Veah Larde was destined for the role she took over this year. “I tell people all the time, I’m from this dirt. I’m an Austin girl, born and raised,” Larde said. The chef and resident of the West Side Chicago neighborhood put her busy catering business on hold to take over as manager of Austin Town Hall Market for the season. “I’ve seen the different transitions that the neighborhood has gone through,” she said. During his inaugural address, Mayor Brandon Johnson called their home turf “the beautiful Austin neighborhood on the mighty West Side of Chicago.” Yet he added, “And the very fact that the mayor of Chicago lives in one of the most disinvested and violent communities in the city, it shows us what’s possible. So let’s not be discouraged by what it is, let’s make sure that we never stop imagining of what it could be.” Tap on our bio link to meet the people behind this food-focused guide to a perfect day in Austin. ----- Photo 1: Kathryn Holmes shops at the Forty Acres Fresh Market stall at the Austin Town Hall City Market on Aug. 24, 2023. Photo 2: Gloria Johnson spoons macaroni and cheese into a container for an order at MacArthur’s Restaurant. Photo 3: Owner Chamille Weddington in Schweet Cheesecake on Aug. 24, 2023. Photo 4: The F.R. Schock House, at 5804 W. Midway Park. Photo 5: Klaudia Farmas, left, helps Cathy Morris at the Windy City mushroom stall at the Austin Town Hall City Market on Aug. 24, 2023. Photo 6: Market manager Veah Larde at the Austin Town Hall City Market. ? Louisa Chu / Chicago Tribune / @louisachu1 ? Eileen T. Meslar and Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune

Veah Larde was destined for the role she took over this year.

“I tell people all the time, I’m from this dirt. I’m an Austin girl, born and raised,” Larde said. The chef and resident of the West Side Chicago neighborhood put her busy catering business on hold to take over as manager of Austin Town Hall Market for the season.

“I’ve seen the different transitions that the neighborhood has gone through,” she said.

During his inaugural address, Mayor Brandon Johnson called their home turf “the beautiful Austin neighborhood on the mighty West Side of Chicago.” Yet he added, “And the very fact that the mayor of Chicago lives in one of the most disinvested and violent communities in the city, it shows us what’s possible. So let’s not be discouraged by what it is, let’s make sure that we never stop imagining of what it could be.”

Tap on our bio link to meet the people behind this food-focused guide to a perfect day in Austin.

-----

Photo 1: Kathryn Holmes shops at the Forty Acres Fresh Market stall at the Austin Town Hall City Market on Aug. 24, 2023.

Photo 2: Gloria Johnson spoons macaroni and cheese into a container for an order at MacArthur’s Restaurant.

Photo 3: Owner Chamille Weddington in Schweet Cheesecake on Aug. 24, 2023.

Photo 4: The F.R. Schock House, at 5804 W. Midway Park.

Photo 5: Klaudia Farmas, left, helps Cathy Morris at the Windy City mushroom stall at the Austin Town Hall City Market on Aug. 24, 2023.

Photo 6: Market manager Veah Larde at the Austin Town Hall City Market.

? Louisa Chu / Chicago Tribune / @louisachu1
? Eileen T. Meslar and Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune