The pandemic has caused many people to rethink the way they do many things, and to rethink how they are helping those around them. One person who made a major change was Rebecca Fralick, the owner of Mara’s by Matenaer Catering in Manitowoc.
Fralick told SeehaferNews.com that prior to the pandemic she had a thriving restaurant in Sheboygan but shifted her focus once the COVID-19 virus reached the area.
“At the beginning of the pandemic, I shut down my business in Sheboygan and started delivering meals to people in need no questions asked,” she explained. “It really reminded me how important giving back is to me.”
Fralick, who lives in Manitowoc, said she knew of Amber Daugs of Grow it Forward through her previous work at the Farmers Market, and offered her services.
“I reached out to her because I knew they had the shared kitchen just to see if I could potentially rent it,” Fralick said. “I expected a pretty clean-cut relationship, but it turns out it has become a really cool partnership. So I permanently closed my business in Sheboygan and now I’m operating there. I love working with them because I get to run my business, but also get that philanthropic aspect.”
Now, Mara’s by Matenaer Catering is fully operational in the Grow it Forward kitchen.
We asked Fralick if she was searching for more employees at the moment, and she explained, “I have some causal employees and in partnership with Grow it Forward, sometimes we will get some volunteers in. We can always use more volunteers for stuff. I’m not specifically looking to hire anyone right now, but once the pandemic is under control…we just remodeled over at Grow it Forward so there actually will be a sit-down café, so at that point, I may be looking to hire some more people.”
Fralick said that she aims to serve healthy food including gluten free, vegetarian, and vegan options, which Daugs said works very well with the Grow it Forward model. “She utilizes some of our fresh produce,” Amber explained. “We have right now, online, four hydroponic towers, so there are fresh greens that she incorporates into her meals. Often the salads are picked fresh daily.”
Amber went on to say, “We appreciate the fact that there is that attention to a healthier menu.”
Amber also said she appreciates the little touches Rebecca adds to her plates, saying “Often she will decorate her salads…with edible flowers. Sometimes on her baked goods…she will use edible glitter. It’s something that is a little extra special that you wouldn’t necessarily experience elsewhere in our community.”
You can learn more about Mara’s by Matenaer Catering by visiting their Facebook page or going to MatenaerCatering.com.
