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Angela Morgan of Madison was feeling uninspired in her job a few years back. It was too rigid.
“I actually was used to working in customer service. I was always in an office, always on a phone. I was behind a desk and I was like, ‘This does not fit my life. This does not fit my personality.’ And I missed my kids, you know?”
Morgan said she decided to take a huge risk. She started her own business: Food Junkies Catering.
She considers herself an eclectic chef and the “Queen of Presentation.” She’ll make anything for her customers: beef, fish, vegan dishes. But, Morgan’s favorite meal to cater? Tacos.
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“They come in so many different variations! Burritos, enchiladas, taco salads …” she said beaming with a smile. “Actually, that was the first thing that I started selling was jerk chicken tacos. Then I noticed you’re making $400 a day. So it’s a staple in my business: the jerk chicken tacos and a jerk chicken salad. Those are the two things people are running me down in the street about (laughing).”
Morgan shared this as a part of a storytelling partnership with Midwest Mujeres in Madison. She also talked about what drives her in her work and personal life.
“My motto for life: People and things will come and go. Always stay true to you,” she said. “I started this business to generate extra income, be creative and to spend more time with my children. Plot twist. I didn’t see much of them for the first two years.”
Food Junkies owner Angela Morgan (center) works an event with her daughters Zora (l) and Kamryn (r). (Courtesy of Angela Morgan)
But now, business is more consistent and she sees her daughters, Kamryn, 21, and Zora, 16, more often.
“My daughters are my rocks and my headaches. I absolutely love them,” said Morgan.
She said the early days of the catering business were challenging for the family.
“I was always busy, but they hung in there. Eventually, they wanted to get in on the action, which brought us so much closer together. Once they joined in, I had to remember that they were my daughters first and my employees second. They gave me a lot of grace and that allowed me to give them a lot of my time,” said Morgan. “Being a mother and a business owner has taught me balance. As they grow, I am showing them and teaching them what it means to sacrifice, to work hard, to watch your money and to have fun.”
“My ultimate dream for them is to use my work ethic to follow their own dreams … because this one’s mine,” she added.
Morgan said Food Junkie’s success has had a positive impact on her family.
“Oh, man, they’re so proud of me. That’s been the biggest thing. We’ve had a challenging life: being a single parent, having to move around and not really having the support that we needed. So for them to look at me now — like a local celebrity — is like, ‘Oh, mom’s that girl!'” said Morgan laughing.
Food Junkies owner Angela Morgan (r) with her daughter, Kamryn. (Courtesy of Angela Morgan)
Morgan said she loves how her daughters have watched her grow.
“It’s shown me that they have my back 100 percent. Whenever I need them, they’re there. They step up. Even if mom’s having a bad day, they’re my rock stars,” she said beaming.
Now, the family is working on another project together: a family and friends cookbook.
“My daughter (Kamryn) just turned 21. She’s always talking to me about her generation and how they don’t really have what our generation had. They’re not standing in the kitchen with us watching grandma cook,” said Morgan “So (my daughter asked), ‘Can you put us together a cookbook or something? Something that’s really simple that we can make good meals?'”
Food Junkies owner Angela Morgan (l) with her daughter, Zora. (Courtesy of Angela Morgan)
Morgan comes from a long line of chefs, so she’s destined to pass on this knowledge. In addition to her own mother and grandmother teaching her how to cook, she credits Carmell Jackson of Melly Mell’s Soul Food in Madison for teaching her about catering. she also had a grandfather who owned a barbeque joint.
“This whole experience has been eye opening for me, not just for business, but also for my family tree, right?,” said Morgan. “This is why (I) want to do this so bad is because it is literally in (my) genes!”
Besides feeding her family, Morgan will keep serving her customers. She dreams of expanding Food Junkies Catering by adding barbeque or one day owning a food truck.
“I see nothing but great things in the future for myself and for my children. Just making sure I’m sticking to my guns, that my mindset is always where it needs to be and that I have enough courage to execute what I know. So I’m good,” she said with a smile.
Angela Morgan shared her story with us as part of a partnership with Midwest Mujeres in Madison. “Wisconsin Life” has partnered with the organization to share stories of women who live in southern Wisconsin.
The Midwest Mujeres cohort just before recording their stories for Wisconsin Public Radio’s “Wisconsin Life” on April 13, 2023. (top l-r) Yazmin Lopez, Shadayra Kilfoy-Flores, (middle l-r) Araceli Esparza, Angela Morgan, Katalina Sanchez, (bottom) Samantha Green. Not pictured is Tamara Thompson. (Angela Major/WPR)
