Kasen McCarty brings fresh flavors to southern Missouri
by Ricki Spargo | rspargo@ruralmissouri.org
Kasen McCarty has felt a connection to cooking for as long as he can remember. The 20-year-old chef is most in his element when hand-rolling pasta dough or flambeing desserts at his home test kitchen in Ellsinore. “I started watching the Food Network when I was a kid,” he says. “I fell in love with cooking. By the time I was 5 or 6, I had started recreating dishes I saw on the shows.” He runs a tight ship, moving effortlessly throughout the kitchen as he prepares a variety of offerings to be tested, critiqued and brought back to the drawing board.
Kasen is in his second year of pursuing his passion for the culinary arts full time through his catering company, Delectable Delights. Headquartered in the back of his family’s insurance office in Poplar Bluff, he offers high-quality, affordable food made with locally sourced ingredients.
“If you go out to eat in a small town like ours, your options are pretty limited. I felt like people weren’t getting the quality food they were paying for,” says the Ozark Border Electric Cooperative member. “I want people in southeast Missouri to experience food from every corner of the world without breaking the bank.”
What started as a Facebook post advertising a few dozen eclairs turned into a full-blown business. “We suddenly had 40 orders for desserts,” he says. “I was going to every Walmart and Dollar General in the area looking for ingredients and packaging supplies.”
Today, Kasen sees a steady stream of weekly orders. Some orders are for individual desserts, such as his famous creme brulee. Others are for his Family Feasts which feed six to eight people.
His dedication to bringing cultural cuisine to southeast Missouri can be credited to his love for traveling. From Switzerland to Italy, Kasen has prioritized visiting (and eating in) as many different countries as possible. His favorite destination so far? Barcelona. “Their lives are so fast-paced. A lot of the restaurants offer small plates called tapas, which pack a lot of flavors in several small bites.”
While influenced by his love for travel and passion for people, Kasen’s path to catering hasn’t been direct. He graduated from East Carter High School in 2023 with a plan to play basketball at Crowley’s Ridge College in Paragould, Arkansas. After considering his options and praying it over, he chose to pursue cooking.
“It’s confusing to some people that I decided to quit basketball,” he says. “They always say ‘You cook? I thought you were an athlete!’ Once they try my food, they understand the decision.”
Kasen is continually adding to his menu, relying on seasonal produce from local growers to determine the direction of his offerings. “My recipes are always evolving,” he says. “At least that’s my goal. I’ll try a sauce, add a few things to it and come back later to evaluate.” Delectable Delights defies normal food genres, bringing treats inspired by different cultures together on one menu.
Looking forward, Kasen’s big ideas for the future rest on the foundation of one thing —experience. “Hospitality is always at the front of my mind. No matter what we do, I want people to feel welcomed and cared for,” he says. “I’m grateful that I have the freedom to experiment with everything I offer while having the full trust and support of my customers.”
For more information on Delectable Delights, call 573-778-2375 or find them on Facebook.
