Ruthie’s Comfort Food, formerly known as Ruthie’s Chili Spot, is a mobile restaurant founded in 2017 by Ruth Allen. Allen was born and raised in Chicago and moved to Madison to raise her sons. She talked to Madison365 about her passion for cooking, trying new recipes and her plans to expand her business in Madison and the surrounding areas. 
“Well, I’m the oldest of eight and have always cooked and so I got used to cooking for a small crowd when I was a kid,” said Allen. “And I just like to see the expression on people’s faces when I put something together and if they’re tasting it and it tastes good. I take pride in not having my food taste salty. I hate salty food and a lot of people think when they don’t taste the salt that it’s not seasoned. You have to train your taste buds to taste the flavors of those onions, the garlic, and the different peppers you can use. So that’s what I pride myself on.”
Allen started her business with the intent to sell chili. She did that for a while and transitioned into only selling soul food meals.
“I started out calling my business Ruthie’s Chili Spot,” said Allen. “And I came up with this elaborate idea to have like different chilies like chicken chili and vegetarian chili with different toppings. I called it the Chili Spot, that’s what I wanted to have — food cart called the Chili Spot that served nothing but chili. But with different fixings like bacon or sour cream. Even going all the way left and maybe put in a few potatoes on there, or something like that. From the chili spot, it evolved into Ruthie’s Comfort Food. I just wanted to bring things a little different, but keep that soul food base.”
Most of her recipes have come from experimenting with cooking for her children. She isn’t afraid to try new foods and ideas. Her goal is to add soul and love to every meal she cooks, even if it isn’t originally intended to be soul food.
“When you say soul food it’s a spiritual thing in our culture,” said Allen. “It’s a way that you can say, ‘Happy birthday,’ you can say, ‘Good job.’ Or you can say, ‘Well, this should make you feel better.’ I wanted to keep that feel and that’s when I came up with Ruthie’s, with a little of everything across the board.
“I wanted to try and see how I could bring a soulful annotation into something as simple as some fried rice,” she adds. “Or making a pot of pasta, keeping the Italian feel, but putting that boom from that soul in there to make it a soul food dish.”
Not only does Allen excel in cooking entrees and dishes, but she also experiments and creates deserts as well. She is best known for her gooey butter cakes.
“People who know me know that I also have a signature cake called my gooey butter cake,” said Allen. “I’ve been experimenting and I’m going to introduce a carrot gooey butter cake. I’m also going to try a pumpkin flavor, since everyone is interested in pumpkin spice this time of year. I’m going to offer those two and they’ll be my fall gooey butter cakes.”
You might find Ruthie’s Comfort Food at community events like the Darbo Annual Block Party or the Badger Rock Community Market. Allen is hoping to expand Ruthie’s Comfort Food to a permanent residence and establish a restaurant in Madison. She is excited to grow her business and expose new clients to her food.
“And not just saying it … but my food is awesome,” said Allen. “Not only does it look good, it really tastes good.”
Keep up with Ruth and her comfort food at her next pop-up events with the Madison Black Chamber of Commerce on Sundays throughout the month of October. To check out the menu for Ruthie’s Comfort Food, click here. For inquiries and orders, contact Ruth Allen at [email protected].
