What happens when two people with large families come together? In this case, it’s magic in the form of food. Jon and Maria Frederick have German Mennonite and Puerto Rican backgrounds, respectively, so entering the catering business serving tens to hundreds of people at a time felt natural to them.
“That’s like my brothers and sisters getting together on a Friday,” Jon joked.
By mid-2023, the couple took the next step in their food business, eponymously named Jon & Maria’s, by opening a takeout window on James Street in Lancaster city. The takeout focuses on Spanish American cuisine—which represents the fusion of their two personalities—while their catering business is more customizable to different fares.
In the bold yellow building at the corner of James and Market streets, Maria’s face shines through the takeout window as she helps customers in between cooking up a storm. Jon’s knack for barbecue (brisket, ribs, pulled pork and the like) keeps him busy behind the bay. Their neighbors say the smell of the smoker drives their mouths to water.
On the takeout menu are items like pork bites, smoked chicken sandwiches, jibaro (Maria’s pulled pork), tostones (fried plantains), an actually moist cornbread, and cilantro rice bowls with toppings of all kinds. There’s no shortage of sauces for people who prefer
to drench their platters. Sodas and sweet tea are an easy add-on.
For the owners, keeping the menu tight is a way to gain the trust of their community, but don’t be surprised if you see them experimenting in the form of new weekly specials.
On the catering side, Jon and Maria have set offerings but are always open to the challenge of new cuisines. Recently, they received a request to make Ugandan food, and they immediately began researching, excited to take on the task. If you’d rather your party feature a taco bar, slider pack, barbecue cookout, or desserts like Maria’s beloved coconut tres leches cake, your preferences are just as welcome.
From football parties to Thanksgiving platters to church events, don’t be surprised to find the taste of Jon & Maria’s at an upcoming event. They can work with you on customizing a realistic menu for events of just about any size.
The pair has been together for decades and has four kids, otherwise known as the taste testers for potential menu items. Over the three years that Jon and Maria perfected the art and science of mac and cheese (the final product features 10 different cheeses and a satisfying ratio of gooeyness and crust), the family had their fill.
But both working and living together is a new adventure for the couple. Jon drove a truck for 18 years on a regional route, which meant he was often away from home. In that time, Maria learned to do things her way and embodied her independent nature. However, they’ve come to know each other on a deeper level by working on building a business together.
“He likes the chaos,” Maria says about kitchen life. “I like organized chaos.” While they have their differences, they feed off each other’s strengths. Jon admits that Maria’s pulled pork recipe is better, and Maria admits that Jon has a way of managing the kitchen thanks to his experience as a restaurant cook when he was younger.
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As a way to really introduce themselves to the city, Jon & Maria’s was a stop on Lancaster’s annual Taste the World sampling tour this past September. It earned the most votes in five categories: Best New Discovery, I’ll Be Back Soon, I Can’t Wait to Tell My Friends, Best Presentation, and My Taste Buds Are Happy. They also earned second place for the category of Most Generous.
With all those accolades, it’s safe to say that the Jon & Maria’s mania is catching on.
The fact that the pair has gotten here with a leap of faith makes it even more impressive. Over their time together—from high school friends-of-friends in their hometown of Reading to married and parents decades later—they’ve made a point to encourage their family to try new things, even when it’s scary. “We were like, we can’t keep on encouraging them to do something because we’re not doing what people are encouraging us to do,” Maria said.
Written in ink on the window of the industrial kitchen is a mission statement that Jon and Maria live by: “Bless God in what we do. Bless others with what we do. Be blessed through what we do. Show God’s love through serving others.”
For the pair, it’s that simple, and yet their flavors, their dynamic and their impact is as complex as a 10-cheese mac.
Jon & Maria’s
30 W James St, Lancaster, PA
717-813-4630
