What is Hemma Hemma? You may have driven by the location at 7122 Wornall and the sign caught your eye..the name is unusual! Hemma Hemma is actually three culinary concepts in one location; so you have numerous ways to experience this newer Waldo, woman owned local business.
Walk into Hemma Hemma and you’ll be in the “bodega marketplace”— a full service coffee/expresso bar featuring fresh pastries, a comfortable lounge area and a refrigerated section of soups, entrees and sides for quick grab and go options. To the right of the bodega is the “hot line”—a cafeteria style selection of hot breakfast and lunch options that you can take to go or enjoy at a table in the sunny dining area. (Note that just about everything here is made in house, and selections change often.) The third space is the large Studio+Events room that offers several hands on cooking classes.
Hemma Hemma owner Ashley Bare is from Kansas City; she studied French and art history at KU and comes from a “big medical family”. After college she was an au pair in Switzerland and then decided to go to culinary school in New York, following an inner passion for food. She became a private chef and also developed recipes with cookbook authors. Ashley started meal prepping for clients during the pandemic out of her home; demand grew so much that she started looking for a commercial kitchen. After a location in the Crossroads fell through, she found this extra large space in Wlado and the landlord offered her a “great deal’. She created the Hemma Hemma concept and opened last September. (Ashley still offers the meal prep service called “Fill Your Fridge” –see the website for details.)
If you’ve not been to Hemma Hemma yet—try it! Ashley says there are several ways to “build a meal” on the hot line so you can personalize what you want. She strives for “high quality, normal food with a twist. Many items are vegetable forward and seasonal” so there is always some variety, including vegan and gluten free items. Best sellers include the miso chicken meatballs, salsa verde chicken enchiladas, lasagna, grilled cheese with tomato soup, and the vegetarian breakfast casserole. I sampled the pineapple guacamole during my visit and it was addicting!
Hemma Hemma has very convenient parking; there are spaces in front of the shop or the surface lot shared with the Fresh Green dispensary to the south. Hours are Monday-Friday 7:30-4; Saturday and Sunday 8am-3pm. Try someplace new for breakfast or lunch and stop by Hemma Hemma!
I stopped by this week to take a look –I haven’t eaten there yet and I’m not a food critic anyway! I was impressed the first thing I saw was four employees, including assistant general manager Patricia Allen, conducting a food tasting for quality, taste and appearance before the lunch rush. The other impressive aspect of this place is the amount of food you get for the price–the plate is piled high with all of the fresh ingredients you choose–easily a full pound of food that could feed two, or at least enough for leftovers! The base of your food “bowl” can be rice, green salad or Japanese noodles. Proteins include two types of chicken (one is spicy), steak, and tofu. And there’s a maze of toppings: hot choices are black beans, sprouts, and potatoes, plus ten cold toppings (veggies, etc). There are six sauce options, which you can taste before you order at a station by the soft drinks–that’s so handy for those who aren’t sure which to try and for picky children! All of this food, on one plate, for under $10! Extra options include kimchi, fresh pineapple and miso soup. There are a few seats if you want to dine in.
Walking into 
Inside Brookside (And Waldo) 