Today we’d like to introduce you to Charry Beckett
Hi Charry, 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 am originally from Bacolod City, Philippines and 6 years ago I decided to make a life changing decision to go to the United States as a J1 intern. As a 22 on going 23 years old girl who lived in a small town in the Philippines and coming into the United States was a bit of an overwhelming experience but as a person who can easily adapt into my environment I started to embrace the culture and make many connections with amazing people. I came into this country with nothing but a positive mindset and a confident attitude that I will somehow make it. That I will somehow make my parents proud and be able to help out my family back home.
My program was supposed to only be one year but God and the universe had a different plan for me. I have met the most amazing, hardworking and kind man and we got married after a year of meeting and had our first born son on December 2019.
He was an amazing and talented chef and he worked so hard to get to where he is at as a sous chef. But then life took a big turn when COVID happened in 2020. Our son was only a few months old back then and I was a stay at home mom and we are living paycheck to paycheck and barely surviving. Thank God his parents were nice enough to let us move in with them.
Most restaurants closed down and some laid people off because of COVID and unfortunately he was one of them at that time. We were worried financially how we are going to survive since he didn’t have a job and neither did I. So that’s when a light bulb suddenly brightened my business minded self and I told him, “We are chefs/cooks, we know how to make food taste amazing and we know how to execute it. why don’t we make our own catering business and post it online.”
I told him I can make the menu and market it online while you can be the cook in the kitchen since that time I had a 3 month old baby to take care.
So that’s where BECKETT’S BEST came to life.
We started out with one good friend who ordered a whole baked chicken, posted it online and then the rest is history. We would cook hundreds of lumpias , pounds of pork , packs of pancit and many more. My in-laws kitchen became our catering kitchen. I would strap my 3 month old son in a carrier so I can help pack the food. The dinning room will be filled with lots or orders most of the day. My in-laws used to say “our drive way looks like a restaurant drive-thru”. Those days were one of the most memorable moments of our life.
And now almost 6 years later I am still here, married with now two amazing and beautiful children.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It was definitely not a smooth road for us. We have faced so many struggles and hardships through the years.
Our business was doing well during covid but then one day we received a phone call saying we could not sell “cooked” foods anymore because we don’t have certain permits etc. So we needed to stop our catering for a while. Then 2021 we welcomed our daughter and moved to Austin.
As a stay at home mom i was motivated to do something more because I wanted to contribute financially, So I did a little bit of research online to see what we can make and I found out that we can make “cottage foods” because they are shelf stable.
So that’s where ” BECKETT’S BEST PICKLES” came in. We would make everything in our small apartment kitchen back in Austin and post it in our Facebook page that has mostly customers from San Antonio. So, we would take orders, fulfill them, and drive to San Antonio on my husband’s days off to deliver them or my in-laws would pick it up when they come visit the babies and deliver them.
We joined a couple Pop ups down in Austin and it was good for a bit until another struggle came when my son got diagnosed with Level 3, moderate – to – severe Autism, He was 2 that time and I needed to stop the business and focus on him and his therapy.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I have a Bachelors Degree in Hospitality Management and Majored in Culinary Arts. I am known for bringing filipino flavors to texan households and making amazing flavors accessible. From making meal prep to pickles to family dinners I can do it all.
Honestly the answer to the question what I’m most proud of is My ultimate career as a Stay At Home/ Special needs mom and doing all sorts side businesses to contribute financially.
I think one thing that sets me apart from others is that Im never to afraid to jump out of my comfort zone and try out new things even if it sounds scary. Because I believe that if you want to do something you got to do it now because life is short and you only live once.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
One piece of advice that I can give to those people who are just starting out is to not be afraid to simply START. A lot of people are holding themselves back because they are waiting for the right scenario or moment but you’ll never have the right scenario or moment you just have to start and figure things out as you go.
One thing I wish I knew when I was just starting out is that it is okay to have some setbacks because that would help you become better, smarter and wiser in the future.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charry_beckett
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chawielovesu
- Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@Withthebecketts
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@charrydbecks
