MaryLee Kitchens serves East Coast comfort at Tempe's Yucca Tap Room

Mary and Lee Profeta-Scardina’s food trailer was stolen and damaged just days after Christmas. It was recovered on Dec. 28, and while the couple was were grateful their rig was found, it was "trashed," Mary says. The duo were scheduled to pop-up at Electric Bat Arcade in Tempe, but were uncertain how they'd be able to serve their menu at Yucca Tap Room's arcade.

“Yucca Tap Room stepped up and said our kitchen is available,” says Mary, who with her wife Lee runs MaryLee Kitchens.

The vacancy was created by the recent move of Moodie Blacks from the Tempe venue to Cartel Coffee Co. in the Coronado neighborhood. The opening led to this silver lining for the couple, who have operated the mobile MaryLee Kitchens since 2023.

The pair first dove into a food business together in 2020, making pork roll – a New Jersey staple also known as Taylor ham. Lee, a former executive chef, became enamored with the meat after trying it on a trip to Mary's home state.

The couple developed their own version using pork belly and shoulder, eschewing preservatives and creating a spice blend that includes a bit of heat to add an Arizona twist. The ground meat and seasonings are packed into a bag and smoked. Once cooked, the pork roll is thinly sliced and grilled.

“We just upped it,” Mary says of their pork roll. “It’s very hard to describe but it’s really akin to bacon.”

After seeing the response to the pork roll, the duo decided to invest in a food trailer.

“We are a diner on wheels,” Mary says. “Everything we serve on the truck is made fresh.”

Their menu includes a mix of East Coast and Southwestern-inspired eats such as burritos, burgers and sandwiches. Among them is Grill My Pickle, an elevated take on the classic pork roll, egg and cheese sandwich. The MaryLee version uses their pork roll, provolone, a fried egg, Italian herb cream cheese and housemade grilled pickles on sourdough.

Although pork roll is a staple of their menu, Mary notes all their items can be made vegetarian. They’ll offer the same menu at Yucca as they have on their food truck, but Mary notes that Lee will work in specials, too.

“We really cater to the community’s wants and needs,” Mary says.

MaryLee Kitchens will serve at Yucca Tuesdays through Sundays. It’s a spot that’s been a staple in their lives, from Mary heading there after nursing shifts to playing pinball at Yucca’s Electric Bat Arcade.
The pair intends to offer their eats at Yucca and from their trailer once they can get it repaired. Although it was recovered the next day, thanks to the help of social media followers who spread the word, the trailer needs some serious work, Mary says.

It was damaged inside and grey paint was slapped over the trailer’s exterior wrap, which is inspired by the pinball game "Diner" and a nod to the couple’s affinity for the game – both Mary and Lee play competitively.

But, despite that challenge “out of that comes a blessing,” Mary says of the opportunity to expand into Yucca Tap Room.

And, MaryLee Kitchens hopes to continue there “until they kick us out,” Mary quips, adding: “We’re super excited to have this."

MaryLee Kitchens

29 W. Southern Ave., Tempe