Woman finds shelter in vegan meal delivery business in eastern Idaho

Delphia Bradley runs a vegan meal delivery service in Idaho Falls called Delphia Vegan Cajun. Watch her make two of her dishes in the video above. | Rhett Nelson, EastIdahoNews.com

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A new meal delivery business offers popular southern cuisine in a vegan style.

IDAHO FALLS – Delphia Bradley has only been living in the Gem State for a month, but she already owns a long-running barbecue restaurant in Idaho Falls.

The 38-year-old Seattle woman runs Delphia Vegan Cajun, a meal delivery service inside Grandpa's Southern BBQ at 1540 W. Broadway. Anywhere in the state, she delivers fresh, organic, plant-based meals. The menu includes vegan versions of étouffée, a type of stew usually served with shrimp, crawfish or chicken. Watch her succeed in the video above.

They also offer po'boys (a Louisiana sandwich typically served with fried beef, chicken fingers, or seafood), beignets (French pastries), vegan wraps, and freshly squeezed juices and smoothies.

Bradley opened a similar restaurant in Seattle several years ago. Her meals often include vegan items and she felt there was a need for this type of service in Idaho.

“I thought it would be interesting to share with the general public what I personally eat. I eat this way because it is a good way to cleanse and detox. I wanted to share that with people because it’s a way to take it back,” Bradley told EastIdahoNews.com.

The meal delivery service is a fundraiser for her nonprofit organization, Blessings from my heart to your table, which provides resources to survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking. The two are often connected, she says, with her nonprofit providing counseling, legal services and other pressing needs. She also helps her victims financially by offering them employment in her own business for as long as they need.

Bradley's cause is personal. The African-American woman came to Idaho to escape abuse, harassment, and racism at her restaurant in Shelton, Washington. She said white men hired by her landlord sabotaged and damaged the restaurant's equipment, causing significant financial strain and making it difficult to operate.

Years of constant attacks left her feeling unsafe and forced her to close, she says.

Although Bradley had no ties to Idaho, he felt “God led him to come here.” On her first night in Falls, Idaho, in her hotel room, she saw an article in a local magazine about Grandpa's Southern Barbecue.

Related | Local eatery ranks among the best “Black-owned restaurants” in the country

“I called the day they were closing and Loretta Westbrook (who owns the restaurant with her husband Lloyd) answered the phone. She said, 'We're having a Bible study tonight, so please come by.' Told. I said, “Yes, absolutely!” I will go! '' Bradley recalled.

The Westbrooks treated Bradley to dinner at their restaurant and eventually invited her to set up shop in their kitchen until she got her own place.

Loretta said she felt an immediate affinity for Bradley, as if he were part of her family. That's why it was her natural reaction to help her.

She said it's mutually beneficial to work at the restaurant on Mondays and Tuesdays when the restaurant is closed.

“You have the ability to help someone and it's embarrassing not to do it,” says Loretta. “We're not only (fellow) sisters, but we're also God's people. And it's like, oh, this is what we're doing…and I'm delicious (outside the deal).” I’ll get you some food.”

Bradley hit the ground running and continued to make connections with people in the community. She officially launched her business on Dec. 10, and she says being an entrepreneur in eastern Idaho has been a great experience.

Idaho Falls is a comfortable place for her to grow her nonprofit, and she wants the business to be a haven for those in need.

“I think we're going to see a very diverse group of people flock to this area…and they need to feel at home coming here. That's what Delphia Vegan Cajun is about,” Bradley explains.

She hopes to eventually have her own brick-and-mortar location and additional locations to deliver meals to customers. She is grateful to Westbrooks for helping her while striving to achieve her goals.

“We welcome health fanatics to come and try us out. We're honestly vegan, honestly healthy, and honestly organic,” she says.

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Business trivia

Idaho Falls Chukers hire new manager

IDAHO FALLS – The Idaho Falls Chukars announced last week that Troy Percival has been hired as the team's next manager.

Percival will join the Chukers' coaching staff as Bob Milacki returns as pitching coach and Billy Butler returns as bench coach.

Percival brings additional major league playing experience to the Chukers' coaching staff and has been a mainstay for the team since transitioning to the MLB Partner League format before the 2021 season.

Percival will replace Dave Clark, who was announced as the Houston Astros' 2024 first base coach in December. Percival has played 14 seasons in the major leagues, mostly with the Angels, and has made 358 saves, 13th all-time.

Most recently, Percival served as the head coach at his alma mater, the University of California, Riverside, from 2014 to 2020.

The Idaho Falls Chukers' 2024 regular season begins May 21 against the Missoula Paddleheads. Season tickets are currently on sale at Melaleuca Field.

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