We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Chef Elizabeth Willard a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Chef Elizabeth , so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
In 2017, I started working with a functional practitioner who specialized in the autoimmune disorder, Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. The first thing he did was change my diet, removing gluten, dairy, soy, and any ingredients to which I was sensitive.
The symptoms I had been experiencing – brain fog, fatigue, bloating, headaches, insomnia – almost completely abated after about three weeks.
It was then that I realized the powerful healing ability of food and a diet tailored to one’s specific needs. I was so impressed, I decided to rebrand my company and refocus our mission to use food as medicine. In 2018, 12 years after I launched my company, the new brand The Pickled Beet was launched.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I’m the Founder and Owner of The Pickled Beet, South Florida’s award-winning culinary company, that sets a new standard for gourmet chef services. For more than twenty years, The Pickled Beet has been offering an elevated culinary experience that fits each client’s personal needs and lifestyle. Our services allow clients to focus on what’s most important in life through tailored, freshly prepared 100% organic meals, delivered right to their home, office, or private jet.
Each hand-crafted meal is uniquely prepared to nourish, heal, and make the “everyday” more enjoyable. Whether a client’s goal is to heal through food, maintain a healthy lifestyle, or prioritize nutrition to prevent illness or future conditions, we guide them on their mission to live their very best life. Dishes start with whole, premium ingredients, such as freshly harvested produce from organic farmers, fish caught by local South Florida fishermen, and grass-fed beef and lamb flown in from small American family ranches.
We have uncompromising standards and high expectations – that’s why our professional chefs prepare everything customized for each client – for every private flight, menu and meal, personal chef experience, event, and catering service. From celebrities and athletes, to CEOs, business owners, and busy families, we offer unparalleled service for every type of special dietary and lifestyle need, eating style, and taste preference.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
I have a degree and 20 years of experience in marketing which I was able to apply to my startup when I launched my company. I studied the market and crafted a business plan that would set my company apart from others on day one.
In my corporate role prior to my company’s launch, I had hired and trained many people and helped grow a department from 15 people to 30 in 13 years. I understood how to create roles and responsibilities and how to hire ahead of when the work demands the additional talent.
I hired an exceptional group of people who have a tenure now three times the norm in the culinary world. We have a workplace culture that embraces work-life balance, promotes collaboration instead of competition, and encourages creativity and fun.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
We work with many providers in the health and wellness arena and we are always open to additional connections that can yield a mutually beneficial relationship. By collaborating with functional, holistic, naturopathic, and integrative doctors and nutritionists, we are able to create a win-win for the mutual client we serve.
When someone is handed a diagnosis or encouraged to change their eating style to combat a health issue, they often don’t know how to deal with that. We are able to provide delicious meals that will conform to any food “prescription” they have received.
To discuss partnership opportunities, you can contact me at [email protected].
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thepickledbeet.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepickledbeetchef/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Pickled-Beet-Chef/100085545817746/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thepickledbeetmiamipersona7583
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
