Pastry is an art and doing what you love explains who you are, says Krishneel Nair.
The Cuvu baker, who has worked in resort and hotel kitchens for more than seven years, has long dreamt of running his own business.
He developed his love for baking at nine-year-old.
Mr Nair used to bake and sell goodies in school to help his parents financially.
“During those days I didn’t have an oven so instead I had to bake cakes using firewood,” he said.
In 2018, with only $400, he started his home-based (part time) baking business and named it ‘Cake Time Catering’.
He was a full time pastry chef at the Marriott Fiji Resort Momi Bay at the time so he bakes at home only when he has the time.
However, his dream was to operate a full time business and this came to fruition in 2020, when Fiji was at the height of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.
After losing his job, he decided that it was time to build on his business.
Mr Nair was determined that his business would flourish despite the circumstances.
He rebranded his business to Pâtisserie Còrner and throughout the pandemic period, Mr Nair’s family was living on his baking income.
He shared his baking skills with his family and it is now a family business.
Mr Nair is back at his pastry job at the Marriott and at the same time his business is fully operating.
“I believe that learning never stops and being in this field is like a journey that will keep you moving forward.
“With resilience, the innovation cycle of try-fail- try again, doesn’t exist anymore. Passion drives you to do a better job and makes you a better leader and entrepreneur,” he said.
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