Cache Chili-N-Chowder opens to public

Cache Chili-N-Chowder, a food stand created by the owners of Romo’s Mediterranean Grill, held a soft opening on Jan. 8 in Logan and offers a 15% discount to Utah State University students with a valid student ID.

The owners said they decided to open the stand because they wanted to bring something new and different to Cache Valley.

“I’ve learned that this county is very meat and potato,” said Jill Romo, a co-owner. Romo said she wanted to incorporate that style of cooking into her own place.

Located in front of the grill at 661 N. Main Street, the stand’s walk-up and drive-up options make it accessible to both pedestrians and drivers.

Romo said the layout was designed for convenience and speed. For customers who want to sit and eat, there is seating available outside as well as inside Romo’s.

Aside from chowder and chili, the menu also includes cornbread and salad, along with baklava and brownies.

“Our menu items are made from scratch,” Romo said. “The cornbread, the chowder, the chili, all of it is made here from scratch in small batches.”

Romo said she wanted her food to feel home cooked and fresh.

“I don’t use any seed oils, and there are no preservatives or chemicals,” Romo said. “It’s just good, pure food.”

The chili and chowder bowls range from 8-60 ounces, with the biggest bowl advertised to serve four or more people.

Chelsey Markham, a Hyde Park resident, heard about the stand on social media.

In a statement sent to The Utah Statesman, she wrote that while she hasn’t been able to go to the stand yet, she is looking forward to having a local spot in Logan that serves both soup and cornbread.

“Buying food from places like this helps support the local scene, people we actually know, instead of a huge chain,” Markham wrote.

Romo said she plans to rotate the menu either weekly or every two weeks to allow for a greater variety of flavors and recipes.

“I’m most excited about the chicken noodle soup,” said Hadlie Griffen, the head server.

Romo said she wants to serve warm, home-style comfort food during the cold winter months and then convert the stand into Chimneez Ice Cream in the spring and summer.

The name is inspired by chimney cakes, which Romo plans to serve.

“Chimney cakes are really cool,” Romo said. “It’s a sweetened, leavened dough that we wrap around wooden spools, and then we cook them on the wood.”

The chimney cakes will act as cones for the ice cream. Next winter, Romo is hoping to use the cakes as bowls for the chili.

She said both Chili-N-Chowder and Chimneez Ice Cream have been in the works for several years, so she is excited to see it all come together.

While this project is ongoing, the owners are also planning to hold a grand reopening of the grill, since they recently changed the logo and building interior.

Cache Chili-N-Chowder will have its grand opening on Jan. 22.