SunPanada offers flaky pockets with veggie filling at farmers markets

Tyler Bradley’s voice warms as he talks about empanadas, the main food item of his fledgling business, SunPanada.

The flaky pockets of pastry that contain various vegetarian fillings are like presents, he says. “A surprise.”

He’s been working for nearly two years to develop the different fillings for his empanadas. His menu features empanadas with sweet potato and black beans, one he calls Mediterranean Delight, another with pear, onion and brie, one with poblano peppers and another with mushrooms and peppers with pesto.

Bradley also serves chipotle lime salsa and soon will unveil his green tomatillo salsa.

He creates the little pockets of delicious at 2103 S. Burdick St. which is also the home of Fuel. The restaurant uses the space on the weekends and he uses it during the week. “I talked to Denise (Miller), the owner of Fuel, and we worked out an arrangement,” Bradley says.

Bradley has been a vegetarian for seven years and his interest in creating his own empanadas grew from his dissatisfaction with most substitute meat products available to those who don’t eat meat. “I’m not into nachos and pizzas with soy based fake meats,” Bradley says.

Even though empanadas typically are filled with savory meats, he recognized their potential as pockets for vegetarian offerings. He also had not seen others creating such dishes and liked having a unique dish to offer.

He works to keep the products he uses as local and ethical as he can and still create affordable food. For example, his pastry crusts are of made of organic flour.

The empanada maker has moved slowly and carefully in building his business. His next steps will be finding additional outlets for the meals in a pastry pocket. For now, SunPanada offerings are available at the Bank Street Market and the 100 Mile Market at the People’s Food Co-op.

But words don’t really do them justice. Check out his Facebook page to really get your mouth watering.

Writer: Kathy Jennings, Second Wave Media
Source: Tyler Bradley, SunPanada