Life & Work with Mariah Ragland

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mariah Ragland. 

Hi Mariah, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started with a hot plate. While attending Fisk University, I turned Vegan and craved some soul food. So, I snuck in a hot plate and cooked every single day, just like my mom did while growing up in Knoxville, TN. The hot plate is now a full convection oven in a commissary kitchen, so to speak.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The struggle of meeting demand is a struggle that is actually bittersweet. It’s what people call a good problem – which is true! The easy answer to meeting the demand when a lot of people want our food is to hire new people and to make more food. That part is challenging as 2020 coronavirus hit and it was hard to keep people in the kitchen and hard to even imagine what scaling up could look like in their environment. 2021-2022 is also hazy and foggy looking but I have hope then we can meet the demands of our amazing customers much better soon. I always say that I am like princess Tiana in Disney’s Princess and The Frog because my ultimate dream is to have (CORRECTION) my own restaurant in which I will be able to fulfill the needs of many people for a delicious ready to eat vegan Soul Food.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Radical Rabbit sells vegan soul food around Nashville through a pop-up concept. At Radical Rabbit, the focus is on providing progressive, natural, and revolutionary food to all people.

When I started Radical Rabbit, it was to provide food that I was craving from my mother and family in Knoxville Tennessee to everyone. I’m talking amazingly flavorful collard greens, fried chicken (which is our fried jackfruit), fried fish (feesh fry sandwich), cornbread, mashed potatoes and gravy, Mac and cheese, and so much more. I specialize in that sweet spot between healthy and comfort food. We use whole plant foods as much as possible but when it comes to our BBQ dish, Rad Ribz, we bring on the seitan, grill it, then smother it in BBQ sauce.

The food a Radical Rabbit is very approachable to everyone. I believe that vegan food is for everyone and that not being able to understand our menu should not be a barrier to enjoying our food. I keep it simple but also always include price and descriptions.

What’s next?
A restaurant one day! Until then, the grind doesn’t stop!

Pricing:

• Fried Jackfruit (5 pieces in many flavors like Carolina Gold, Louisiana Hot for $8)
• Cheezeburger “Egg” Rolls (lentil-based) $8
• Mac and Cheeze $4
• Kale/Collard Greens $3

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.radrab.com
• Instagram: @radicalrabbit_
• Facebook: Facebook.com/radrabnashville

Image Credits
LeXander Bryant