Meet Michael Rhodes | Chef

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

Hi Michael, can you share a quote or affirmation with us?
I was a young man just out of college…I was attending a basketball camp overseas. One of the coaches gave an inspirational talk to all the players. He said; “No matter where you go in life, or what you do, success or failure will depend one important question. ( What are you committed to have happen in your life) No matter what it is or how it comes to pass, if you are committed to it, you will let nothing or no one stand in your way” I tookthat quote with me, and have done my best to live by that credo ever since. “ what am I committed to have happen in my life today, tomorrow, next year, or ten years from now. Commitment is the key. Anything that anyone is totally committed to 100 percent… not just lip service or halfway doing it. But committed to all the way. That person is going to achieve more than the others who aren’t.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I opened a restaurant last year in the middle of the pandemic. Before that I was the Head Charge Nurse of an ER in California as well as touring the country performing comedy with pretty much all of the biggest names in comedy. All the roads and paths that I have taken have never been easy. Nothing worth working for ever is.. But again it comes down to “what are you committed to have happen in your life” when I started nursing schools, I had no transportation and limited resources. But I stuck it out and worked hard and climbed the organizational ladder to become the head charge nurse. The same with comedy… I started out doing open mics and riding the commuter train from show to show. In the beginning of my career in comedy my mother fell ill. Sometimes I would be just about to take the stage to perform when I would get an alert from the home health aide that she was not doing well. I missed out on a lot of shows and the climb up from open mics to packed arenas took longer than normal. This restaurant was the same I started a catering business with 400 dollars in my bank account total that’s savings and checking. I offered my services to any and everyone. Until I built up a reputation of great food and great service. Every chef dreams of opening their own restaurant, being able to cook their own recipes. I’m living that dream now.

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 haven’t been out too much other than to try out different restaurant cuisines. However if they were staying for awhile. I would take them on a day trip to Downtown Dallas. To see the grassy knoll, the Dallas cowboys stadium. I would take them to the BIGGEST furniture store I have ever seen in my life!!! Nebraska Home Furnishings. I swear I could spend all day in there!! Also out to the Lake Ray Hubbardto just see the sunset and take an evening boat ride.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I give my shoutout to my mother. She passed last year after a long battle with Alzheimer’s and Dementia… but before she lost the sense of who she was and what was going on around her. She was my rock. She inspired me to achieve the dream of opening a restaurant in Dallas and that dream is now a reality! I would not be the person I am, in every sense of the word

Website: mamaruthskitchen.com

Instagram: @chefbatmanrhodes

Linkedin: Michael Batman Rhodes

Twitter: @justmebatman

Facebook: Chef Batma Rhodes

Youtube: Michael Batman Rhodes