Karyn’s Kitchen, a vegan restaurant in Flossmoor Commons, was packed with people for its grand opening celebration on the afternoon of Saturday, Jan. 7. Anyone who bought food was entered into a raffle with prizes valued at hundreds of dollars.
With a microphone in her hand, Karyn Calabrese, the owner of Karyn’s Kitchen and previous owner of several vegan and raw food restaurants in Chicago, held up a copy of Crain’s Chicago Business Magazine. Above a photo of her face on the front cover, it said in large letters, “the Rise and Fall of Karyn Calabrese.”
“On the inside, they doubly expressed it,” Calabrese said before opening the magazine. “The fall of Karyn Calabrese,” she said reading the headline.
“What I wanted to do today … is send them this and say: ‘I’m back!’” Calabrese said, referring to a video that was being recorded.
“She’s back,” attendees shouted back at Calabrese before applauding.
Free samples were provided of the vegan food at Karyn Kitchen. This included chocolate brownies, cooked lasagna, raw lasagna, raw broccoli soup and and raw almond pate.
Calabrese hugged many of those who approached her. Irvette Dillo, a massage therapist at Karyn’s Inner Beauty, took pictures of Calabrese with attendees for Calabrese’s Instagram.
Denise Ocampo was the first raffle winner, winning Food Prep Classes, a Product Box for Vitality and Instructional Support Group led by Calabrese. Ocampo said she entered the raffle by ordering a pizza.
“It’s my lucky day. I’m happy,” Ocampo said.
Ocampo said she’s been following Calabrese for about a decade, and she traveled about an hour to the event from the northwest suburbs.
Ocampo said she suffered from an autoimmune deficiency and thyroid imbalance. None of the medicine given to her by traditional doctors, such as inhalers and acid reflux medications, was good enough, she said. When she went to Calabrese, Ocampo said her detox program worked.
“Her detox helped me change my life. It pretty much saved my life,” Ocampo said.
“Karyn has been instrumental in teaching vegan lifestyle and providing delicious meals to people,” Flossmoor Mayor Michelle Nelson said. “We love her as a neighbor and a friend of Flossmoor.”