The Snap Way
We are a team of experienced catering and event professionals. We love sharing Vermont-grown produce, pasture-raised meats, craft beers and locally distilled Vermont spirits in expertly executed parties with you. We connect people through food, events and celebrations.
Our Story
20 years of hard work, great food and amazing community partnerships.
By Abbey Duke, Founder & CEO
Way back in 2002, I decided that I wanted to pursue my dream: to start a farm-related business. I had worked as a journalist, a field biologist and a marketer, but I kept learning that I didn’t want to work for someone else. In 2002, I quit my job in content marketing at Gardener’s Supply Company and enrolled in (Abbey) Duke University—my own personalized graduate program.
I designed the program to gain experience and learn skills so that within two years, I could open a business that involved growing product in Burlington’s Intervale and selling the end product. I worked for Will and Judy Stevens at Golden Russet Farm in Shoreham. I attended business workshops, and I spent a winter in Costa Rica working on an agroecology project. In 2003, while applying to rent land in Burlington’s Intervale, I had the opportunity to rent a small kitchen and retail space at the top of the hill on Riverside Ave.
The little building had been a late-night fried chicken wing place and was in disrepair. Yet, all I saw was potential. I didn’t quite know what I was getting into, and that was probably for the best. I teamed up with two chefs, Kirk and Katie Fiore, and together we founded Sugarsnap and built the original business together. We renovated the building together. We even rented a jackhammer to make space for new plumbing.
We opened Sugarsnap in December 2003. The original business model focused on freshly prepared take-out lunches and take-home dinners with catering on the side. I ran the business and the farm, and Katie and Kirk ran the kitchen. I would work on the farm in the morning, scrub my hands and then work the counter during the lunch rush and pay bills in the afternoon. The business grew—especially catering. By 2008, we had maxed out the 1,000-square-foot building, and it was time to make a decision: do we get bigger and put in a new kitchen, or do we stay small? Kirk and Katie decided it was time for new challenges and left the business. And I decided to grow.
I raised money and put in a 4,500-square-foot catering and commissary kitchen in Technology Park in South Burlington. We added a bar service and expanded catering even more. We added a café at our new kitchen, kept the Riverside store and then took over running the café at ECHO on Burlington’s waterfront. It was a challenging time. Ultimately, it became clear that the business was too complicated, with three cafes, a farm and a large catering operation.
Over two years, we closed down all three cafes so that we could focus exclusively on catering. That focus has paid off. We grew to be one of the largest off-premise caterers in the area.
2020 was on track to be our best year ever, when… well, we all know what happened. We immediately launched a home delivery service and looked for opportunities. I was able to secure a contract with the state of Vermont providing meals for people the state housed in area hotels. For 13 months, the Snap team cooked and delivered over 600,000 meals to unhoused people in four VT counties. I am really proud of my team and our ability to adapt during such a challenging time.
In 2021, we transitioned back to event catering, and we have been busier than ever. As we look to the future, we are really excited about the partnerships we have with our venues, vendors and partners. And we are excited to keep growing, adapting and improving—as individuals and as a company.
“We love Vermont and showcase award-winning foods and beverages produced and harvested in the Green Mountains ”
— Abbey Duke, Founder & CEO
Our Principles
20 years in business and our core principles remain the same: community, teamwork, integrity and quality products.
Our Local Network
Access to world-class local suppliers and ingredients from our own backyard. It’s amazing how much the Vermont marketplace has expanded compared to when we started in 2003.
Our Fantastic Team
Sugarsnap’s friendly and creative staff is the heart of our business.
Meet the Sugarsnap Team
The best Management, catering and event professionals in the business!
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- Abbey Duke
- Founder & CEO
During Sugarsnap’s 19-year journey, Abbey has been at the helm every step of the way. Her business goal? Build a sustainable, year-round catering business by diversifying event niches, partnering with exclusive venues, providing well-paying jobs, and exceeding guest expectations with flawless service.
Education: (Abbey) Duke University, Emerging Leaders, SBA 2017, Macalester College
Board Member: Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility, 2022, Vermont Fresh Network 2008-2014, Burlington Parks Commission 2021-present
Speaker: Catersource international catering conference: 2020 & 2021
International Projects: Suriname reverse exchange, 2019 after hosting a young chef through Young Leaders of the American’s Initiative (YLAI) in 2018
Ordering: Coffee, ribeye, 92% dark chocolate, eggplant, green goddess dressing
86: Ripe bananas, persimmon, breakfast
Previously: Journalist, field biologist, marketer
Superpowers: Smiling, if Abbey is stressed, you can’t tell. Vision, she operates with one eye on the present and one on the future. Adaptability, during Covid 19’s quarantine mandate, Abbey successfully adjusted her business model by working with the State of Vermont to feed 1,000 Vermonters daily
Fork, Knife or Spoon? Fingers, if need be
Down Time: Tennis, cross-country skiing, gardening, keeping up with two-middle schoolers, taste testing
Kitchen/Building/Business Hack
You know how some people talk? Abbey moves into new territory with curiosity and trust. She’s a student of best-practices who pays employees a livable wage and asks them what they want to do and how they want to grow at the Snap
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- Anthony Fountain
- Event Chef
Snap Acts: Family-meal master, creative, high-energy jack of all trades
Ordering: Spicy tuna maki rolls, chicken wings, ramen, veal marsala, VT double IPA
Experience: 17+ years working in Vermont’s restaurants and resorts
86: Cantaloupe
Outside of Work: Concerts, dance parties, sampling Vermont’s finest breweries
Pride: The 11 inch rainbow trout tattoo on his forearm
Fork, Knife or Spoon? Chopsticks
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- Barb Leslie
- Event Chef & Operations
Snap Acts: Operations & systems management, chef and food photographer
Education: Paralegal, Woodbury College, VT; MS Community Economic Development, SNHU, NH
Ordering: Veal marsala, BBQ, Mezze Platters and Pecan Pie
86: Urchin, goat guts and octopus
Life Before Sugarsnap: Program Manager, USAID International Development initiatives and Executive Director for non-profit organization in Haiti
And: Lover of Paco the Great, Barb’s Yorkshire Terrier. Published photographer, modern and improvisational dancer, multilingual problem-solver
Fork, Knife or Spoon? Barb loves to spoon!
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- Chris Hechanova
- Executive Chef
With more than 20 years of experience, Chris brings a well-seasoned hand to Sugarsnap. His expertise is executing high-volume, high-end culinary recipes and menus
Snap Acts: Planning and plating, budgeting, ordering, recipe testing, training, menu development and quality checks
Education: Classically trained chef
Food Philosophy: The intersection between the art and science of cooking combines well-studied culinary technique with passion for food and flavor
Ordering: Anything homemade: Mom’s home-cooking, preserved lemons, anchovies, house-cured meats
86: Clove, durian and lousy marinara sauce made with corn syrup
Superpower: Training Joaquin, his pure-bred, 160-pound Cane Corso Italian Mastiff
Off-the-Clock: Woodworking, Formula One, Golf, Football and being a great Dad
Kitchen Hack: Dicing hard-cooked eggs fast by pressing them through wire cooling racks, with one rack vertically oriented and the other horizontal, he builds a flash-dicing a grid
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- Emily Bombard
- Event Chef & Baker
Snap Acts: Event chef, food procurement, inventory and vendor management, baking
Education: New England Culinary Institute, VT
Memorable Event: Catering an art museum event in Phoenix for 3,000 guests
Ordering: Pasta, parmesan goldfish, carbs, rice
86: Raw peppers, onions, and mayo
Off-the-Clock: Emily has three children, dresses in whatever crown, tutu or tiara they think matters and loves to shop for off-beat kitchen tools
Fork, Knife or Spoon? Chopsticks
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- Jen Wool
- Marketing & Events Manager
Snap Acts: Harvesting fresh stems from the Sugarsnap flower farm, marketing, communications, bartending and events
Education: BA, US History, UVM, VT; MSA, Business Management, Saint Michael’s College, VT
Ordering: Ceviche, rhubarb, oysters, brisket, sushi, BLT’s (w/iceberg), squishy bacon, baked potatoes, Gorgonzola, passion fruit and Honey Crisp apples
86: Lima Beans, donuts and milk
Off-the-Clock: Garden, travel, film, renovations, volunteer and other people’s cooking
Surprise: Marketing director for international cardiovascular scientific sessions with 35,000 attendees
Fork, Knife or Spoon? Ladle
Most Likely To: Cut in line at a buffet
Life Before Sugarsnap: Columnist, film publicist, co-producer, marketing director, business owner, chief development officer
Kitchen Hack: Treasure hunter–uses a lobster fork to pry away pistachios and chocolate chips in ice cream
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- Joe Hoffman
- Event Chef
Snap Acts: Our seasoned high-end production chef
Experience: 20+ years working for some of Vermont’s best restaurants
Superpower: Metal Detecting, his best finds were a 1657 Louis XIV gold coin and a 1820’s militia belt buckle and an iPhone plowed into an icy snowbank in the middle of a serious VT winter.
Ordering: Chicken wings and VT beer
86: Dislikes avocados; loves guacamole, dislikes anchovies; loves Caesar dressing
Off-the-Clock: Treasure hunting, traveling, sports, hunting, fishing, and enjoying the great outdoors.
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- Martin Menendez
- Event Producer & Coordinator
Martin is our ECHO event producer and coordinator. He has coordinated all types of events at ECHO, both big and small, and can make recommendations to ensure a successful event.
Snap Acts: Bar manager, event managing, bar menu development
Education: Business Administration, Universidad Nacional de Gral. Sarmiento, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Ordering: Shellfish and empanadas
86: Cilantro, egg whites
Life Before Sugarsnap: Martin’s father owns and operates a commercial and retail bakery in Buenos Aires. Martin grew-up in the bakery, apprenticed, attended business school and worked for his father managing the books and front-of-the-house retail sales
Fork, Knife or Spoon: Swizzle stick
Off the Clock: Mountain Biker, road biker, snowboarder and home cook
Bar Hack: Quickly icing-down beverages by wrapping bottles in parchment
If you have catering questions about ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, feel free to email martin@thesnapvt.com
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- Michael Kilhullen
- Kitchen Manager & Event Chef
Snap Acts: Production, cooking, plating and systems management
Education: New England Culinary Institute, VT
Ordering: Cheesecake, pie, top round rouladen, sauerbraten, pad thai
86: Mint and anything flavored with anise
Fork, Knife or Spoon? Spork
Off-the-Clock: Building computers for fun, video games, cats and cooking shows
Fun Fact: He’s a Sabre Fencer
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- Patrick Schafer
- Farm Manager
Snap Acts: Plants, tends and harvests fresh food from the Sugarsnap farm
Education: Food Systems Management, MSc, UVM, VT
Superpower: planting and harvesting 10 varieties of tomatoes, 6 peppers, 3 cucumbers, tomatillos and eggplant, 10 varieties of squash, 3 types of beans, 3 distinct kale varieties, 4 radish, 2 onion, 2 lettuces as well as asparagus, turnips, broccoli, mizuna, shiso and culinary herbs
Farm Work: Along with Abbey and the team, Patrick prunes and tends three varieties of currants, as well as gooseberries, blackberries, plums and pawpaw
Ordering: Dried insects, mealy worms, boutique pizza
Off-the-Clock: Performance artist, heirloom seed collector and gardener
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- Samantha Kilhullen
- Event Producer & Coordinator
Sam is our Barn at Smugglers’ Notch event producer and coordinator. She has worked over 70 weddings at The Barn (and counting!). In addition to the Barn at Smugglers’ Notch, Sam also works with clients at other venues in the Burlington area.
Snap Acts: Event management, event and food photography, social media, assisting in the bake shop as needed, and occasionally bartending
Fun Fact: Before becoming one our our event producers, Sam was our baker for 6 years!
Education: New England Culinary Institute, VT
Ordering: Cake, cookies, mashed potatoes, salmon sushi
86: Olives, capers, mushrooms and anything spicy
Off-the-Clock: Travel, shopping for kitchen gadgets and developing offbeat, cookie recipes
Fork, Knife or Spoon? Whisk
If you have questions about catering at The Barn at Smugglers’ Notch, feel free to email sam@thesnapvt.com
“Our dedicated team of skilled, creative culinary pros have years of experience and take great care of you and your guests.”
— Abbey Duke, Founder & CEO
Truly Vermont.
Enjoy our catering at one of Vermont’s best venues.