Today we’d like to introduce you to Abigail Caddy.
Hi Abigail, 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.
I started cooking as a young teen and am largely self-taught through cooking for my family. I began teaching children to cook at a summer camp and bonded with many of them. Their parents in the Hamptons began to hire me to cater and chef privately, which grew my knowledge and experience cooking for the 1%. However, I learned early that being in a kitchen in a professional capacity is not the most inviting career for a woman who wants to realize her potential as a mother and life partner.
At the age of 25, I left my career in software and began to pursue my yacht chef career by moving to Ft Lauderdale. I met my now husband, Gavin Caddy, 10 days in. He instantly became my greatest cheerleader and supporter. He always pushed me to curate my best life, which at the time we both thought meant yachting. The pandemic flipped us both on our heads like so many. I suddenly was home for 7 weeks with my stepson (I’ve raised him since infancy) and after the lockdown lifted, I was gone for 5 months without breaks – many lessons learned. Fortunately, the pandemic paved the way for private chefs to put a fair price on our time and the demanding schedule typical in the industry.
After several award wins, the most recent being crowned a Chopped Champion on Food Networks Chopped, I decided the time was now to pursue my career and our vision of becoming a lifestyle. Curated by Caddy is an event coordinator, private chef, yacht concierge, and bridge between our clients and whatever they may need. As the demands of a luxury lifestyle in Florida have changed since Covid, so needs those of us meeting those demands to rewrite the hospitality industry.
We place freelance chefs, cater, provide meal plan services, provide chef training and provisioning services. We are working on our product line the Kitchen Caddy. Since moving to South Florida, I have gotten the chance to realize my wildest dreams and the little girl from the Hamptons has gotten to realize a lot of where the sunny way of living can be driven by passion, all by 30!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Dealing with the demands and long hours of being a yacht chef forced me to find a better way to succeed in my chosen career.
I’ve had a relatively smooth journey because I love what I do. However, like all business and passions, I am always growing and learning. I am constantly striving to do better for my team, my clients, and above all my partnership both in business and life with my husband.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
In addition to cheffing, we also book charters for several yachts we have close partnerships with. One boat we have made a close sister relationship with is M/Y Quantum through Paradise Marine for local day trips and the luxury South Florida experience.
You know the movie Chocolat with Juliet Binoche and Johnny Depp… she is a gypsy with Mayan roots and she opens chocolate shops wherever the wind takes her. She has a knack for guessing someone’s favorite chocolate… I have that with food.
Every single time I make something for a brand new client and it could be a dish that is new to me the guests lol at me and say “How did you know that’s my favorite food in the world”.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I was lucky to meet my husband who supported my growth before the pandemic opened possibilities for business instead of being stuck at a salary set by others.
My family, my craft, making myself proud. These are all things that make me happy. I’ve won competitions, and I’ve had a great career so far and that is because I cook the way I would eat, I cook for my little boy and my husband. I wake up on a yacht or I go to an event and I make food I would be thrilled to serve the people I love.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @curatedbycaddy
Image Credits
Shaun Photography, @mkrohl, and Food Network Chopped
