STILLWATER OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE / 14
The Duncans still make time for date nights, although they mainly consist of trips to Sam’ s Club and Costco. Even though they cook and bake all day long at work, they still make meals at home for themselves.
A few delectable goodies from award-winning Duncan Catering their own strong suit. Chad runs the business side of things. With his background in Hotel and Restaurant Management, he keeps Duncan Catering running like a well-oiled machine on the back end.
Families who work and live together need... timeouts. Although the three family members have different personalities and communication skills, they always deal with issues head on. Each will point out when the other one needs to step back and have a nap or a snack, with Kris being the one in timeout the most! Despite sharing a home and a business 24 / 7, they wouldn’ t change a thing. Each family member brings his or her own set of skills to the( dinner) table.
Their business has grown from small catering jobs on the weekends to creating menus and catering entire events for Oklahoma State University Athletics and multiple galas throughout the year. Their storefront allows them to provide take home meals for lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday. Fresh, home-cooked comfort foods and decadent desserts are always on hand.
“ When you bake everything from scratch there are no limitations,” Kris said as I was shoving a coconut cookie in my mouth. Duncan Catering is the reigning Payne County Top Pastry Chef champ for a reason.
The Duncans still make time for date nights, although they mainly consist of trips to Sam’ s Club and Costco. Even though they cook and bake all day long at work, they still make meals at home for themselves. The family loves to frequent mom-andpop diners and hole-in-the-wall restaurants during their travels. Inspiration is everywhere, and Kris’ s brain never turns off. She is constantly bouncing ideas off of Chad and the two of them work well together when it comes to creating monthly food and wine experiences for their customers.
Next on the agenda is creating a more inclusive menu for those with food allergies and intolerances. With a rise in cases of Alpha Gal Syndrome( tick disease) and more people being gluten-free, Duncan Catering wants to provide options for people to take to family gatherings and tailgates without sacrificing flavor and quality while providing food they can actually eat. I have several friends and a mom who are strictly gluten-free and are often left out when it comes to potlucks and office parties.
Food is medicine, food is love and food will always be a way to connect with others. The Duncans were recently honored by
Payne County Youth Services with a Heart of the Community award for providing meals to the kiddos under Payne County Youth Services’ care.
“ The support and love we get is nothing short of humbling and heartwarming,” Kris said.“ One of the cornerstones of our business is that if you’ re going to ask for support from a community, then you should be ready and willing to support it right back.”
And I’ ve got to say, the Duncans are some of the nicest and most genuine people I’ ve ever met.
After a whirlwind 2025, and over 10,000 croissants baked, this dedicated family has no intention of slowing down. Follow their social media pages for daily menu options and information on their upcoming private dinners. Kris is super excited about their Made In Oklahoma dining experience in May. They’ ve sourced ingredients from around Payne County and made some new connections with local farmers to partner on future food projects.
“ Food is everything we are. It’ s an extension of nationalist feeling, ethnic feeling, your personal history, your province, your region, your tribe, your grandma.”- Anthony Bourdain
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STORY BY: JENNIFER JALBERT Stillwater Oklahoma Magazine PHOTOS by JENNIFER JALBERT
STILLWATER OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE / 14