Today we’d like to introduce you to Cassandra Doxa.
Cassandra, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I moved to Orlando in March 2020 with no money in my bank account. I used everything that I had saved up in the previous months to put down as a security deposit for a one bedroom one bath apartment because I was determined to turn my life around. A year before moving, I lost the apartment I was living in, my car got repossessed and I had to move back in with my parents who live in Tampa. I was battling serious depression because I couldn’t find a decent job and nothing was working out. I got a bus pass and survived off of the gig apps and even worked the overnight shift at an Amazon warehouse just to get by. I knew something had to change, so I prayed and decided to relocate to Orlando.
Sadly, the pandemic hit as soon as I arrived in Orlando. However, I was grateful to find work from home as a customer service representative. Alongside that, I was able to sell plates as a side hustle because I always had a passion for cooking. After a few months, I was invited to cook dinner for a friend who was visiting Orlando from out of town and the rest is history. I started getting a lot of requests to come out and cook at people‘s homes and Airbnb‘s that I was no longer able to clock in for work. I eventually quit my customer service job in 2022 and began my full time career as a Private Chef and Caterer!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It was not a smooth road at all. One of the biggest struggles I dealt with was coping with depression, which is a real thing and cannot be ignored. I had to pray, get counseling, seek therapy, speak affirmations over my life and most important of all, trust God through the process. The Bible says in Jeremiah 29:11 ‘For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’ I held on to that promise from God because I knew He had a plan for me to succeed. The obstacles and challenges I was facing during my transition to a new city was either going to break me or make me stronger. Despite everything I experienced, I’m grateful for every bump along the road because it made me the success I am today.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I am the proud Owner of Doxa Eats Catering Company LLC, and I provide luxury Private Chef Experiences & Catering services in the Orlando, Florida area. I specialize in American comfort food, Caribbean flavors & West African cuisines. I’m particularly known for my Private Chef Brunch Experiences. My Clients usually go crazy for my Brioche French toast and my Garlic Butter Shrimp & Smoked Gouda Grits. They also can’t get enough of my Stew Oxtails, Honey Jerk Lamb Chops and Nigerian Jollof Rice when they book a Dinner Experience with me.
What sets me apart from others is my passion, determination and strive for excellence. I’m very ambitious and I walk with assurance in everything that I do. I get that from my Dad, who is literally the smartest person I know. I am my biggest critic and that’s because I set the bar very high for myself. My Clients don’t just book me for a plate of food. They choose me because they know they’re going to get a unique dining experience. It’s easy for anyone to hop on social media these days and call themselves a Chef, an Entrepreneur or a specialist in any particular field. That’s where I stand out. I have built an entire brand from the ground up and I bring many years of experience to the table. I have a BS Degree in Marketing, I’m a Content Creator with almost 60k followers on Tiktok and I’m self-taught when it comes to my culinary skills. I’m proud to say that I’ve learned so much from my Mother, who was also a Professional Caterer for many years and is still the best Cook I know! By the way, if you’re looking for authentic Nigerian cuisine such as Fufu (pounded yam) and Efo Riro (Vegetable Stew) or Egusi Soup (Melon Seed Stew), she provides all of these delicacies and more exclusively with Doxa Eats in Orlando and Tampa, so be sure to inquire within, if interested! She also makes the most amazing banana bread you’ll ever try. She sells her baked goods on Etsy and ships nationwide. Just saying.
How do you think about happiness?
Seeing how far God has brought me truly makes me happy. I have a testimony and a story I can share with others and that gives me joy. I live a life of abundance and I no longer live in fear, doubt or limiting beliefs. There was a time when I didn’t think my life would ever amount to anything. There were so many downs, I made a home there (mentally) and almost forgot to look up at one point. I had no choice but to look up. There is always a light at the end of the tunnel. Not saying that this is the end, but this is an ongoing story. My story is still being written and I can’t wait to see what else God has in store. Stay tuned for the next chapter!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.doxaeats.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doxaeatscatering
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/doxaeatscatering
Image Credits
profile pic credit – Jami Films
