The Farmplate Blog

Celery garnished with a green bean walnut paté, delicate cupcakes adorned with vibrant strawberries and black raspberries, and lightly crisped corn cakes with an avocado salsa… These are the offerings the Big Green Bus crew found at Green Wheaton’s anniversary Gala at Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, Maryland on June 19th. Thrilled by the eclectic and colorful creations, we set out to meet the chef. She wasn’t difficult to locate. Kit Woods, owner and founder of Green Plate Catering, flitted gracefully between the kitchen and the table in the center of the room, ensuring that her platters were always sufficiently stocked. 

Waiting for the opportunity to speak with her, we took time to examine the brochures set upon the table with care. The pamphlet described their dishes as seasonal, local, sustainable, organic and nutritious. Green Plate prepares their food in an eco-friendly kitchens and serves on only non-disposable dishware. Their motto reads: “Good for you. Good for the Earth”

Simple words that ring truth and beauty about the way our food should be, the way it could be with more individuals like Kit Woods in the kitchen. Towards the end of the evening fundraiser we tracked her down to divulge the origins of her 29-year old business. She said with a nonchalant shrug of her shoulders, “People liked my husband’s lunches.” 

In 1983 Kit took off time from her career in gerontology to take care of her newborn son. She began packing brown bag vegetarian lunches for her husband and they quickly gained notice and popularity among his co-workers. Her first client was a group of just 15 and Kit personally delivered the lunches, taking the trip by bus to their place of work. A friend drove her to the local co-op food store once a week so that Kit could buy her ingredients to compose lunches, each consisted of a baked good, vegetarian sandwich, fruit or veggie and a teabag.

Since that time, Kit’s business has grown exponentially and she regularly caters for weddings, galas and conferences, specializing in vegetarian and vegan foods. We were lucky to taste the simple freshness of her dishes. Eating fruit kabobs of local blackberries and watermelon laced with fresh mint, we asked Kit to explain the core mission of Green Plate and her motivation for pursuing this career. Her response: “I feel that it’s really important to nourish our bodies and use the cleanest foods, and the wholest foods that we can. It’s the best thing for us, and for our children, and for the environment. That’s my goal.” 

Without any formal training in food preparation, Kit has created a business that thrives on the principles of sustainability, healthy food, and community. In each meal, she fabricates an opportunity to educate eaters about their personal health, the health of nonhuman animals and the health of the earth. If you call Washington D.C. or Maryland home, seek out an opportunity to try the unique offerings of Green Plate, or ask Kit to cater your next big event!

The Big Green Bus crew is looking forward to more opportunities to meet innovative individuals and businesses like Kit Woods and Green Plate Catering!

Note: The Big Green Bus is a group of ten Dartmouth College students touring the nation to build enthusiasm for community involvement through environmental action. With several foodies on board and a growing understanding that real food is all about sustainability, the Bus is blogging about food encounters around the country. Learn more at www.thebiggreenbus.org!