Ray Milton – a boxing instructor in his mid-40s with a medium build – doesn’t quite fit the mold of the average beanie-wearing, patchouli-smelling, neighborhood vegan.
Years ago, Milton was a popular pastry chef in downtown St. Petersburg.
Today, he owns the unique Ray’s Vegan Soul, a vegan catering service that travels to farms, festivals and bars around Tampa Bay.
That’s right, even bars.
Milton serves up vegan soul favorites like mac and cheese, pierogies and pumpkin chili outside of downtown’s hipster hang, The Bends.
“I knew the owners, Matt and Victoria, and after serving food at the Bernie Sanders party they had here, they asked me to come back,” he said. Though he has been serving at The Bends for about two months, this isn’t his first gig.
Milton has been a vegan chef and caterer for four years and is a vegan himself, citing that the diet has helped him reverse symptoms of onset diabetes and eliminated his need for prescription medication.
Ray’s Vegan Soul was created to prove healthy food can taste good.
“I do this to show people that you can eat vegan food and still keep your strength, your manhood, everything,” Milton said.
One man who is doing just that – professional boxer Keith Thurman.
Milton was recently hired by the WBA welterweight champion as his personal chef, and now cooks vegan meals for the athlete daily.
Thurman’s trainer, Dan Birmingham, also trained Milton in boxing when he was a teenager, and recommended the catering service to the Thurman.
“When you go in between fights, you won’t blow up in weight,” Milton said. “You will see his next fight. He’s going to be very aggressive.”
Milton recently locked in a location on Central Avenue and 26th Street N for a brick and mortar storefront which will serve weekly meals for takeout and hold classes on nutrition and healthy living.
He plans to expand the business into a full-service restaurant with a vegan buffet.
Milton says he has developed over 2,000 vegan recipes and credits the success of his business and health by remaining creative and original.
“Be yourself…Don’t be afraid to go outside the box.”
Find Ray’s Vegan Soul at The Bends and Lake Vista Park. You can also catch him at Localtopia at Williams Park on Feb 6.
