Funmi Okonmah, pictured, is the owner of Nigerian Kitchen food truck – and operator of the Nigerian Kitchen brick-and-mortar location, set to open at 628 Water St., Eau Claire, yet this year.

Nigerian Kitchen’s First Brick-and-Mortar Location

Back in 2023, when Volume One first connected with Nigerian Kitchen and owner Funmi Okonmah, the wider Eau Claire area had just begun to get a taste for Okonmah’s vibrant, flavorful Nigerian dishes. Then, she was operating out of the shared kitchen at Forage (403 S. Barstow St., Eau Claire) a few days per week, with hopes to begin offering delivery and, one day, a sit-down restaurant.

Nigerian Kitchen went mobile in 2025, bringing its popular egusi and fufu, jollof rice and more to popular food truck stops like The Spot (3133 N Hastings Wy, Eau Claire) and our own Food Truck Friday events. Just over a year later, Okonmah has hit another one of her goals: securing a physical restaurant space of her own.

A stroll down Water Street this month revealed some changes underway at the 628 Water St.
Storefront, most recently home to the former Noe's Mini Market. On Oct. 11, Okonmah shared the news via Facebook: Nigerian Kitchen Eau Claire, the sit-down restaurant, was “coming soon!”

An opening date has not yet been shared, as of this issue going to press • Keep up with Nigerian Kitchen on Facebook

Cordova Dulces & Snacks Coming to Market On River

The Cordova family, pictured, is opening up shop at Market On River in Chippewa Falls. Their goods? Latin sweets! (Photo via Facebook)

While the first floor of Chippewa Falls’ multi-use community hub, Market On River (128 W. River St.), is best known as the building’s main small business vendors area, there are even more on the second level. Soon, that second-floor space will welcome Cordova Dulces & Snacks to MOR.

 

Cordova Dulces & Snacks, a Latin sweets shop, will host its official grand opening at 11am on Friday, Oct. 30. Owners Erick and Katarina Cordova (with their 19-month-old, Mariella) will celebrate the opening alongside the Chippewa Falls Chamber of Commerce with a ribbon-cutting.

While few sneak peeks have been shared online so far, we do know the second-floor shop has been made vibrant thanks to a new hand-painted mural from ShawnaLou Creative.

Keep up with Cordova Dulces & Snacks on Facebook

Mark Your Calendars: Farm Stand Crawl

The Saxton Sourdough shed, pictured, offers fresh-baked loaves of bread, blondies and bars, muffins and more in Menomonie. It is one of the participants in this November's Stand Crawl event. (Photo via Facebook)

While local outdoor farmers markets are winding down for the season, you’re still likely to see roadside stands around the wider Chippewa Valley ’til snow falls. Come early November, locals can hit 14 farm stands all in one go, thanks to a growing group of Dunn County bakers and producers.

A Menomonie area Facebook page for farmers and bakers putting their foodstuff into small stands and sheds – typically outside their homes or properties – has organized an event, aptly entitled the Stand Crawl.

Slated for Nov. 7-8, goods range from cinnamon rolls, cupcakes and bagels to pumpkins, peppers and more produce. Stand Crawl attendees are incentivized to hit at least eight to be eligible for prizes.

As of late October, here are all the participating farm stands:

• Cedar Falls Family Mercantile (E5431 CR BB, Menomonie)
• NightCap Sweets & Treats (711 29th Ave. NE, Apt. 1, Menomonie)
• Saxton Sourdough Bread Shed (N6447 535th St., Menomonie)
• Sunny Red Farmstand (N3823 Hwy 25, Menomonie)
• Baked, Laid & Homemade (N7142 540th St., Menomonie)
• Wild Rize Sourdough (1015 Julie Ln., Menomonie)
• Botanica Bakehouse (921 West St., Boyceville)
• Reebak Farms (E7986 770th Ave., Colfax)
• The Golden Crumb (1108 Stout St., Menomonie)
• Woodland Blooms Farm Stand (N4830 466th St., Menomonie)
• Bee’s Bakehouse (E10090 140th Ave., Eau Claire)
• SweetHer (E5780 689th Ave., Menomonie)
• Petals & Produce Self-Serve Farm Stand (2660 Cedar Falls Rd., Menomonie)
• Noctua Nook (116 S. Main St., Elmwood)

Keep up with Menomonie area farm stands on Facebook