by Rachel Heitzenrater
rachelh@myweeklysentinel.com
CANTON — MK Cafe & Catering in Canton is now offering a catered Friday lunch special every week.
“The menu changes weekly, no two weeks are the same. It could be pulled pork one week, soup & salad the following, and lasagna the week after that. So far, it has been a fun way to showcase various menu items on our large scale catering menu,” said owner Melyce Kenyon.
Each week’s menu will be released on social media by Monday evenings. MK will take pre-orders until that Thursday, for the Friday pick-up.
Melyce said prices will typically vary from $8-$12 per meal. This lunch special is 100% pre-order only, and at this point in time, pickup only. With enough interest, they will consider a delivery option as well.
“It’s super easy to order, just shoot me an email, text or Facebook message and I’ll send you back a confirmation.”
Due to COVID restrictions and winter coming, the Kenyons decided this would be a good way to utilize their cafe and still follow state guidelines.
“Well, we primarily traveled with the trailer this summer, and kind of left the cafe scene for that time being. Now that the weather is getting chilly, and we are unable to be out as much with the trailer, we knew we wanted to do something in the cafe,” she said.
Gov. Wolf’s restrictions are still at 25% capacity, and for MK Cafe, that means only a couple customers allowed in the building on Troy Street at a time.
“So in order to provide a fresh product, we knew it would need to be a pre-order only. That way, we didn’t have leftover or unusable food at the end,” she said.
Many people are taking the “bite” and MK is seeing around 50 orders a week for this special.
“We are hoping to grow to 100 by the end of winter,” said Melyce.
Melyce grew up in Canton, Logan in Troy. Melyce said she always dreamed of opening up a shop in her hometown.
She graduated from Penn College’s culinary program in December of 2017. Upon looking at the location at 25 Troy Street in Canton, they felt it was the building for them, with plenty of potential.
“When I was a culinary arts student at Penn College, one of my classes required me to structure an imaginary business. This included the menu, layout, staffing, financials, etc. Upon graduation, I decided to take that business plan that I developed in class and turn it into reality. I opened MK Cafe & Catering in May of 2018. My professors are still shocked to this day that I turned that project into life,” she said.
More than two years in the business, Melyce and Logan are thriving. They prepare food for weddings, anniversaries, parties and more. This summer, they travelled with their daughter, Adelynn, with the food truck around parts of Bradford and Lycoming counties, bringing locals Bubble Tea, and so much more.
“As I was sitting here this morning, I was thinking back on all the different weddings we have been apart of, in the last 2.5 years I’ve been in business. Logan and I went through our calendar, and took time to remember each individual wedding. The decor, the favors, the music, the attire, and of course the food! One of my all time favorite things about my profession, is the fact that each event is so unique and special. We love working hard to create an event that suits their specific style and individual needs,” Melyce wrote in a Facebook post. “I am proud to say, by the end of this wedding season, I will have played a role in 46 weddings in the last 2.5 years! It is always such an honor when I’m asked to be apart of one of the biggest days in someone’s life. I thank each one of you for giving me that opportunity.”
Preparing food will always be something Melyce enjoys doing.
“My favorite items to make are definitely appetizers! I love taking the time to prepare a beautiful display to wow our clients at weddings and other special events. Artisan cheese boards, crudité and fresh fruit displays, spinach artichoke dip, antipasto skewers and crab cake sliders are all favorites of mine & my customers!
For more information or to place an upcoming order of their catered Friday lunch special, go to www.facebook.com/MelyceKenyonCatering.