I met Chef Angelo Tupper Jr. during his pop-up at Portland Food Hall downtown, and immediately liked him.
He struck me as one of those people who works to make others comfortable — doing so seems to come naturally to Angelo.
Maybe that's part of why he's so good at cooking soul food, a cuisine that warms hearts and brings people together during good times and bad.
There was chicken that peeled right off the bone, gravy with a delicious lemon kick, collard greens with thick cut bell peppers and of course, mac and cheese.
Something I love about making photographs for food entrepreneurs is that there's always a story — a family member who taught them recipes, a memory of a loved one that inspired them to start a business, or a deeply held belief that keeps them going through thick and thin.
Chef Tupper's mom was on hand to support his pop-up and I got such a kick out of photographing them together, out front.
Over and over again I learn that small business is a family affair. There's a whole network of people supporting each and every entrepreneur.
I'm grateful that for an afternoon, this kind gentleman and talented food entrepreneur made me feel like part of the family.