Beth Cañete

By Abigail Blonigen

Those who frequent Rice Lake Road north of Duluth have likely passed by the Gnesen Convenience Store and Liquor.

From the outside, it looks like any convenience store you would stumble across in rural Minnesota: a few fuel pumps, a neon “open” sign and an advertisement for whichever beer is on sale. Inside is more of the same convenience store fare: a plethora of snacks, ice cream by the scoop, canned food and household goods.

But wait, there’s more. The Gnesen convenience store has not only an extensive collection of fairy garden accessories, but a pop-up restaurant serving authentic Filipino cuisine.

Beth Cañete immigrated to the United States in 1991, leaving the tropical climate of the Philippines for the harsh winters of Duluth, Minnesota.

Beth Cañete is pictured in 2021 with her daughter Keren (her oldest, a United States Air Force Msgt.), son Gian (second oldest, a United States Air Force Senior Airman), husband Grenny, grandson Ronan, son Girvin (her youngest, a junior at Duluth East High School) and son Grent (second youngest, a student in North Dakota State University's civil engineering program).

Within a couple months, she was managing the Gnesen Convenience Store.

“There wasn't a lot of window for me to learn the culture and everything,” she said. “Everything was really new, so it was really a culture shock.”

Cañete persevered, learning the ins and outs of an entirely new culture along with finances and operations for a small business. Cañete credits her degree in commerce from a university in the Philippines as vital to her eventual success.

Fast-forward to 2013, and the Philippines was decimated by Typhoon Haiyan. Wanting to help her community, Cañete decided to raise funds for typhoon victims by selling authentic Filipino food.

The fundraiser was a hit, raising nearly $10,000 in five days. Realizing there was a market for the food she made at home for her family, Cañete launched Nanay’s

Kitchen, a pop-up restaurant.

The University of Minnesota Duluth marketing program was key in Cañete launching the business, and she still has strong connections with the UMD Center for Economic Development.

“Nanay” means “mother” in the Philippines, a fitting name for Cañete’s home-cooked meals, driven by her love of cooking for others.

“It's a passion,” she said. “It's a food made out of love.”

Cañete is the proud mother of four children who inspire her to keep going.

“(My kids) are my inspiration and my driving force for everything that we do here in the store,” she said. “I could never manage a convenience store and kitchen without my kids.”

Currently, Nanay’s Kitchen is open for takeout twice a week:

Friday evenings and midday Saturday. The “food-to-go” model became very popular with the pandemic, so Nanay’s Kitchen was able to persevere.

Customers are encouraged to call at least 24 hours in advance to place their orders. Nanay’s also does catering for special events.

Despite her pop-up’s growing popularity, Cañete does not see herself opening a traditional sit-down restaurant, as it would ultimately require more time, more overhead and more hands.

“It would not be me,” she said of the prospect. “I'm very personable when it comes to my customers.”

Cañete has even begun to stock staple Asian ingredients in the store, namely Filipino, Korean and Japanese food. With international grocery options limited in Duluth, the

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