Meet Manny Rozay | Chef & Recording Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Manny Rozay and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Manny, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
There were so many things that went into the thought process behind starting my own business. Creating a successful stream of income on my own has been something that i’ve always found interest in and wanted to do since the first time I ever had a job at 14 years old, Having something that I can pass down my legacy as I get older, and creating a healthy work environment for myself where I can do something that I love or enjoy without the extra drama, & unnecessary issues that you would normally deal with at a normal 9-5, were some of the things that sit at the top of my checklist in starting my own business. Losing my job at the very beginning of the pandemic, Is when this checklist actually transitioned from being just a note in my phone to what we see today as MacNManny. Then my whole drive and thought process began being built around never having to worry about being put in that position for myself and hopefully one day for others. Who’s going to let me go again, if I become my own boss?

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Aside from cheffing up stuff in the kitchen, using recipes that have been passed down, recipes that I have found, or even recipes of things I have personally created, Primarily the type of art that I create is Music. Personally, My progression of being a songwriter is something that I am extremely proud of currently. For so long I sat on this ability….like Since thirteen years old long. Not only did I think that I couldn’t do it for so long, but over time I felt like I began to see less appreciation for it from the masses. Watching the songwriters and storytellers I grew up listening to and inspired by get kind of washed away and replaced with watered down versions of themselves made me feel like the need of having to write great music or be your own writer was a thing of the past since people only care about what you offer on the surface. While I can and do know how to operate at the surface, It’s always and I am always deeper than that!

Luckily for me now that I am actively pursuing and doing more things in the realm of music, I can finally see the effect that my songwriting and music has had on people which I hold dearly to my heart and will never forget, and I have began to notice a shift. The shift in people wanting to enjoy good music, good art, good food, just good whatever these days. My perspective on how I view everything has also changed and has played a big part in overcoming long term fears and doubts as well. I no longer seek to be accepted, or seek to be validated in what I bring to the table. I’m just focused on always improving for myself, always listening, and always being an example of the person and art that I want to see out in the world. Letting the things that are already mines come to me and just keep doing the work on my end so that i’m ready to receive those things when the time comes for God to bless me with them.

At the end of the day, like I always tell the people that I’m close to, I just want to live out the purpose that God has for me. I want to bridge the gap and bring people together to understand one another on ALOT of things, and if I’m able to touch or inspire at lease ONE person with my testimony before I leave this earth then my job here is done. I want people to always know that Manny Rozay genuinely cares about the hearts and souls of this world, & if he had the power to help everyone (including animals) on earth be better he would. Like as crazy and impossible as that sounds, with me being a Cancer I really mean that!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’ll be honest and admit that i’m pretty much a hermit crab when it comes to going out now. If this interview was in 2016 i’d probably be able to give you a full guided list on the hottest and most popping places to hit up. So there’s my disclaimer for anyone who will probably read this part of the interview and say “he doesn’t know what he’s talking about”. I promise i’m a FUN time though whenever I am outside. But normally when friends hit me up about these things, I normally direct them to hit up my favorite mexican restaurant in the city La Parilla! I’m half mexican so that side of me definitely approves. If you don’t go for anything go for the Margs! For fun and something different, I always recommend checking out the Roof at Ponce City Market and Also hitting up the food hall there as well. You know what… I also tell them to check out other food halls too, because I never experienced a food hall until I moved here and thought it was the coolest thing ever my first time. I tell people who never been here to get the citypass too because everyone wants to go to the aquarium and coca cola factory, and that pass is literally the best money saver for someone like me who loves to be a fanny pack wearing tourist in a city. For my LGBT friends, I always recommend that they experience piedmont as well, especially for the people I know personally who haven’t gotten the chance to experience actual lgbt inclusive spaces. When it comes to night life I normally have to hit up a friend or two to get advice because I’m always out of the loop on that but best believe I always get the best scoop!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
If there were any person, or group of people that I would like to shoutout, It would definitely be my partner Javon Williams @heisjavon, who is a talented professional dancer, and visionary artist. He is the glue and one third of the brain behind alot of what you will see whenever you see my brand as an artist and someone who has single handily helped so much with my confidence and creativity over the years.

Next, I would like to also shoutout Lyrik London @lyriklondon, who is also a talented and prolific choreographer, director, visionary, and artist himself. Lyrik has been a mentor to Javon and I, literally sent from the heavens and he has been very instrumental in giving me alot of my “first” experiences with alot of things both in and outside the industry here in Atlanta, For example the first MacNManny catering event that I ever catered was for and because of Lyrik! In addition to that, he also actively plays a part in developing who the world will get to see eventually as Manny Rozay the artist. I owe so much to Javon and Lyrik seriously, Wouldn’t know where I would be at this point without them!

Lastly, I would like to shoutout Kirri Coleman @DishItWithKC out of my hometown Jacksonville,FL. Kirri is a fellow chef, entrepreneur and great friend of mine’s who I met through business initially where she was the Proctor of my ServSafe Certification class and since then we developed one of the most comforting and supportive friendships that i’ve had in a long timex Kirri has helped me tremendously with getting MacNManny ideas out of my head and in actual production. Anytime I need help with something she’s always one call away and willing to help, She probably doesn’t even know this but I saved this moment to be able to give her thanks and let her know!

Instagram: @mannyrozayy @macnmanny

Twitter: @mannyrozayy

Facebook: Manny Rozay

Youtube: @MannyRozay

Image Credits
Photographer: Javon Williams @heisjavon Creative Direction: Manny Rozay