#TBT: Make kale pesto with Willowbeez SoulVeg

For this throwback, we're celebrating the announcement earlier this week that vegan popup operator and caterer Willowbeez SoulVeg will have a permanent home in the spring at North Market.

Willowbeez co-owner and chef Carnell Willougby and his brother, Malik Willoughby, collaborated last fall with artist Cameron Granger on a project that was part of Granger's contribution to the gallery-based community project Free Space: a cooking video demonstrating the versatility, easy prep, and nutritional punch of kale pesto.

Unfortunately, a rise in COVID-19 cases led to a second unexpected closure for the Wex in 2020, which significantly shortened the window to see Granger's part of Free Space. But Granger will join us again for the 2021 Director's Dialogue on Art and Social Change April 12, and you can see the video he made with the Willoughbys below. Along with the how-to, Granger also produced a 'zine with more specific measurements and cooking instructions. You'll find that here. And here's more about the work that went on behind the scenes.

Granger's project also addressed the problem of food insecurity in Columbus through a one-day distribution at two locations of free, pre-cooked pesto, ingredients to make the dishes, and some pantry staples. If you're experiencing food insecurity or know someone who is, organizations running food banks in central Ohio include Mid-Ohio Food Collective, Columbus Food Not Bombs, Gladden Community House, and the Clintonville-Beechwold Community Resources Center. 

Check out more Wex videos on our Vimeo and YouTube pages.