Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexandra Hanscome.
Hi Alexandra, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My journey in the culinary industry started with a passion for cooking and bringing people together through food. After attending culinary school and gaining experience in the industry, I knew I wanted to create something of my own.
In 2017, I founded Philomena’s Catering Co., naming the business after my grandmother, Philomena. What started as a dream has grown into a successful full-service catering company serving Myrtle Beach and the surrounding areas.
Building a business from the ground up has been one of the most rewarding and challenging experiences of my life. There have been countless long days, late nights, growing pains, and lessons learned along the way. I’ve worn just about every hat imaginable, from cooking and serving to coordinating events, managing employees, and building relationships throughout our community.
Over the years, we’ve become known for our elevated Southern and Italian cuisine, scratch-made dishes, and dedication to creating memorable experiences for our clients. We’ve had the privilege of being part of countless weddings, celebrations, and special moments, and that’s something I never take for granted.
Today, I’m incredibly proud of the team we’ve built, the reputation we’ve earned, and the relationships we’ve formed along the way. As we prepare for another exciting chapter of growth and expansion, I often look back at where we started and feel grateful for how far we’ve come.
Being a business owner isn’t always glamorous, but seeing something I created continue to grow and succeed makes every challenge worthwhile. I truly believe the best is yet to come!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Absolutely not! Owning a business, especially in the hospitality industry, is anything but a smooth road. There have been plenty of growing pains, long hours, sacrifices, and moments where I’ve questioned how I was going to make everything work.
One of the biggest challenges has been learning how to grow from being the person who does everything to becoming a leader who can delegate, trust a team, and focus on the bigger picture. When you build something from the ground up, it’s hard to let go of control because your heart is in every little detail.
Staffing, rising food costs, unpredictable circumstances, and the pressure of executing someone’s most important day have all presented their own challenges. In catering, there is very little room for error, and sometimes things happen that are completely out of your control. You have to think quickly, adapt, and find solutions without allowing those challenges to affect the client’s experience.
Balancing motherhood, my personal life, and running a demanding business has also been a learning experience. There are times when the business requires so much of me, and finding that balance hasn’t always been easy.
But I truly believe those struggles have shaped me into the business owner I am today. I’ve learned to be resilient, make difficult decisions, trust my instincts, and understand that growth often comes with discomfort. Every obstacle has taught me something, and looking back, I wouldn’t be where I am today without those experiences.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
At Philomena’s Catering Co., we specialize in full-service catering for weddings, private celebrations, corporate events, and everything in between throughout Myrtle Beach and the surrounding areas. Our focus has always been on providing exceptional food, professional service, and an experience that our clients and their guests will remember long after the event is over.
We’re especially known for our elevated Southern and Italian cuisine, bringing together traditional comfort foods with a more refined, creative approach. Everything we do is centered around fresh, scratch-made food, quality ingredients, and menus that reflect our clients’ individual tastes. Some of our signature dishes, like our Southern eggrolls, shrimp and grits, and macaroni and cheese bites, have become favorites throughout the community. We’ve even been fortunate enough to receive multiple local awards for our food, which is always an incredible feeling.
I think what truly sets us apart is our ability to combine the quality of a restaurant experience with the logistics and demands of large-scale catering. Whether we’re serving an intimate gathering or hundreds of wedding guests, our goal is to maintain the same level of quality, presentation, and attention to detail. We’re also incredibly adaptable. No two events are alike, and we take pride in being able to customize menus, accommodate special requests, and think on our feet when unexpected challenges arise.
What I’m most proud of is the reputation we’ve built and the team behind it. In this industry, your reputation is everything. Knowing that venues, fellow vendors, and past clients continue to recommend us means more to me than any award ever could. We’ve worked hard to earn that trust, and I never want to lose sight of it.
At the end of the day, we’re not just serving food. We’re helping create memories and being trusted with some of the most important moments in people’s lives. That’s a responsibility I take seriously, and it’s what continues to motivate me to raise the bar for Philomena’s Catering Co.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
I think something that might surprise people is that, despite owning a catering company and being surrounded by people and events all the time, I’m actually someone who really values my quiet time. My career requires me to be constantly on the go, making decisions, solving problems, and managing a million moving parts, but outside of work, I’m just a mom who enjoys the simple things in life.
I also think people sometimes see a successful business and assume everything comes naturally or that I have it all figured out. The truth is, I’m still learning every single day. I don’t have all the answers, and I’ve built so much of what I have through trial and error, determination, and simply refusing to give up.
Behind the business, I’m still the same girl who had a dream and decided to take a chance on herself.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.philomenascateringco.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philomenas_catering_co?psln=NXhxM3NkN3N6MTc3&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1Zdk751vmt/?mibextid=wwXIfr
