Melis Karabulut’s collection profiles a few of Brno’s international entrepreneurs to discover the challenges of working a enterprise abroad. Right here, Mariana Paraizo of Baking in Brnotalks about bringing Portuguese culinary magic to the Moravian metropolis. Credit score: MK / BD.
Brno, Nov twenty first – Entrepreneurship amongst foreigners in Brno is at its peak nowadays, as we see an increasing number of profitable internationals charting their path to success towards all odds, spreading positivity and motivation whereas bringing nice worth to the expat neighborhood within the metropolis. On this collection, I purpose to shine a lightweight on these formidable souls to empower the entrepreneurial spirit of our readers – simply as I used to be impressed by Ms. Mariana Paraizo; the one and solely of Baking in Brno!
I've been following Mariana’s journey on-line for some time now, watching her develop her enterprise each day; getting an increasing number of inventive along with her adorned desserts, introducing her signature brigadeiros to Brno’s expats with a candy tooth, and doing it with the fullness of her coronary heart – all whereas being a full-time mom of 4 youngsters!
Mariana is Brazilian in origin, and has lived in Portugal for many of her life and in Australia for six years earlier than transferring to Brno. She realized find out how to bake from her sister, who has a donut store in Portugal; together with taking a number of on-line programs. She settled in Brno within the midst of the pandemic along with her household, and managed to convey her enterprise to life whatever the pandemic circumstances and challenges of being a international entrepreneur. Over time, she has created her model and legacy in gourmand baking; she has deservedly turn into the go-to baker for celebration emergencies – no pun meant, an actual moist and ingredient-rich cake is a uncommon discover in Brno! These have been the explanation why I used to be intrigued by Mariana’s story, and I wished to know extra about her journey as a feminine entrepreneur.
The interview with Mariana was extraordinarily candy – as she welcomed me with a heat, humble smile, a cup of tea, contemporary brigadeiros, and a beneficiant slice of beautiful cake that she ready for me as we talked about her story.
Taking Enterprise Critically
After I requested Mariana how her enterprise in Brno first began, she mentioned, “I began by baking my daughter’s birthday cake a short time after coming to Brno, and other people appreciated it. They began to ask me to bake desserts for his or her celebrations, and from their events, my identify unfold. In a while, I shared the pictures of the desserts I had made on Fb teams for foreigners in Brno, which helped me rather a lot to succeed in out to extra folks.”
She advised me that earlier than transferring to Brno, she had a brigadeiros enterprise in Lisbon, and she or he carried all of it the way in which to Brno whereas together with adorned desserts into her menu. Regardless that she relaunched her enterprise in a brand new metropolis, a brand new nation, in the course of the pandemic, she managed to make a revenue and transfer ahead as folks nonetheless wished to order her desserts for celebrations at residence.
“Some folks deal with shortly earning profits after they first begin a enterprise, however I take my enterprise to my coronary heart and deal with enhancing fairly than quick money, and that helped me carry it to larger ranges. Additionally being in keeping with what you do is essential, even if you carry on failing. I believed that my work would achieve success, and I saved engaged on it. Now my job is serving me financially, and I'm happy with the time that I dedicate to it and the rewards that I get afterward. I all the time checked out my baking as a ardour and as a job, not as one thing I do for extra cash at residence,” she mentioned.
“For greater than a 12 months I baked at residence in my kitchen, however my enterprise was all the time registered and I paid my taxes as a enterprise proprietor, adopted all of the hygiene laws like a traditional bakery or cafe. Now I've a separate kitchen that I lease for my enterprise, which supplies me the larger house that I would like as my orders are rising, and I really feel extra productive working right here.”
She provides that she largely bakes within the evenings after spending the day along with her youngsters, and at any time when her husband can take over. “What we do is precise teamwork with my husband – as an example, my husband writes and shares the social media posts – however balancing the work and household obligations is an ongoing battle, as everybody can perceive. Typically I've so many orders and I discover my kitchen over-occupied, and that's once I have to put a restrict on the brand new orders I settle for.”
I requested her what it's like to observe her enterprise develop and obtain good critiques. She gave a humble smile and advised me, “It is rather thrilling. I'm a dreamer, I by no means cease dreaming of larger issues. After reaching one step, I begin dreaming of the subsequent. It is rather good to see folks having fun with my work, and my household and mates supporting this journey. Since I turned a mom, I've been taking good care of my youngsters. Within the final three years, I've been doing what I like, feeling inventive, and it exhibits. After I transfer ahead with what I do, my husband says “Ah, you might be again!”.
Brigadeiros – Mariana’s Signature
Individuals following her web page have most likely seen the mouthwatering pictures of Mariana’s brigadeiros, which I name the star of her kitchen! After I ask Mariana to inform me extra about these scrumptious little Brazilian delicacies, she says, “I realized find out how to make brigadeiros from my household, they're very fashionable in Brazil. Over the course of time I've improved the recipe. It's my signature as a result of it's related to my roots, and I've spent a lot time growing it, looking for the right recipe and texture.”
She provides, “I really like making this for folks as a gift, or to convey them to events that I'm invited to. Because of this folks now know me because the Brigadeiros Woman. It's a nice reward to anybody who likes sweets. Having only one may be simply sufficient and fulfilling, however they're addictive! Brigadeiros are dense in texture, crunchy exterior, and creamy inside. The principle recipe has solely three substances; condensed milk, cocoa powder, and butter. Making it is rather laboring. You need to combine all of them for over forty minutes, you must attain a sure density. You need to watch for hours for them to get the right consistency. Even the temperature of the room can play a task in getting the perfect texture.”
Future Plans As A Feminine Entrepreneur
I requested Mariana about her future plans for Baking in Brno, and the way she imagines her enterprise evolving. She mentioned, “Till September 2022 I'll solely obtain orders, as that's when my youngest little one will begin going to highschool. After that, I'm planning to open my very own cafe or bakery, together with reaching out to cafes and eating places that may promote my merchandise. Typically folks ask me whether or not they can style only a piece of cake fairly than shopping for an entire cake, or whether or not it's potential for me to ship extra usually, however I don’t have the logistics for that in the meanwhile. Constructing partnerships with native companies and enhancing my logistics could be my two targets for the subsequent 12 months.”
Karabulutmeliskarabulut97@gmail.comAuthorA published author from Turkey, English language teacher, master’s student of European Politics, humanitarian worker, dancer. Beyond these, an enthusiast of the Czech language and people speaking it. Mainly creative, sometimes political. A big fan of Luzanky Park and Petrov.Brno Daily
