SolBird Kitchen & Tap

Known for his popular Tex-Mex food truck-Sol Kitchen, Jerry Perez has become a staple in Fort Wayne’s culinary scene. His love for street tacos began as a child in Laredo, Texas. He started selling his brand of tacos from a cart in 2012 on the street corners of downtown Fort Wayne. The YLNI Barr Street Farmers Market was where his business took flight. He quickly made friends with the farmers and loved utilizing locally grown/raised ingredients in his preparations. While Perez embraces the food of many cultures, strong influences circle back to his Mexican and Texan roots. With an emphasis on fresh, local, non GMO and organic ingredients, Perez has partnered with local farms and businesses, including: Wood Farms, Atom Acres Family Farm, Hawkins Family Farm, Windrose Farms, Yellow Cup Coffee Roasters, and others to create his menu of playful, yet elevated fare.

Solbird Kitchen & Tap showcases the beer of Birdboy Brewing Co. (named for Fort Wayne’s legendary aviator Art Smith, nicknamed “Birdboy”). Ben Thompson, owner of Birdboy Brewing Co. brews locally in Fort Wayne and operates a taproom in Roanoke, IN. He is the creator of Solbird Kitchen & Tap’s signature beer “Solbird” a Mexican dark lager. In addition to showcasing Birdboy Brewing Co, Solbird Kitchen & Tap also features brews from several local Fort Wayne and Indiana breweries. Fort Wayne is home to some of the finest in craft beer and Perez has partnered with these local breweries to expand on his desire to Support, Eat and Drink Local!

In 2018, Perez and his wife Laurie, created SOLBIRD, a fresh kitchen & tap concept, inspired by the strong entrepreneurial spirit that is Fort Wayne.