By Natalie Bazinet
Staff Writer
CARIBOU — Whether it’s a McZebo, a Kenzer or a Denzie, customers agree that the signature subs at MacKenzie’s Subs and Pizza are a delicious addition to the Aroostook County restaurant scene.
Aroostook Republican photo/Natalie Bazinet
Taking part of the ribbon cutting that celebrated the opening of MacKenzie’s Subs and Pizza were, from left, front row: MacKenzie Hite, for whom the business is named; shop owner David Hite, his fiancée Eran Montgomery and daughter Emiley Hite. Second row: Wendy Landes, director of the Caribou Chamber of Commerce, MacKenzie’s employee George Tamburello, Mayor of Caribou Kenneth Murchison, Caribou Chamber Projects Coordinator Jeannie McLaughlin and City Manager Steve Buck.
While owner David Hite plans on adjusting the menu a bit — primarily expanding the breakfast menu — a few constants since the business opened its doors on May 31st have set the sub shop apart from other businesses in town, particularly the sweet smell of made-from-scratch sub rolls that lingers in the air Monday through Saturday.
The scent of fresh baked bread, reminiscent of Saturday mornings and grandma’s house, has a more important job at MacKenzie’s than prompting a trip down memory lane because when the fragrance of bread reaches a certain depth, Hite knows that it’s time to tend the ovens.
“Everything is done by smell here,” Hite said as he shifted around large baking trays containing dozens and dozens of perfectly browned fluffy looking sub rolls.
While most people are typically attuned to the smell of smoke billowing out of the oven as an “it’s done” indicator, Hite has honed his sense of culinary timing after having worked for years in many popular local eateries.
That particular batch of rolls were sliced and halved, contributing to a circular platter of sandwiches piled high with locally purchased fresh veggies and cold cuts that found its way to a New Sweden music festival as part of the catered feast MacKenzie’s delivered to hungry artists.
The most popular item on the MacKenzie’s menu right now is the Kenzer, Hite and co-worker George Tamburello agreed. The Kenzer is “Ham, turkey, Swiss cheese, bacon, mushrooms and mayo cooked open-faced,” they described.
As summer tapers off and the temperature cools down, Hite plans on adding homemade soups to the menu — and not just any soups either.
MacKenzie’s has a very homemade, local approach to all their food, and that includes any meal that requires the use of a spoon, so all the soups will be morning-made to be lunch ready.
The young MacKenzie may only be old enough to play pretend restaurant, but the young eatery on 21 Bennett Drive in Caribou inspired by her name is turning taste buds left and right.
Open from 6 a.m. until 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, almost any time is a good time to pick up a sub, salad, pizza or breakfast sandwich at MacKenzie’s.
For more information or to place an order, MacKenzie’s can be reached by calling 493-7700.
