Today we’d like to introduce you to Roderick Williams
Hi Roderick, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started cooking when I was old enough to turn on the stove by myself. Growing up in the 80’s, my brother and I were latchkey kids, so of course we were responsible for making our after-school snacks when we got home. We thought that sandwiches and chips were too boring, so we opted to start cooking small quick meals such as sloppy joe’s, homemade hamburger helper, and my favorite, mashed potatoes with peas and carrots! The flair for cooking just grew from there.
In high school, I went to Home Economics class and our first project was to prepare an easy dinner. While everyone else was making hamburgers and hot dogs, I opted to make fried chicken, homemade biscuits, mac n cheese and collard greens. The teacher at that time then got me to start coming to her class on a daily basis making different dishes. A few months later, I had a classmate to pass from a car accident and the Home Economics teacher volunteered me and another classmate to cater the repast for the family after funeral services, in which we prepped and served an 18 course meal! Needless to say, I was hooked and thus began my career in cooking, though it would take a whole other career to bring me back to my first love!
Three days after high school graduation, I got a job working for the State of Florida in a correctional facility, and due to the money that I made and the actual enjoyment of the job, cooking took a back seat and for the next 23 years! Towards the end of my tenure in corrections, I began to cook more and more for people and catering events on the side re-igniting the passion for cooking. I started to get more and more invitations to cater events to the point that a decision had to be made………stay in a career that I’m good at and has a guaranteed paycheck every 2 weeks, but I really don’t like much or transition into a career doing something that I absolutely love, but paychecks aren’t a guarantee??? Needless to say, this was a very hard decision, but one day my lovely wife made the decision for me. We were eating dinner and as always I was falling asleep over my plate when she said to me “put in your two weeks notice”! That’s all it took. Those few words meant the world to me and gave me the courage to strike out on my passion and do what I love!
Souled Out Foods Catering Service officially opened in February of 2024, and have been going and growing every since.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Definitely has not been a smooth road! Although cooking is a passion and a love, if you want to make a career out of it, you have to learn business. Learning requirements from the state, county and city levels of having a business of selling prepared food is a nightmare! Once you think you have it all down, something else comes up. Then there is the issue of finding a location. If you started from ground up like I did, getting a location without bundles and bundles of money is very difficult. Not to mention, landlords today from what I have found, is very leery of tenants of food businesses, to the point they just do not want to rent to them. The you have the pressure of promoting your business, managing the business, managing employees, becoming Human Resources, learning how to balance the checkbook…. just everything. If it was simply just cooking, it would be simple, but making cooking a successful business… it takes a great deal of patience, flexibility and organization (all of which come very difficult for me!)
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Souled Out Foods Catering Services is a catering company that specializes in FOOD. We do not corner ourselves in any particular genre of food, instead we embrace ever culture, every genre, every cuisine. Instead of trying to be masters of anything in particular, we are students of culinary arts, we are ever learning, striving to not just titillate your taste buds but to reach your very soul (hence the name) back to a place of comfort, happiness, and pure satisfaction!
Souled Out Foods desire to give you, and your guest a culinary experience that you will never forget. We take immense pride in our food, service and our customers! I know this is heard all the time, but here at Souled Out, that’s who we are!
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
I do not know if this is surprising or not, but I am also a musician. I grew up in the church and I was self taught on piano, drums and also bass guitar (and I sing a bit too), however if you are around me for more than 5 minutes, I think you’ll figure that out, haha.
The only other thing I can think of is that I crochet blankets and pillows.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.souledoutfoods.com
