Today we’d like to introduce you to Abby Gray.
Abby, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Cooking with Abby! is a Cooking School, Private Chef Company & Culinary Adventures Company. I hold weekly cooking classes, private lessons, kitchen and pantry consulting appointments, and I am available as a Private Chef for private dinners. Abby also organizes and leads “Culinary Adventures” to Italy and France (soon to US destinations – and now, with a partner, Megan Butow, “Travel with Abby & Megan”). Abby also has an event company, and will happily manage your event from start to finish.
I am 51, I started my career on Capitol Hill as a Legislative Assistant & Director of Seminars for a political magazine. After six years in DC, I moved to New York City and began a 13+ year career as an Advertising Professional, Publisher, and Corporate Event Planner.
Wanting more time with my family in Boston, I retired from corporate life, and opened a charming gift boutique and events company. “Olivia Browning” was born in November 2008. Set up like a European Market, the store carried everything – from Gourmet to Baby to Tabletop – and all categories in between. Olivia Browning also featured weekly gourmet and store events, and a separate Events Planning Business.
However, my driving passion, unifying my personal and professional life, is cooking. In 2014, I decided to close my store and go to culinary school – following my heart into the kitchen.
With a lifelong history of catering and entertaining professionally and privately, and my deep love to “feed the people”, I decided to create Cooking with Abby! To build my company from a formal grounding in culinary skills, I went back to college, and graduated from BU Culinary School after 500 hours of instruction. During that time, I learned from, and cooked with, Master Chef Jacques Pépin and many other amazing and talented chefs – taking something away every day for my clients, and I learned so much from each encounter.
Travel with Abby & Megan is a Boutique Tour Company specializing in unique experiences and adventures, enhancing ones love of Food, Cooking, and Wine; while also cultivating unique cultural experiences in all of our destinations. Down and Dirty Trips (4-5 day tours), and Deep Dives (5-10 day tours). Intimate. Curiated. Special. We ask: What are you waiting for?
Come and Cook with Abby!
• Weekly Cooking Classes and Private Lessons. Located at our Cooking School, Norwell, MA
• Private Chef Services
• Farm to Table Dinners @ Gray’s Landing (#CWA)
• Kitchen Essentials and Pantry Workshops.
• Menu Planning and Ingredient Sourcing
• Kids Classes & Teen Eating and Cooking Workshops
• Culinary Adventures – Near and Far (Now: Travel with Abby & Megan)
• Events – Corporate/Management Retreats, Weddings, Birthday Parties – On Property/Private
Has it been a smooth road?
There are always challenges! Wearing all of the hats – Chef, Buyer, Accountant, Event Planner, etc. can be overwhelming. I have found that, like cooking, good “prep” for all aspects of the business helps! Asking for help, when needed, also helps me overcome hurdles.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Cooking With Abby & Travel with Abby & Megan story. Tell us more about it.
I am known for my food – full service event planning, and personal touches! I teach cooking classes – Italian, French, Indian, Morrocan, Spanish. I teach healthy meals, paleo, heart healthy, gluten free, and more. Classes are hands on or demonstation. We eat what we make – and folks leave happily full.
I am passionate about ingredients. My husband and I have built a big garden – and I use everything we grow in my recipes, classes and event dishes. I work with my clients to create a unique menu for thier private event. I don’t publish menus – every single one is individually created for each client and each class.
I am proud of the food I create. I am proud of how we pay attention to every detail and make sure that each client knows that they matter to us. I listen to each client – and try to incorporate who they are – into each menu for a party, dinner, or class.
What sets us apart? Service. Attention to detail & The Fact that I source all of our ingredients, & cook every single thing that comes out of our kitchen. I have a rapport with my clients — and pay attention to every detail of decor, ambiance and the “whole experience.” Feeding people is intimate, special, and soulful.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
Food is always changing and evolving. Farm to Table, Food Trucks, and Locally Sourced Ingredients will continue to grow and keep evolving. The great thing about being a Chef is that we can constantly make new things to eat every day, try new spices, source exotic vegetables, etc. Creating amazing recipes and food for people will always be in style!
Pricing:
- Cooking with Abby Cooking Classes average $65 per class.
Contact Info:
- Address: 156 Norwell Avenue
Norwell, MA 02061 - Website: www.cookingwithabby.com
- Phone: 6179975822
- Email: cookingwithabbygray@gmail.com
- Instagram: cookingwithabbygray
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cookingwithabbygray/
- Twitter: @cookingwabbyg
Image Credit:
Abby Gray Photos
Getting in touch: BostonVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
