Today we’d like to introduce you to Abbigail Codling.
Hi Abbigail, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Back home in Jamaica when I would visit my grandmother, she was always either baking or cooking. I grew up always in the kitchen with my her. I loved watching her and sometimes helping. All the women in my life are great cooks so I know it stems from them. Even though I loved to cook it was only a hobby up until about 1 and a half years ago that it became what I wanted to do in life. Abbi’s Cuisine was created to bring a different vibe to the culinary game. A mix of my Jamaican culture with the American culture. My passion to cook is one like no other. Making sure every meal is just like Sunday dinner. Abbi’s Cuisine offers multiple different services and packages. If you would like to enjoy good eats with Abbi, then give me a call. The look that comes across every client’s face after that first bite is what I live for. It brings me so much joy every time someone raves about how delicious my food is. The testimonials are what keep me going. This is just the beginning of what I have in store, so stay tuned!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. Nothing worth having is smooth. My biggest obstacle when I first started was getting my name out there. It took trial and error to see what really works for me and my business. I have also have people question my credibility. I have had many potential clients that once given a quote based on the service, they chose try to belittle me and compare me to other catering businesses. Along with that comes the thought of maybe I am charging too much. Then I have my clients that have no problem with my pricing or my menu, they are readying to book then and there. I do deal with not getting discouraged because it wasn’t a good week or even month. It is an up and down when it comes to owning your own business. It is not always going to be peaches and cream. There will be bad days but it is in that moment that you have to decide whether this is what you want to do. In those moments I remember the reason why I decided to start my business. To touch people all around the world with my delicious cuisine. I can’t let the bad out way the good that is in store for me.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a Personal Chef/ Caterer. I do in-home cooking where I travel to the client’s home and give the full experience of me cooking for them. Whether it’s date night and you want your spouse to feel special, a party to celebrate graduating, getting married, corporate events, or even you just don’t feel like cooking yourself. I offer drop-off catering services as well. I specialize in putting my Jamaican twist on any cuisine, such as jerk chicken egg rolls, jerk chicken lasagna rolls, and curry salmon. Clearly, I love jerk chicken. My proudest moment was when I had the opportunity to cook for Wesley “Million Dollar” Virgin. Let me say I did not even know who I was cooking for! Only because it was his girlfriend that I was in contact with the whole time leading up to the days I cooked for him and his family. She contacted me on my Instagram asking if I could for her family for 3 days, they were here on vacation. I said most definitely! This was my first event that was back-to-back so I was excited. Even had my sous chef Adrian come along to help. They were such a great family. We talked and laughed the whole time. Wesley kept coming out saying it smells delicious in here, when will the food be done. I think he asked like 3 times. They loved everything and said they will definitely have me back whenever they are in town. I didn’t know who he was until the drive back home when he sent the remaining balance and I was like wait this name looks familiar, so I looked him up. I was shocked to say the least. I don’t do this because I know I’ll make money; I do this because it’s what I love. Yes, the money will come but I do this because of the joy it brings knowing that everyone loves my food. When I have an idea in my head of something I want to make, I just pick up and make it first try and it’s great. I didn’t go to culinary school, everything I know is from my own experiences and research in life.
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
Everyone is not treated equally, especially in a pandemic and we have the capacity for resilience. At the beginning of the pandemic, I was laid off from work. The first month or so they still paid us then one day they sent out and email saying this day will be the last time we get paid. I was shocked because I did nothing wrong this wasn’t my doing. Why did I have to suffer, everyone still had bills to pay. There was no warning. The amount of people that were affected by the pandemic having people lose their jobs and their lives. I learned that we are expendable to these companies. I was resilient and able to start my own business like much of the world but not everyone was so lucky.
Contact Info:
- Email: Abbiscuisine@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/chef.abbi?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= & https://instagram.com/abbisabrina?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCLEqpeqZksODLZTTE7AYO-Q
Image Credits
https://instagram.com/6ix.of.6ix?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
