A healthful soup and salad bar is something businesswoman Norma Thomson has always wanted to open. So when the right location came along, she seized the opportunity.Ms Thomson took over part of the former O Bar space on Bermudiana Road and was able to buy much of the furnishings and equipment in liquidation.The result is Nonna’s Kitchen, which Ms Thomson is expected to open later this month for breakfast and lunch initially. It is named after her nickname.With the help of interior designer Michele Smith of OBMI, in just a month, they transformed the space into a small kitchen area for her to bake her breads and make her homemade soups.She imported and had installed a central salad bar, which she plans to fill with more than a dozen healthy, fresh toppings including asparagus, quinoa, hummus and edamame.“I learned to cook at a very young age, seven-years-old, and cooking has always been a passion of mine,” said Ms Thomson.You can carry out from Nonna’s, or eat in the spruced up covered patio area has plenty of outdoor seating.She added that many customers like to wander around a salad bar themselves and choose the various toppings they like the most.Salad bars are very popular throughout the US and Canada, she said, “We hope to fill that market niche”.Ms Thomson has her own soup recipes. A tribute to her Guatemalan heritage, they include such soups as black bean, corn chowder, white bean, broccoli cheese and pumpkin and clam chowder.She plans to also offer gluten-free options, including breads without wheat and at least one soup every day will be gluten free.Ms Thomson will also make her own vinaigrette salad dressings, hearty beef stew and chili plus her secret-recipe corn bread.For now, she will be doing the cooking, and managing the business, with the help of one or two other staff.To keep costs down, “We recycled everything,” said Ms Smith. “I would describe it as a sustainable, contemporary decor with an old fashioned love of cooking.”Nonna’s Kitchen will open at 7am for breakfast, serving freshly made scones, bagels and oatmeal, plus fresh Guatemalan coffee will be brewing.“Where else can you get oatmeal, a banana and a cup of coffee for $7?” she said, noting the focus will be on a healthy breakfast.Soups will be ready around 11am, and served through 2.30pm.She hopes to have a happy hour as well, featuring beer and wine and entertainment by local artists.And she emphasises, Nonna’a will be eco-friendly, where you can bring your own refillable cup.Hours are 7 am to 2.30 pm Monday to Friday and she is hoping to do a soft opening on Tuesday, March 19.