Check Out Maria Rumlin’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Maria Rumlin.

Hi Maria, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
As a child my mom would place me on the counter as she cooked. OMG, I loved my mother so much wherever she went I went. I watch her cook she would allow me to help as well and this is where my love for food was created. It all started for me when I lost my job and I had to create a source of income to help feed my family. I was always told that I could cook and I was always intrigued about the process of creating what I would call Love on a plate. When I couldn’t find a job my now husband was like you should sale dinners. I began to sale dinners from our little two bedroom. Apartment where myself and kids’ father at the time and three kids resided. As I started to see a profit and how much people loved my food we began to deliver as well. As time went on, I eventually went back to my 9:00 to 5:00 then 2008 came and the economy fail. I lost my job again so I went back to doing dinners again from my home.

As time went on a friend of ours had a decorating company and she always enjoyed my cooking she said it Maria you should start catering you would be great. My 1st thought was oh no, lol I’m scared. She was like come with me to some of my functions and watch what these other catering companies are doing. As I watch I realize I can do this. So I was at her home one day on the Grill cooking some meat for her and her client came over. They were talking about her needing a caterer and my friend Kenya said oh I have you a caterer right here come in maria meet Jennifer. OMG my heart fell to my feet. I had no idea what I was doing but at that time I decided to jump and do it. Guess what I did it I met with her discussed her menu Lol, had no clue about the process turns out I under quoted myself big time Lmbo I made no money. However I purchased my first five chaffers, Logo and business cards. Wow you couldn’t tell me anything. I learned so much from that event. As I grew and went on my family and friends helped prep setup and serve as M&R Catering LLC. I continued to work my 9:00 to 5:00 to help finance my dream. Cooking is my relaxation I Love it so much. What o enjoy the most from what I do is the response from my customers when they eat the food it melts my heart to touch someone soul through my cuisine. My husband and our family have worked so hard to get to where we are. In 2019, my husband and I decided to open up M&R Cafe southern Cuisine it’s a small take out only that provides true southern Cuisine.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
No it has teen a smooth road not knowing how to truly run a business hit me like a ton of bricks. I had to back track and get my business affairs in order on paper. As I grew my catering company, I had to continue my corporate job it’s like working 24 -7 never getting a break. Then March 2020 my 24 year old son was DX with stage 4 Cancer and our world exploded. Here we are opening up a cafe with no experience and learning on the job son has cancer then COVID-19 hit and we had to shut down.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a self-taught Chef with not one day of schooling. I provide you with an experience of Love on a plate, the love you felt at your moms table or your grandmother or even tour favorite aunt the at place where you went as child to feel loved and nurtured where everyone came to eat laugh and cry sometimes where you felt safe at and complete when you left. I am known for putting crazy love into my food and the experience of being served by me. I am most proud of me taking that chance and believing in me that I can do it. I realize after cooing for Bishop TD Jakes that could do anything that I put my heart and mind to. What sets me apart is that it bigger than you patronizing my business I care I truly care about all that I provide to my customers. You will feel the love in every bite of my cuisine.

Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
What I like best about our city is the Growth you can leave here and come back five years later and you will see how we level up and grow with the times. What I like least is that in there is not enough real state or opportunities for small businesses in East Tampa.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: mnrcatering.com
• Instagram: mrccatering
• Facebook: M&R Catering LLC
• Yelp: M&R cafe Southern Cuisine