For most people, one of the best childhood memories
they have involve their mom’s famous, home-cooked recipes, and the time spent with family during
mealtimes.
However, most people forget about all of the work that our moms put into making those culinary creations for
us, day in and day out.
Because we’re not all blessed with chef skills that rival the likes of Emeril Lagasse, Gordon Ramsay and,
often, our own mothers, cooking for yourself or your family isn’t always the easiest of tasks.
In fact, sometimes, it just seems downright impossible. Luckily, there are folks out there who are more than
happy to help us out.
With a mission to make your life “easier, healthier, and more satisfying” by offering delicious and healthy
options to help plan your dinner menu, Cena To Go is a company with a bright idea that will likely save the day, or
week, or month for those who want to cook great meals, just like Mom.
Meals are assembled fresh at Cena locations daily. These meals range from beef dishes, pork and chicken, to
seafood and vegetarian.
Kim McAra-Lester, owner of Cena, says that customers often choose to “come in at any time during the day, and
just grab something out of our fridge, take it home and cook it for dinner that night.”
Cena prides itself in breaking away from typical, ready-to-go places for people to grab a quick bite. “I
wanted something a little bit more upscale,” said McAra-Lester. “I did a lot of research.
Unless something is truly fabulous, we don’t put it on [the menu].” This research helped to create the
gourmet menu offered by Cena.
With items like seared salmon with maple soy sauce and avocado cream, shallot and crab quiches, and pollo a
la crema with Mediterranean rice, you too can become a five-star chef in your own right.
People with allergies, or who have children with allergies, can rest assured that they can still enjoy great
meals from Cena. Twice a month, people can go online and choose a “to-go, pick-up order.”
According to McAra-Lester, this means “they can order a specific number of dishes and give us their allergy
specifications. We then custom-assemble their meals for them, and triple-check to make sure that we haven’t
included any ingredients that the client(s) can’t have.”
Another option is to come in for one of Cena’s public cooking sessions and put together your own meals. “When
you come in for a session,” says McAra-Lester, “you put together four full entrees or eight half
entrees.”
The beauty of the cooking session is that while you yourself are assembling these meals, a lot of the work
has already been done for you. This will save you time, and “still make you feel a bit culinary,” says
McAra-Lester.
Although Mother’s Day has come and gone, you can still treat a new mom to some great food — and a break from
the stress of making it — with Cena’s New Mom Special.
Just one more thing to check off the lengthy to-do lists of moms with their bundles of joy.
Even skeptics and foodies alike can now sample the tasty offerings at Cena, since the opening of the Fresh
Bistro.
Every day, a selection of sandwiches like Southern pulled pork on a fresh ciabatta wholegrain bun and soups
like mulligatawny will surely make you a believer.•
You can place an order for pickup or delivery by visiting cenatogo.com, or calling their Sherwood Park
location at 780-416-2926.
