ABOUT THE FRESHLY FORKED

The Freshly Forked is a family-owned and operated business built on generations of hospitality, hard work, and a love for feeding people well.

For more than 35 years, husband and wife team Mike and Cathy Mayes have worked together in the food and hospitality industry, combining Cathy’s background in catering and family cooking traditions with Mike’s expertise in large-scale food service, concessions, and event operations. Today, their son Chad helps lead daily operations as part of the family business.

Cathy’s roots in food service run deep. A third-generation Jacksonville Beach native, she grew up surrounded by family-owned restaurants, fresh seafood, and home cooking. Her grandparents owned Gufford’s Chowder House and Gufford’s Seafood & Steaks on the Jacksonville Beach oceanfront during the 1930s and 1940s. Her grandfather caught much of the seafood himself, while her grandmother prepared the meals that brought people together around the table.

Cathy’s mother later catered events while raising four children, teaching Cathy and her sister not only how to cook, but also the value of hospitality, dedication, and serving others well. By the age of ten, Cathy already knew the kitchen was where she belonged.

Mike’s hospitality career began in hotel sales before taking a leap of faith to launch his own food service company in 1978. Over the years, Mike and Cathy built a business that operated concessions and catering for professional sports teams, PGA Tour events, major festivals, and large-scale venues throughout Florida and beyond.

Their company provided on-course concessions and catering at THE PLAYERS Championship and eventually operated food service at multiple PGA Tour events across the state. They also managed food service for large Jacksonville Beach festivals serving tens of thousands of guests.

As their family grew, Mike and Cathy shifted their focus closer to home, eventually operating food service and catering at the University of North Florida for more than 33 years.

Three generations of hospitality, home cooking, and serving others.

In 2017, they launched The Freshly Forked with a simple goal:
to provide fresh, chef-prepared meals that make life easier for busy people and families — without sacrificing quality, flavor, or care.

Today, every meal is prepared with the same values that shaped the family for generations:
fresh ingredients, consistency, hospitality, and food made with heart.

At The Freshly Forked, we believe good food brings people together — and we’re honored to be part of your table each week.