LAVEEN, Ariz. – If you’re craving a taste of down-home comfort food, make a stop by Charlie Mae’s Soul Food in Laveen Village.
The restaurant at the southeast corner of Southern and 51st avenues officially opened on Aug. 27 with the intention of delivering the joy of a home-cooked meal without all the hassle of actually having to cook it. And the taste? Just like Grandma used to make.
“I named the restaurant after my late grandmother, Charlie Mae,” said co-founder Marcus Moody. “She was a real inspiration to me and on of the best cooks.”
One of eight children, Charlie Mae grew up on a farm in Boswell, Okla. While her siblings helped run the farm, Charlie Mae spent her time in the kitchen cooking food to feed the family, and making sure it tasted good, too. Even as her health made it impossible for her to remain standing in front of a stove, she’d sit in the corner reminding everyone that “a good cook is a clean cook, and that’s good clean eating.”
Moody and his fiancéco-founder Brittany Doheny partnered with Chef LaTonya Weaver to create a menu combining Charlie Mae’s influence and that of Weaver’s native Mississippi. Specialties include fried chicken, smoked pork chops, catfish ribs, meatloaf shrimp, collard greens, yams, black-eyed peas, fried cabbage, fried okra, desserts, macaroni and cheese for the little ones (and big ones, too) and much more.
Weaver has degrees in Culinary Arts and Food Service Management, as well as 15 years of experience in a variety of successful restaurants. She says her specialty is Southern Cuisine and all food that feeds the soul.
Moody, now an Avondale resident but formerly from Laveen, has been in the restaurant business for over 25 years and marketing manager for a National Brand for many years, and currently owns and operates Smoothie Run. Charlie Mae’s is adjacent to the familiar Laveen café.
ABOUT CHARLIE MAE’S SOUL FOOD
Specializing in southern dishes and soul food, Charlie Mae’s is located at 6116 S. 51st Ave., #204, Laveen, Ariz., 85339.Headed by Executive Chef LaTonya, Charlie Mae’s brings home to you with food to feed the soul. Learn more at www.charliemaesoulfood.com, or contact us at (602) 675-0865 by phone or email at info@charliemaesoulfood.com.
