
For years, Erin grew her catering business and added services, including mobile charcuterie. Then, in 2019, she wanted a change of pace and to engage with the community in a different way. Opening a food truck had always been on her mind, and it finally seemed like the right time to bring that dream to life, so Soup du Joor hit the road. “Our standard food truck menu is soups, salads and wraps,” Erin says. “We don’t deep fry food. We don’t have french fries. We don’t have donuts. I mean, not disrespecting anyone who does that on their truck, but that was kind of my plan when I had my truck. I wanted kid-friendly, family-friendly alternatives to chicken fingers and french fries.”
Warm Asian Butter Lettuce Salad with wonton strips is crispy and fresh.
While her hours change, Erin is regularly in the truck Thursdays through Sundays and can be found at private and public events. Her location schedule is often posted on her website, but customers can also get updates by checking social media or by reaching out directly via the Soup du Joor website.
Erin’s latest venture was purchasing a 4,200-square-foot space in St. Bonifacius that will function as an event venue. Acquiring the building fulfilled a childhood dream of owning a place to bring people together. It needs major renovations, but the bones are there. She named it Lalu 55. “When I saw it, it was just magic. I want it to be a place where people can come and learn, create and educate in a fun, safe environment,” she says.
Chicken Wild Rice Soup brings a bowlful of comfort.
When the renovations are complete, people will be able to rent the space for events. It will also include a commercial kitchen where Erin can prepare food for her catering business, and she will offer it as a ghost kitchen for others. The building’s lower level will be used for cooking classes, where her organization, Little Ladles, will develop.
Erin started Little Ladles around 2005 while volunteering for a juvenile preventative and restorative justice program for local youth. She discovered that children love to cook and that teaching them these valuable skills can help combat childhood obesity. With the new building, she hopes to offer kids cooking classes and camps.
Joor Erin’s daughters Lauren, 9, and Bauer, 11, chop vegetables and prepare handmade pasta noodles, learning their way around the kitchen as Erin did as a child with her parents.
What began as a childhood love of cooking has developed into a career focused on bringing people together through food and community. Whether it’s serving food from her truck or mentoring the next generation to cook, Erin demonstrates that chasing dreams can become a reality. As she grows Lalu 55 and expands Little Ladles, her vision continues to thrive.
Soup du Joor
Facebook: Soup du Joor
