Tired of takeout? Bring “Homemade” home with Melody’s Creative Cuisine
If you’ve ever been to an event in Bartlesville, chances are you’ve tried one of Melody’s Creative Cuisine’s beautiful creations.
Melody’s has catered delicious dinners and delectable charcuterie to many public and private events around Bartlesville, as well as gorgeous cakes and tasty cookies and cupcakes. But did you know that Melody’s also offers fun, family-style take-home dinners in their in-store location at 401 Dewey Avenue in the RSU building?
As an occasional attendee of local events, I knew I really enjoyed Melody’s charcuterie trays. I tried one of the charcuterie boats at a Broadway in Bartlesville reception I attended with my parents and couldn’t stop raving about it to co-workers. I tracked the business down and was delighted to discover their in-store offerings, a whole menu of creative casseroles and delectable desserts.
Open Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Melody’s offers online ordering through their website, www.melodyscuisine.com. Perfect for those days when cooking is impossible but restaurant food doesn’t sound appealing, Melody’s homestyle casseroles can be picked up at a moment’s notice and only require a bit of heating to make a great meal.
“I’m a food snob,” says namesake owner Melody Hughes. “I’m not going to make things from a mix. Everything is homemade.”
My husband and I decided to test Melody’s home cooking out recently with a container of the “Dinner by 6” cheeseburger soup. Even though the soup came frozen, it didn’t take long to thaw on the stove and we both enjoyed it with the garnish of chopped pickles. Hearty and comforting, I would say the take-home portion of soup would be a filling dinner for two or a lunch-size portion for three to four people.
We both enjoyed it, and now I know on busy days, Melody’s soup is a great option. I also had the joy of trying two of the casseroles from Melody’s – the green chili chicken enchilada casserole and the million-dollar spaghetti casserole.
I couldn’t get enough of the green chili chicken enchilada casserole. We purchased these casseroles to share with coworkers at a party, selecting large pan sizes. There were plenty of leftovers – I ate on the enchiladas for a couple of days afterward, and I thought they just kept getting better and better.
Three days out, I shared the last of the leftovers with my mom, who declared them “the best.”
The million-dollar spaghetti was a huge hit with my husband, who usually isn’t a pasta guy. Although I mostly avoid gluten, I tried this casserole, and I fully believe the million-dollar spaghetti deserves its monied moniker.
Lasagna-like, this loaded pasta dish is sure to please the pickiest eater. Take-Out Day is on Thursdays. From 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Melody’s offers in-store baked goods and fresh, unfrozen meal selections such as stacked beef enchiladas and Waldorf Chicken salad.
At my recent visit, I left with a gluten-free monster cookie for myself and a lemon bar for my father-in-law. Both of us thoroughly enjoyed our treats. Among other fresh-baked goodies, Melody’s shelves were lined with scrumptious cinnamon rolls, sweetbreads, cookies, and scones.
And of course, let us not forget about Melody’s’ famous catering. “I tell people if you want a Walmart tray, that’s not what I provide,” she confided. “I don’t do just normal fruit and veggie trays, I want it to be a unique experience.”
Melody’s sumptuous charcuterie has graced the tables at several events I have attended. Both beautiful to look at and tasty to eat, I am always pleasantly surprised by the small details the caterer includes in her spread, such as dried fruit, nuts, fruit or meat cut and arranged to look like flowers, or in the case of the most recent spread I enjoyed, a brie cheese adorned with fresh honeycomb. You really can’t go wrong with Melody’s charcuterie.
More: The Eatery in downtown Bartlesville updates menu
While I was in-store for Takeout Thursday, I also had the pleasure of seeing some beautifully decorated cupcakes made to order for a customer.
“We can do cake, pie, dozens of cookies, dozens of cupcakes, whatever you want,” Melody told me. “Make sure to order 24-48 hours ahead.”
One note Melody asked me to share with potential customers is that her Square site online ordering system has a pre-set note that claims food will be available for pick up the next day, but this is actually not true: online orders from the “Dinner by 6” menu are available for take-home same day.
What are you waiting for? Grab your family a casserole or some soup for dinner tonight, you won’t regret it.
This article originally appeared on Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise: Tired of takeout? Bring “Homemade” home with Melody’s Creative Cuisine
