Theres Something for Everyone at Topeka Eatery
Writer / Amy Lant-Wenger
Photographer / Kari Lipscomb
Cassie Barrios has had an unforgettable year. She took a chance, believing wholeheartedly in a big dream within a tiny town.
She is one of the exceptionally fortunate people who have been blessed by the support of a loving family. She can also say that she was truly inspired by her family.
In February of 2021, she launched a new restaurant and food truck enterprise, and christened it Corner Cravings. The dine-in eatery can be found on the outskirts of Topeka on West 200 South.
This career venture was not an entirely new avenue for Barrios, as she had previously spent 15 years in the business, with 10 of those years in a management role. A native of LaGrange County, she was raised in a region that is big on craftsmanship in a variety of trades, whether its farming, furniture making, or culinary talents.
During the outbreak of COVID-19, she was inspired to purchase a food truck, which is how the enthusiasm grew into worthwhile aspirations. It was during an outing with her family that she had something of an epiphany.
I realized how hard it is to find a place where theres something for everyone, she says. Everybody wants something different.
Opportunity came in a most timely fashion, when she learned of a facility for sale that once served as an old-fashioned country store, not far from where she had spent her earlier years.
There was a building that became available, and so I decided to jump on it, she recalls.
The result became Corner Cravings, specializing in home-cooked meals, with plenty of comfort food options to entice even the most fickle palates. A number of family members lend their expertise to the business as well, some of whom work behind the scenes in the kitchen, while others are part of the waitstaff.
We have tacos, burritos, burgers, salads, lasagna, paninis and wraps, Barrios says, adding that the eatery also has crowd favorites such as loaded nachos, various soups, macaroni and cheese, and homemade pies like the infamous Hoosier staple, the old-fashioned sugar cream pie.
Everything is created and prepared in-house, Barrios says, like the hand-pressed burgers that have rapidly become one of the most popular items on the menu. Corner Cravings also provides carry-out for customers on the run.
The food truck has made quite a number of successful appearances around LaGrange County this year, Barrios says. The business was well-represented at The Michiana Event Center during Wednesday evening special events. They also recently participated in the local Relay for Life.
As for what lies ahead for the future of Corner Cravings, Barrios is hoping to expand the menu to begin featuring breakfast items – something that has been frequently recommended by customers. Corner Cravings is a cozy stop in a quaint country setting, and Barrios is looking forward to building upon the success of 2021, well into the coming year and beyond.
Corner Cravings is located at 5990 West 200 South in Topeka. For more info, call 260-593-2700 or visit facebook.com/cornercravings13.
