Chef Cheryl Straughter just opened Soleil, at Boston Public Market.
Cheryl Straughter, a native of Boston, has an impressive career in the food industry. She started her first restaurant, Keith's Place, in 1996 and became one of the city's most well-known Black chefs. After Keith's Place closed in 2006, Straughter went on to earn a degree in Culinary Arts from Johnson and Wales University and a master's degree in Social Work from Simmons College. She then worked for three and a half years at Future Chefs, a non-profit organization that teaches teenagers academic and professional skills through food training. In 2019, she opened Soleil, a restaurant and catering company, as part of the Roxbury Cultural Initiative, which celebrates the neighborhood's rich history and artistic contributions.
"We are incredibly excited to add Cheryl Straughter and Soleil to the lineup of local, small businesses at the Boston Public Market," said Cheryl Cronin, CEO of the Boston Public Market. "Not only will Soleil bring new, diverse flavors to the Market, but we admire Cheryl Straughter's path as an entrepreneur and we are happy to help support her through this next step at the Boston Public Market."
Soleil, at Boston Public Market, specializes homestyle, soul food, using local ingredients as often as possible, but all her creations include her very own twist. “I remember a guest saying your collard greens ‘aren't southern’ without any pork,” Straughter recalls. “I shared that we season with a few different ingredients—Spanish paprika, turmeric, and smoked turkey to name a few—this guest loved our twist.”
“I’m excited to be at the Boston Public Market because it’s an opportunity to showcase our cuisine to a new population,” said Straughter . “The exposure is a chance for our company to grow in a new way."
Soleil is located inside Boston Public Market, next to Union Square Donuts and Soluna Garden Farm and across from George Howell Coffee and is open during the regular Market hours. Learn more about Boston's best food halls in our guide, which of course includes our very own Time Out Market Boston.