Today we’d like to introduce you to Cassandra Doxa.
Hi Cassandra, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Cooking is my passion! I was born and raised in Washington, DC to Nigerian parents and our West African culture truly shaped the way I saw food. As a little girl, I would find so much joy in helping my Mom in the kitchen and watched her every move when she created traditional West African dishes for the family.
Some of my favorites included stewed eggs and yams, Jollof rice, and scotch eggs. I used to go to the library and bring home numerous cookbooks and explore many different types of cuisine. As the oldest of 4 siblings, I found myself making dinner on the nights my parents would work late, or we were busy at Church.
I would make fun things like chicken wings, lemon bars, and cinnamon rolls! By the time I was in college, my roommates were raving about my infamous Jerk Pineapple BBQ sauce and they told me I need to bottle it and sell it, so I did! I sold it locally and online while in school at Palm Beach Atlantic University (West Palm Beach, FL). This sparked my entrepreneurial spirit and I knew one day I had to start my own food business but I had no idea how to begin.
After a while, I got discouraged with my passion for food and business because after graduating with my BS in Marketing in 2011, I wanted to secure a good-paying salary job, but due to the recession and economic crisis taking place in the country, unemployment was on the rise and finding work was a huge challenge for me. I had to make ends meet by doing marketing freelance work and using gig apps such as DoorDash, Postmates, and Instacart for years.
The thought of starting my own food business was scary but the dream never left my mind. After moving to Orlando in March of 2020, I was ready for a new start. Then, the Covid pandemic hit. Another huge hit that no one saw coming. However, I used the lock downtime to plan and brainstorm what I wanted to accomplish in the food world, and I decided to become a Personal Chef and Caterer.
It’s been challenging but a huge whirlwind ever since I decided to take the leap of faith.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It was definitely not a smooth road for me. I had many obstacles and challenges along the way. I had times when I couldn’t survive on my own and had to move back in with my parents for months at a time just to figure it all out again. I’ve had my car repossessed many times also and I remember having to take the bus for months.
I had to utilize gig apps like Doordash and Instacart for years before I found my footing. I thought my dream of having my own business in food was too big and I doubted myself for many years and even fell into a deep depression because I thought I just wasn’t good enough to accomplish anything.
It was by the grace of God that I gained confidence and strength in myself to push and tell myself daily that I can become prosperous in anything I set my mind to accomplish. And with that being said, success has been a good friend of mine ever since I embarked on this new journey of creating the food I love as a Personal Chef and Caterer.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My business is called Doxa Eats Catering Co. We offer Personal Chef & Catering services in Central Florida. Specifically Orlando & Tampa. We specialize in American, Caribbean, and West African cuisine! Some of our specialty dishes include my TikTok famous Creamy Garlic Salmon, Jerk Pineapple BBQ Chicken Wings, and Nigerian Jollof Rice!
These dishes set us apart from others who are in this business. Personal Chefs are constantly looking to make unique dishes to stay relevant and yet stand out. However, the influence of my upbringing sets the tone for Doxa Eats Catering and allows us to shine bright among the competition. My mother, Cindy Doxa is the inspiration behind the brand. She taught me everything I know! From all the moments we had together in the kitchen from when I was a young girl to now, we continue to share laughs and smiles while cooking together, even today.
My catering company provides fun dining events for our Clients with intimate Private Dinners for couples, Private Dinner parties for special occasions, and also brunch, which is so popular right now! In addition to serving clients throughout the Central Florida area, we also sell downloadable pdf recipes on our Etsy shop (DoxaEatsCatering) as well as baked goods, including my Mom’s famous Homemade Banana Bread, which is to die for!
We plan to expand the brand soon by launching our own line of seasoning blends, bbq sauces, and more. We also have a few cookbooks in the making, so stay tuned!
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
Covid-19 has taught me that life is too short to give up on your dreams.
Dreams that I’ve had for years were nothing but mere thoughts in my head. I began to believe in myself and started making plans and creating goals that I knew I could achieve once things started to get back to normal. I challenged myself and began reading affirmations which led me to where I am today.
God has been extremely faithful and I am happy with what I’ve accomplished so far I’m excited to see where this journey as an Entrepreneur takes me.
Pricing:
- 3-Course Private Dinner for 2: $500
- Brunch Events start at $75 pp (min 10 people)
- Private Dinner Events start at $100 pp (min 10 people)
Contact Info:
- Email: doxaeats@gmail.com
- Website: www.doxaeats.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doxaeatscatering/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/doxaeatscatering/
Image Credits
TC Productions
