For Chef Lynn Porter, the grand opening of her newly remodeled food truck ahead of the FIFA World Cup events in Kansas City marks far more than a business milestone—it’s the realization of a lifelong dream built through grit, faith, and relentless perseverance. After three years of single‑handedly rebuilding her truck without loans or grants, Porter’s journey reflects both resilience and deep community roots, amplified through appearances on shows like Meals with Misty and collaborations with local creatives. Through her business, Lynn’s Soul Food Delights, she carries forward the legacy of her mother and grandmother, blending soul food traditions with a mission to serve and uplift others—proving that when passion meets purpose, the result is something truly unforgettable.
Chef Lynn, you’re preparing for the grand opening of your newly remodeled food truck just before the upcoming World Cup events in Kansas City. What does this moment mean to you after three years of building and upgrading the truck entirely on your own?
Oh I really don’t even know where to start, I’m so overly excited and making sure all my T’s are crossed and my I’s are dotted due to me overcoming multiple obstacles in the process of this long, overwhelming project that has literally been 1 of my childhood dreams. Now seeing my dreams and hard work finally complete has me very grateful as well as humble to the fact I’ve given myself an opportunity through dedication and hard work that so many people will never experience in this lifetime, so to say the very least I’m blessed to even share my dream with countless new individuals.
You’ve already been featured on the Latin cooking show Meals with Misty and have collaborated with many local organizations and events. How have those experiences helped grow your visibility and connect you with new audiences?
I’ve truly enjoyed collaborating with many different people and organizations, I remember back a couple of years ago when I first began to just reach out to different cultured artist and fellow business owners I was given my first opportunity to be on a local popular cooking show by the name of ” Gangsta Goodie Kitchen” with the beautiful and talented Miss Shalea Johnson. It’s in those moments that mentors and community leaders open up opportunities for the beginners a chance to widen the scale of exposure in our community and outside the community as well, and I’m very thankful to those people for those opportunities.
In addition to operating your food truck, you also work as a traveling private chef and caterer. How do these different roles allow you to expand your culinary creativity and reach more clients?
In this day and time everything is digital so it’s majority a visual, alongside word of mouth. I’ve had an active account on Google for over 4 years, you can literally google my business name and find out anything concerning my business ” Lynn’s Soul Food Delights” and google will inform you.I have had a 5 star review rating for 3 plus years and have now been accredited with the Better Business Bureau for over a year with an A+ accreditation. This opens up information in regards to what type of service I provide and how I’m dedicated to accommodate anyone anywhere my services are requested. In addition my ability to be versatile in my culinary style with many different cuisines including and not including soul food just being my base or main expertise also adds to people wanting to reserve my services for the experience.
You’ve shared that you rebuilt and upgraded the truck without loans or grants, while working multiple certified jobs. What kept you motivated during that journey, and what lessons did you learn about perseverance along the way?
Many things kept me motivated, the fact that I have been raised to never give up and help anyone along the way has definitely had a major part to play in this process. In the beginning the amount of doubt, and hate that other people had for my business sometimes crept in to try and stop me, so many times I thought just because it didn’t seem to be happening as quickly as I wanted I felt defeated and not only that I knew the people who had already told me I would not complete it were desperately waiting for me to fail. But God!! Many times all I had to truly encourage me was my husband (Craig Porter Sr) and a few other people behind the scenes I’m not going to name but, nothing has been able to stop this dream from coming true. I’ve worked and put every dime I had ( sometimes working 3 jobs at 1 time) to make sure that my dream comes true and now I’m here to share my accomplishment with the world. In this very moment I think back and my biggest motivation came from proving everyone wrong, you can “DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS YOU”!
Your dream is also deeply connected to honoring your mother and grandmother, who helped shape your cooking skills and values. How have their influence and traditions shaped the food you create and the story behind your business?
I am truly grateful and thankful for having the time I was given with my grandfather (David L Crowder) who instilled in me so much wisdom and knowledge in regards to life and how to grow through pain from obstacles, people and relationships. My grandmother (Maxine Crowder) taught me how to help people who other people may or would always look over whether it be a child or adult she served her community with acts of service, she was an community activist in Wyandotte County for Quindaro and was on the Board for Parkwood Colony (an organization that actively petition to keep the park and swimming pool open for the urban community) and was successful in doing so the park and pool are still open to this current day. My mother (Linda Dudley) was literally an “Earth Angel” the impact she made on people’s lives was nothing short of amazing, my mother could see the good in any person and could change a negative into a positive without blinking an eye. Linda was all about second chances and giving a person the grace we often forget that God gives us. I have incorporated all of these qualities into my life spiritually, emotionally, business wise, and just overall in life in general, to have a self respect for myself and others to have morals and integrity is something not often found these days so I’m glad too have had the upbringing I was blessed with because its coming around full circle in this very moment. Maxine & Linda were very good at cooking. Our roots are grounded from Memphis Tennessee, both were so good at their craft they were well known for selling dinners from home and church on both sides of Kansas City. My life is now producing growth from all the seeds that have been planted prior to this well- deserved accomplishment of mine and I’m just truly grateful honestly.
I want to dedicate in celebration of completion and success to God first and then to Maxine Crowder & Linda Dudley. I thank you, love you, and miss you both.
Links:
- Facebook: Lynn Porter & @lynnssoulfooddelights on Google
- Instagram: @mslynndwnwitgod4life
- Youtube: @lynncrowder459
