Issue link: http://maconmagazine.uberflip.com/i/1184236
O C TO B E R / N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 9 | M ACO N M AG A Z I N E.CO M 7 5 p r e s e n t s midganutcracker.com | 478.301.5470 | 651 Mulberry St. Macon November 13 – January 10 Festival of Trees Luncheon Wednesday, November 13 at noon Festival of Trees Gala Thursday, November 14, 7-11 pm Festival of Trees Family Event Saturday, December 14, 10 am-4 pm Mu s e u m of A r t s a n d S c i e n c e s 4182 Forsyth Road • Macon, GA 478-477-3232 • MASMacon.org bread, lasagna and amaretto pound cake with strawberries. "When I had the idea for the pop- ups, I thought of Adam, because I'd been following his YouTube videos," says Grow owner Saralyn Collins. "He worked so hard; he literally spent a week on that lasagna. We sold out that day and everyone raved about his food. His red sauce was probably the best I've ever had." T he kitchen smells fantastic, buttery and warm. Ragusea pulls the tray out of the oven and admires the fact that, despite their disparate shapes, the biscuits all seem to have gotten perfectly done at the same time. He holds up one of the circular biscuits; it's golden brown on top and has partially split apart as it baked, resulting in something that's just about as seductive as a biscuit can get. "Look at that! at is the Platonic ideal of a biscuit!" he says, admiring his handiwork. He pauses, bemused, conscious of his status as a non-native Southerner preparing such a culturally iconic food, then says, "I must acknowledge that I learned the biscuit ropes from some of the best here in Macon – Jeneane's, H&H." In the last few months, Ragusea found himself in the position of being a role model in a way he didn't anticipate. YouTube's audience skews younger, and Ragusea's viewers are 90 percent males between the ages of 18-24. "I try to be a positive role model. Cooking doesn't have to be about showing off, it can be about nurturing, making people happy with your food," he says. "I was initially a little horrified and dismayed at the demographic I attracted, but I'm viewing it as an opportunity to model good behavior. Growing up in the '90s, masculinity was totally turned on its head and it felt like there were two options of how to be a man – football dude or fey indie rocker. When I was 18, I discovered two male role models – Anthony Bourdain and Henry Rollins. Two alpha, badass dudes who were also enlightened and woke. Once I found them, I was like, okay, this is a way I can be. I'm trying to be something like that for these boys." Learn more at AdamRagusea.com.