NAPLES HERALD

Madam Mac's Radical Rations feeds locals and and an economic need

​Author:  Tiara Brown

March 14, 2015

 

​Dawn Bryant is so good at getting her “mac” on that she made it her job. Known by many as Madam Mac, the owner of Radical Ration’s catering company grew up inspired by her foster mother’s collard greens, fried chicken and of course, macaroni and cheese. In adulthood, Bryant added her own flavor to the southern dishes. Now, Madame Mac is taking over farmers’ markets and local events in the Naples area...

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Bryant moved from Jamaican Queens, New York to Naples in 2011. At the time she was a domestic violence shelter administrator for Volunteers of America, a national nonprofit organization. When she moved to Florida, Bryant dedicated her time to following a dream she’d had since childhood.

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“The goal was to start my own food business,” Bryant said. “I started out with crock pots and extension cords and I’d load up my vehicle. I took the seats out of my car to store everything I and worked out of a commissary pizza shop that was nice enough to let me work under their license. At my first farmers markets I was out there with my mac and cheese, chicken noodle soup and fried chicken, but the sign said Carlos’ Pizza.”

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It wasn’t long before Bryant’s simple dishes became a topic of worship among her customers. Business was so good that Bryant herself became licensed and started her own catering company on top of her weekly sales at the markets. Radical Rations Catering Services, LLC specializes in unique variations of classic southern dishes and “international soul food” including fried chicken, shepard’s pie, southern-style vegetables, soups, salads, and macaroni. Bryant started with classic mac and cheese and expanded to more than 19 variations.

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“Most nights I just wake up and get bored and create a new one,” Bryant said.” We’ve got veggie mac, gluten free mac, my favorite jalapeño and bacon mac, lobster mac, chili mac, all sorts of creations.”

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Another popular dish among Bryant’s customers was created by her partner, Veda “Mac Magic.” The chicken casserole has been transformed into what customers dubbed, “Thanksgiving in a bowl.” The dish has become so well-known that when Bryant yells the order down the line, neighboring venders will echo the “Thanksgiving in a bowl” order for the rest of the market to hear.

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In her four years as a local business owner, Bryant has acquired devoted customers. Tourist season brings in an abundance of northerners who return to farmers’ markets specifically to order “maccones,” a foil-wrapped cone full of cheesy deliciousness from Madam Mac. The social worker in Bryant keeps her motivated to stay in touch with many of her loyal customers, even to the point of sending them food when they’re sick.

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“I have one customer from Cincinnati who comes back each year because she loves my mac and cheese,” Bryant said. “But she was recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and is about to start going through chemo. So I surprised her by shipping a whole batch of her favorite mac to her so she has some comfort before chemo. A lot of my background falls into my work. Once a social worker, always a social worker. Customers really become a part of my life.”

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Bryant also has a soft spot for children and has even named all of her dishes after one child’s reaction to tasting her classic macaroni for the first time.

“The children rule my stand,” Bryant said. “A few years ago I gave a sample to a little five year old. She was so excited that after she tasted it she said it was the most magical thing she’d ever tasted in her life. That’s why my menu says each item is magical, so when kids come they know this food is also for them.”

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Friendship and food aren’t the only things that Bryant has to offer the community. She also provides a number of services as well. The majority of Bryant’s employees are people who have fallen on hard times who need employment. She advertises her positions on Craigslist and to those who inquire about a job when meeting her at farmers markets.

“If they show an interest in working in food, we bring them out and test them on the line and that’s the interview,” Bryant said. “I take people out and see where they fit. If they have a knack to sell and take care of food and customers then I keep them. I also have many people on-call for when I cater large events.”

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Outside of Radical Rations and farmers markets, Bryant teaches a free 15-week culinary program through the Heights Foundation in Fort Myers. At the end of the course, Bryant licenses her students. The Heights Foundation hopes to eventually start their own sustainable program that will bring in revenue through catering and renting out their facility to venders.

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“It all comes full circle again,” Bryant said. “I have my own business but I also get to help people, which is what I really love.”

Madam Mac’s catering menu and farmers market schedule can be found here: http://www.radicalrations.com/. But don’t forget to use the word “classic” instead of “regular” before ordering a serving of traditional macaroni and cheese. Bryant has been known to whip out a box of Kraft macaroni and cheese from under the table and remind customers that they can get “regular” mac and cheese at the store. Madam Mac only serves the magical stuff.