Lola’s Modern Kitchen made its debut in a tent setup for the Downtown Fall Festival in September of 2022 in Seymour.
Now, owners Seth and Tonya Pacey are hitting the streets in a food truck carrying the same name.
The Paceys also have owned and operated The Pacey Apothecary at 125 W. Second St. in downtown Seymour since the summer of 2022.
Seth said the couple sold their farm in Henryville and moved back to Seymour in December, and that he wanted to get back into the service industry and start his own concept.
“I didn’t know exactly what that would look like and just let the universe guide me,” he said. “I then started looking for a restaurant space, food truck or food trailer and figured whichever one presented itself first would be my path.”
Pacey said he began speaking with local building owners and making inquiries about mobile food units.
“My current mobile kitchen unit presented itself, had all the right equipment and was in the right price range, so I pulled the trigger,” he said. “I learned to cook over the last 20 years working in restaurants and began at Max and Erma’s in the building that is now Azul Tequila here in Seymour.”
Pacey said he quickly developed a love for the kitchen and began to study culinary arts.
“I would read cookbooks, culinary textbooks and watch shows focused on the culinary arts,” he said. “I have done everything in a restaurant from washing dishes to waiting tables, shift supervisor to multi-unit management and everything in between.”
Pacey said the name came about because Lola is the name of his and Tonya’s daughter and Modern Kitchen because they wanted to bring classic styles and recipes, then blend and present them in a new, unique and modern way.
”We called ourselves a modern kitchen so we do not have to fall into any category,” he said. “We can be creative and cook whatever we want.”
Currently, they offer a taco/burrito/nacho menu featuring house-marinated, slow-cooked meats with handcrafted ingredients and sauces.
“We run weekly specials and even a breakfast menu for our earlier days,” Pacey said. “In addition to our delicious meat options, we make a variety of amazing vegan and vegetarian options, too.”
They are scheduled to do an entire vegan menu at a music festival coming up, and they also plan to have a new menu roll out every few months.
“We are really just getting rolling, and we are currently being scheduled at factories to feed the staff,” he said. “Some are open to the public, and some are closed.”
Seth said they also are booking local and regional festivals such as the Downtown Spring Festival, Frühlingsfest and more.
He said on other days, they try to pull up at local establishments to serve the public such as Jim’s Body Shop, Vick’s Liquor, the Seymour Area Farmers Market parking lot across from Schneck Medical Center and more.
As for who cooks the most meals at home, Pacey said he and Tonya kind of switch on and off, so it’s pretty even. Five-year-old Lola also is interested in cooking and especially loves to make anything sweet.
When asked if he has a favorite modern kitchen dish, Pacey said it would be one of the specials they’ve had called “Once Upon a Time in Mexico” based on the movie with Johnny Depp and Antonio Banderas.
“This dish was two tacos, our slow-cooked pork pibil style, queso fresco, handmade pickled red onions, cilantro, lime and our signature Lola’s Sauce (a creamy blend of spices, avocado and citrus),” Pacey said. “Our pork is really something you have to try. Either that or our cheesecake chimichangas.”
Lola’s Modern Kitchen also offers buffet-style catering and will deliver and set up so all the customers and their guests have to worry about is enjoying their meal, Pacey said.
Right now, it is just Pacey, his younger brother Anthony Machen, and their other associate, David Ragan, running the food truck.
“Anthony has been with me through my last few projects, and we love working together,” he said. “We are living the dream with all three of us working the food truck and running our own food concept.”
Pacey said they are passionate about food and truly believe they can bring something new and unexpected to the local food scene.
“We are eternally grateful for all of the support,” he said. “People can find us on Facebook under Lola’s Modern Kitchen or at our website, lolasmodernkitchen.com.”