What is soul food?

Traditional Soul food—often called "southern cooking" or "comfort food"—includes staples like fried chicken, collard greens, black-eyed peas, cornbread, sweet potatoes, and peach cobbler. While soul food shares many of these ingredients, it is rooted in African American heritage and culture. Defined as Southern cuisine prepared and eaten by Black communities, soul food gained its name during the Black Power movement of the late 1960s and ’70s.

Mississippi Mary

Mary Elizabeth McCallum-Stewart, the first born of Fannie McCallum, was born in Jackson, Mississippi. Her family did not have great wealth, but they were great in love, and also great cooks.Mary first learned to cook under her mother’s guidance. She would later take these cooking skills, along with her own pots and pans, to the west coast in search of something better for her and her children. Mary was the first to leave our home of Jackson, Mississippi. 

When she first arrived in Los Angeles, she sold dinners out the trunk of her car. In 1964, she met Mercedes Hall, a business woman. Ms. Hall owned a bar & grill and offered Mary the opportunity of a lifetime...the chance to turn her vision into a reality. Thus M&M Soul Food was born.Now, more than 50 years later, the name M&M Soul Food is a household name that holds international recognition.We, the family of this great legacy, hold in our hearts the great strides she made, the opportunities she provided,the empire she built, the love she spread, the prosperity she gained, the peace she left, and the unity she obtained.

Venni Mac's

The McCallum family has owned and operated M & M Soul Food Restaurant since the mid-1960's. In 1989, Mary's brother, Ventress McCallum, bought one of the three restaurants marking the beginning of Venni Mac's M & M Soul Food Restaurant. Mary and Ventress left a legacy that the McCallum family will continue to cherish. Though many have tried to duplicate, we were the ones to originate. “Be Original”

The restaurant has been a major contributor to the community by providing jobs, quality food and catering services. The restaurant specializes in seafood gumbo, catfish, red snapper, chicken, collard greens, macaroni and cheese, candied yams, beef short ribs, oxtails and cornbread and boasts the best peach cobbler and banana pudding on the west coast.