Spirit & Soul
where the experience feeds your spirit, and the food feeds your soul!
Chef Jermaine
“This is my ode to Chicago — created with the flavors, vibes, and memories of my childhood, inspired by my grandmothers and the city I’ll always call home.”
I’m Chef Jermaine Abdual—this is who I am. Spirit & Soul is rooted in faith, food, and storytelling. I create Southern-inspired dishes with Chi-Town flavor, where my Southern heritage meets my Chicago favorites. It’s more than food—it’s a reflection of my roots, my city, and the journey that shaped me.
I grew up on the West Side of Chicago eating from three worlds — my grandmothers’ Southern spreads, the corner stores, and the neighborhood mom-and-pop restaurants. Spirit & Soul is where those worlds meet in one space.This is more than food — it’s about using flavor to build community. My dream is to take this pop-up and turn it into a permanent West Side space — a place for workshops, dinner-and-a-movie nights, free community meals, and celebrating our heritage through food.
Every dish is a memory. Every flavor has meaning. And this time, it’s not just about what’s served—it’s about what’s restored. Whether I'm cooking on a grill or setting up shop at a community event, I arrive with the same goal: to bring people together around food that holds meaning.
Seasonal Menu
Our menu moves with the seasons, the city, and the stories we’re telling. Items may rotate or shift based on availability—but the heart stays the same.
Pop-Up Menu Favorites
grilled chicken thighs chopped like rib tips—served with your choice of Sweet & Spicy, Mumbo Sauce, or Lemon Pepper Sauce. Optional pairing: "Cousins" or seasonal waffles (available on the brunch menu).
A Southern spin on a Chicago icon. Grilled chicken sausage topped with grilled onions, tangy mustard, Chicago mild sauce, and a side of slaw.
Thick-cut smoked bologna grilled and glazed with mild sauce, mustard aioli, crispy onions, and cheese on a slider bun.
My spin on the classic corn roll tamale—deconstructed jalapeño cornbread base topped with spicy beef and a drizzle of green salsa verde.
Chicago roots, Southern heart, one delicious bridge — tender Italian beef, garlicky broth with a Cajun twist, spaghetti noodles, a boiled egg (optional), and a touch of giardiniera.
Pop-Up Menu Favorites
Grilled chicken thighs chopped like rib tips—served with your choice of Sweet & Spicy, Mumbo Sauce, or Lemon Pepper Sauce. Optional pairing: "Cousins" or seasonal waffles (available on the brunch menu).
A Southern spin on a Chicago icon. Grilled chicken sausage topped with grilled onions, tangy mustard, Chicago mild sauce, and a side of slaw.
Thick-cut smoked bologna grilled and glazed with mild sauce, mustard aioli, crispy onions, and cheese on a slider bun.
My spin on the classic corn roll tamale—deconstructed jalapeño cornbread base topped with spicy beef and a drizzle of green salsa verde.
Chicago roots, Southern heart, one delicious bridge — tender Italian beef, garlicky broth with a Cajun twist, spaghetti noodles, a boiled egg, and a touch of giardiniera.
Seasonal Catering Menu (Summer)
A nod to rib tips, minus the pork—chopped chicken thighs, slathered in one of our signature sauces (sweet & spicy, mumbo sauce, or lemon pepper sauce).
A West Side twist on Sunday dinner—tender beef slow-roasted and soaked in garlicky jus and giardiniera veggies, inspired by Chi-Town’s beef culture.
Shrimp and Chopped Maxwell Street Polish sausage served over dirty rice or grits with grilled onions, Georgia mustard-infused étouffée, and topped with diced sport peppers.
Roasted portobellos filled with pimento cheese and Southern soul. A meatless main that still brings the heat.
A soulful mix of collards and cabbage, seasoned with smoked turkey, onions, and a bold vinegar punch.
Decadent mac and cheese with a touch of truffle, topped with a mild sauce swirl for a Chi bite.
Warm skillet corn blended with pimento cheese and topped with a dash of Tajín. Creamy, tangy, and perfect for summer.
Our signature garden salad, inspired by Chicago’s motto. Fresh greens, seasonal veggies, and vinaigrette—sometimes with a touch of seasonal fruit.
Please Note: Our catering menu is priced per half pan and full pan for your convenience. Orders must be placed at least 48 hours in advance to ensure quality and availability. Because our offerings are seasonal and locally sourced, some menu items may change based on ingredient availability — but the flavor and soul will always stay the same.
Seasonal Catering Menu (Summer)
A nod to rib tips, minus the pork—chopped chicken thighs, slathered in one of our signature sauces (sweet & spicy, mumbo sauce, or lemon pepper sauce).
A West Side twist on Sunday dinner—tender beef slow-roasted and soaked in garlicky jus and giardiniera veggies, inspired by Chi-Town’s beef culture.
Shrimp and Chopped Maxwell Street Polish sausage served over dirty rice or grits with grilled onions, Georgia mustard-infused étouffée, and topped with diced sport peppers.
Roasted portobellos filled with pimento cheese and Southern soul. A meatless main that still brings the heat.
A soulful mix of collards and cabbage, seasoned with smoked turkey, onions, and a bold vinegar punch.
Decadent mac and cheese with a touch of truffle, topped with a mild sauce swirl for a Chi bite.
Warm skillet corn blended with pimento cheese and topped with a dash of Tajín. Creamy, tangy, and perfect for summer.
Our signature garden salad, inspired by Chicago’s motto. Fresh greens, seasonal veggies, and vinaigrette—sometimes with a touch of seasonal fruit.
Please Note: Our catering menu is priced per half pan and full pan for your convenience. Orders must be placed at least 48 hours in advance to ensure quality and availability. Because our offerings are seasonal and locally sourced, some menu items may change based on ingredient availability — but the flavor and soul will always stay the same.
Seasonal Sweets + Summer Sippers
Chocolate Swiss rolls, creamy banana pudding remixed with fresh banana slices, and topped with a sweet-savory sprinkle of Garrett’s caramel popcorn crunch.
A refreshing chilled lemon cheesecake parfait topped with lemon zest and crushed lemonheads for a sweet Chi nod.
Seasonal Parfaits are $4 for 4oz | $55 (by the dozen)
Fresh-squeezed and flavored with herbs or fruit (rotates by season).
Cold-brewed sweet tea with a Southern twist—may include peach, hibiscus, mint, or mashups like Kool-Aid mixes.
Seasonal Lemonades & Sweet Teas are $3 (12oz) | $25 per gallon
Seasonal Sweets + Summer Sippers
Classic pudding layered with vanilla cookies and topped with a sweet-savory popcorn crunch.
A refreshing chilled lemon cheesecake parfait topped with lemon zest and crushed lemonheads for a sweet Chi nod.
Fresh-squeezed and flavored with herbs or fruit (rotates by season).
Cold-brewed sweet tea with a Southern twist—may include peach, hibiscus, mint, or mashups like Kool-Aid mixes.
Service Hours
Service Areas
Serving Chicago and surrounding suburbs. only available on weekends • must book 48 hours in advance
What We Do
Private parties • Festivals • Special Occasions • Pop-Ups • Cooking Demos • Community Dinners
Service Hours
Service Areas
Serving Chicago and surrounding suburbs. only available on weekends • must book 48 hours in advance
What We Do
Private parties • Festivals • Special Occasions • Pop-Ups • Cooking Demos • Community Dinners
A Look Inside
FAQs
Let's Connect
We don’t just cater—we gather.
Spirit & Soul hosts free community dinners and Dinner & a Movie Nights in neighborhoods across Chicago. Whether we’re on a sidewalk, in a church basement, or setting up under string lights in a lot—we bring people together around food that heals and stories that matter.
Location
Chicago-based. Neighborhood-rooted. Serving communities across the city, one plate at a time. We go where the stories (and the people) are.
Phone
+1(708) 856-2656
Spirit & Soul Catering + Community
Location
Chicago-based. Neighborhood-rooted. Serving communities across the city, one plate at a time. We go where the stories (and the people) are.
Opening hours
We cook by occasion, not by the clock. Weekend catering. Pop-ups, private dinners, and soul-filled events—book in advance.
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