An MBA professional by education and a baker by passion, Menakshi Siotia has served as an inspiration for many. Here’s how she followed her heart and started a first-of-its-kind Cake Studio!
Ever since childhood, Menakshi Siotia found solace in the art of baking and little did she know at that time that this was indeed her heart’s inner calling.
As Menakshi grew up, she found a keen interest in Finance which led her to pursue an MBA in Finance and eventually work in the corporate sector. While she worked there for almost two decades, she never let her penchant for baking take a backseat. She continued baking during her leisure time and as destiny would have it, she started receiving a lot of love and appreciation from her clientele. This prompted her to start her own bakery studio called Cake Studio by Menakshi and dedicatedly kick-start her entrepreneurial journey and ever since then, there has been no turning back.
In an exclusive interview with Menakshi, we know more about her entrepreneurial journey, her love for baking, and a lot more!
Tell us about your journey as a professional baker?
It has been almost six years since I started my journey as a baker and cake decorator, and needless to say, it has been a very exciting journey so far. I started my Cake Studio while I was still working in the corporate world, doing only a couple of orders a week.
With the passage of time, I’ve built it as a full-time job independently with my own caliber, and it has been a very soul satisfying experience lately.
When did you bake your first cake? How was your experience?
Ever since I was little, I would bake a cake every year for my brother’s birthday, and I would try to better it every year. I really loved baking since childhood.
What made you venture into this profession? Has it turned out to be just as you once imagined?
I started baking for the sheer joy of it and for my friends and family. Their appreciation made me start baking professionally part time while working in the corporate world. And as the volumes started building up, I decided to get committed to this full time.
Though it is a lot of hard back breaking work, yet every day, we are working on new concepts, new designs and new challenges. So, there is never a dull moment in this profession!
What is your favourite part about being a baker?
For most people, ordering a custom cake is a way of communicating their feelings for the people whom they love. Seeing the joy on their face when they see the cakes of their dreams come to life is certainly priceless.
What are some of your go-to recipes from your favourite chefs/bakers?
For breads, I love the recipes from Sumod Tom. For cakes and desserts, it is definitely Anuja Sule. They have amazing eggless recipes.
Share some baking tips and tricks for our readers!
Most people struggle with baking a domed shaped cake as they cannot get a flat cake even when they choose the correct recipe.
For a flat cake, you need to bake at a lower temperature and a larger tin. Make sure that you never blindly follow any recipe. Make adjustments according to your oven, no two ovens behave the same. An oven thermometer always helps as every oven has hot spots inside which ultimately changes the final outcome.
By: Bhavya Gaind
