Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael and Amy Colom.
Amy and Michael have been in the culinary field for over 20 years. Michael started cooking professionally when he was 16 and upon high school graduation, Michael joined the US Navy as a cook serving for six years finishing his term as a culinary specialist second class.
In 2002 both Amy and Michael enrolled in the Orlando Culinary Academy, graduating on 2003 with honors. Amy started her career following her passion in pastries working under 3 French pastry chefs and in 2006 becoming the chocolatier for the Peabody Orlando. In 2008 Amy and Michael had the opportunity to move to Austin, Texas taking positions at the University of Texas and H.E.B. By 2012, Amy Michael got married with Amy becoming Bakery department head at H.E.B and Michael becoming a Certified Executive chef through the American Culinary Federation at the University of Texas.
In 2014 Michael earned a Bachelor’s Degree in culinary management from the Art Institute of Austin while Amy did the amazing job of giving birth to the couples first son. In 2018 with the couple being pregnant with their second child they decided to move back to Florida to get the help and support from their family. Michael was able to become an Executive chef for a country club in Florida but with a third child on the way in 2020, Amy and Michael decided to open their own catering company so that they can both follow their passion while spending quality time with their young children that most culinary professionals don’t get to have.
Colom Catering had their first event in January of 2020, with Amy being six months pregnant with the last event in March of 2020 so the family can welcome the new baby and take the time need to bond. Colom Catering specialized on In-home dining and personal chef experience. By the end of February 2020, Colom Catering had booking till July of 2020, providing services to company’s coming to Florida for company meeting, mergers and retreats. Colom Catering also provided group cooking classes in sushi rolling, pasta and pizza making in addition to in home private cooking classes.
By March 2020, after bring third child home Colom Catering had to close due to Covid 19. In May 2020, Colom Catering starting offering pop-up taco events, slowly re-incorporating the group classes as the state reopened with covid 19 protocols. Since May 2020, Colom Catering has grown slow and steady, always keeping a focus on it being “Family driven, Passion Driven.”
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No way has it been easy! Starting any company is difficult add in two kids under six and being pregnant, not to include Covid 19, which hurt the entire culinary industry. It has not been easy at all but we keep trying.
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?
Colom Catering specializes on in-home personal chef dining and classes experiences. We utilize our diverse training and certification to create personalized and intimate dining experience from fine dining plated events to taco pop ups.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
The one lesson I have learned is to do something that scares you every day because you never know what comes out of it. The largest lesson that I have learned is it’s important to lean and support each other when doing a business with your life partner. Some days you guys will be in super sync and knocking everything out of the park others nothing can get done because the kids want all of your attention. So really relying on each other, doing everything that your partner asks from you so reduce the stress and then taking days off just to spend time together as a couple.
Pricing:
- Private chef event – $200-$300
- Private cooking classes – $100-$200
- Group class – $50-$60
- Pop ups – $12-$15
Contact Info:
- Email: Colomcatering@gmail.com
- Website: www.colomcatering.com
- Instagram: Colomcatering
- Facebook: ColomCatering
- Twitter: ColomCatering
