Rodney McClain
Rodney was born and raised in Kansas City, MO, the BBQ Capital of the world. He is married to his wife, Joy, and has 3 wonderful children.
His journey in the food industry is unique. Like most, as a child, he learned a lot while cooking with his mother, Ruby. What sets Rodney apart is his innate ability to bring together ingredients in a way that many aspire to achieve. With over 25 years in the food service industry, he has honed his skills in various aspects, excelling in catering, BBQ competition cooking, food vending, and providing culinary tips and tricks to individuals and groups. Currently, he is an award-winning General Manager within the largest food service company in America.
Beyond his culinary pursuits, Rodney finds joy in spending time with his family. He also indulges in football, fishing, and sharing his BBQ mastery with others.
The Origin Story
Rodney's food journey started with some hustle. He teamed up with a mentor from church and worked for free in his restaurant, to discover the ins/outs of the restaurant business. As he dished out plates, the joy of others enjoying his food fueled his passion.
First, it started with exploring various recipes including seafood gumbo, double-dipped sticky wings, and of course, mastering meat on the grill. The demand for his food grew and requests for catering services began.
Not long after, Rodney wanted to master the grill and learn to smoke meats. He gained a new friend, John Hunt, and joined his BBQ Competition Team. Over the years, Rodney and John have entered in over 20 competitions winning awards in brisket, pork, chicken and BBQ sauce. The KC MACS BBQ Sauce has placed in the top 8 or better in several competitions.
After moving his family to Arizona in 2005, Rodney sets up shop as a BBQ vendor at the Surprise, AZ MLB Stadium for Spring Training. His BBQ becomes the number one stadium vendor that season. He's not just slinging BBQ but he is also granted the opportunity to cater for the KC Royals Baseball team. Talk about a home run!
Fast forward to 2006, and Appetites BBQ & Catering Restaurant is born. Rodney's not just cooking; he's turning his love for BBQ into a full-fledged business.
Despite the economic crash of 2009, Rodney continued to pursue a career in the food industry and took his award-winning sauce with him.
Why BBQ Sauce?
In Kansas City, BBQ rules! Just take a quick walk from Parade Park, and you'll hit up Arthur Bryant's BBQ for some mouthwatering brisket and fries. And don't forget Gates BBQ—those crispy steak cut fries with barbecue sauce are a game-changer.
As Rodney dove into the world of barbecue competition cooking, he went on a mission to find that perfect sauce; something that amps up the meat without overshadowing the hickory smoked goodness. After three months of kitchen experiments and lots of taste tests, bam! KC MAC's KC Original BBQ sauce was born.
This sauce became the secret weapon for competition cooking and catering events for the Kansas City Royals MLB team. And then, Rodney (the sauce maestro) thought, "Why not share this culinary gem with everyone?" This is how KC MACS BBQ Sauce became a daily dose of K.C. goodness. It's like family, community and soul all bottled up in one sweet, spicy, and smoky package. BBQ legacy, unleashed!