We had the good fortune of connecting with Chef Elizabeth Willard and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Chef Elizabeth, do you have any habits that you feel contribute to your effectiveness?
Persistence – It takes time for a newly launched business to find its footing. You have to stick with it during the slow start-up period.

Courage – To grow a company, you have to be willing to spend money you don’t have yet based on the unshakable belief that “if you build it, they will come.”

Forward Thinking – The most successful companies are proactive and not reactive. That means planning ahead from a strategic, financial, and marketing perspective at least one quarter (and preferably longer) ahead of execution.

What should our readers know about your business?
We are the only culinary business in South Florida that uses food as medicine.

Our company’s mission is to help our clients live their best lives through meals tailored to their exact personal needs. We understand how difficult life can be when individuals are faced with the challenges of severe food allergies or sensitivities and medical conditions that require strict protocols.

We create 100% personalized meals to accommodate any diet or lifestyle, such as: Celiac disease, Anti-Inflammatory, Alkaline, Autoimmune Protocol, Low FODMAP, and more. We even develop unique recipes for clients with so many food restrictions that none of our 5,000+ recipes are suitable.

We’ve won multiple awards, but what we are most proud of is the number of lives we have impacted through our meals. There are so many clients who we’ve supported during cancer battles, surgical recoveries, pro athlete injuries, difficult pregnancies, debilitating IBS, autoimmune struggles, and a multitude of other health challenges.

Food is the common denominator. We all eat. But, we all have unique needs. In recent years, the food–health connection has been more widely recognized. Which is why 50 percent of the people we cook for are perfectly healthy. They want delicious, restaurant-quality, organic meals that are individually prepared for everyone in their family. They recognize that eating healthy doesn’t require sacrificing flavor and they are investing in their health.

I think every experience I had prior to founding my company helped lead me to finding my purpose and creating a service that enriches the lives of others.

Growing up in an Italian Irish family, food has always been my epicenter. When I decided I wanted to step away from my executive corporate job more than 19 years ago, founding a personal chef company was a natural transition.

I named the company Lucia’s, after my great grandmother who inspired my love of cooking and taught me how using the freshest, highest-quality ingredients can transform even the most humble dish.
In 2017, I was diagnosed with the autoimmune disorder, Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. I started working with a functional medicine practitioner and the first thing he did was change my diet. We eliminated gluten, dairy, soy, and any ingredient I had a sensitivity to and the result was astounding.

Within weeks, I was feeling like my old self again and had more energy, growing back my hair, and experiencing more restful nights. I knew at this point that I had found a truly unique “medicine” that I wanted to share with others.

In 2018, I rebranded the company and founded The Pickled Beet. Our mission is to use food as medicine to help clients live their best life by nourishing their bodies with exactly what it needs while still preparing delicious meals that they can enjoy. Whether someone is healthy and wants to stay that way, or they have been diagnosed recently with a disease, or are struggling with food allergies or sensitivities, we can help. It starts with a unique weekly menu created for each and every client.

Entrepreneurship is never without its challenges. But, from day one, The Pickled Beet has stood out in the crowd. Before opening our doors, we studied the South Florida market and we found some gaps that existed in advanced meal preparation. We decided to take a unique approach: using organic ingredients when not many people were talking about them; creating a service fee plus groceries business model so that we could be 100 percent transparent with our clients; and offering our service without requiring a contract.

Like most small businesses, finding and retaining talented, dedicated, and hardworking staff is a major obstacle. But, I’m proud to say that we have assembled an outstanding team of culinary experts who have enabled us to expand our operation and broaden our horizons.

In addition to personalized weekly meals, we also provide in-home private chef experiences, holistic nutrition consulting, and catering for private aviation. When guests take flight, they expect the same level of quality and service they’re accustomed to at home and throughout their business endeavors. The Pickled Beet provides a customized private jet dining experience.

In just minutes, guests can choose from a full menu of fine dining cuisine that our chefs customize to accommodate any taste preferences or dietary restrictions. Every menu item is carefully crafted sourcing only the freshest local organic ingredients, conveniently packaged, and delivered before take-off, including fresh, wild caught fish, vibrant organic soups and salads, and bright citrus flavors.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’m a native Miamian, so I have seen the city grow and change a great deal. My favorite places to spend time are the classics: bike riding in Shark Valley; an airboat ride in The Everglades; an Ocean Adventures water tour of Biscayne Bay; lunch at Garcia’s on the Miami River or Golden Rule for the tiki vibe; a trip to the Keys to fish in Islamorada, drink some margaritas, and catch the sunset at Mallory Square in Key West.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
That’s a great question and I could probably fill an entire publication with all of the people who have taught, encouraged, supported, mentored, and helped me grow over the last several decades. In the professional realm, our success rests on the talent, dedication, and hard work of our team; many of whom have been with us for years. Personally, I could not have succeeded without the love and support of my family, friends, and colleagues.

Website: https://thepickledbeet.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepickledbeetchef/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-pickled-beet/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Pickled-Beet-Chef/100085545817746/

Image Credits
The Pickled Beet

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