It is all so common to recognize your own passion only after people start commending a talent that you have yet to realize. Mona Abd-El Aziz inherited the passion for baking from her grandmother, but only with the help of her friends was she able to turn this passion into a mini-business. Abd-El Aziz's baking journey started with a chocolate cake and cut-out sugar cookies for a casual gathering at home. Flattered by the feedback her creations generated, she started frequenting the kitchen, flipping through cook books and baking for a few social occasions here and there. Last month, the 23-year-old advertising graduate launched her baking business: "Monz Mini Pleasures. But it wasn't just the support of friends; a summer internship in 2007 which got the then fresh graduate on the roll to turning her hobby into a career. "Chocofolie [a Cairo café/chocolatier at the time] wanted to upgrade their desserts menu, Abd-El Aziz recalls. It was the young baker's first encounter with a large, geared-up kitchen. As overwhelming and mind-boggling as it was, to Abd-El Aziz this hands-on experience was what fueled her desire to pursue her passion. When the new menu came out a month later, it included Abd-El Aziz's carrot cake and chocolate chip cookies. With a boost of confidence, she was set to take it up to the next level. Last January, she catered for a gallery opening reception, the first time for her to ever serve at a public event. In May, at the SOS music festival, Abd-El Aziz officially launched her products, battering, baking and wrapping over 700 pieces. "It was a great start, she said happily. To satisfy the cravings of those with a sweet-tooth, the "minis include carrot, chocolate and vanilla cupcakes, peanut butter fudge cookies, chocolate chip cookies, strawberry short bread, ginger cookies and sables. There is something particularly delightful about the mini pleasures; the pink and orange theme, the similar color ribbons that are neatly tied round wrappers and just the mere bite-size that is the signature of this entire line. "They're so small that if you don't like them you wouldn't have to throw them out, and if you do, well you take another one, she said assertively. "I hate wasting. The "Mini cupcakes are topped with homemade icing, garnished with colored sprinkles. Custom-made pictures or logos can also be printed and placed on top of the cupcakes. The chocolate chip cookies are what sell the most, although according to Abd-El Aziz, the peanut butter fudge are the ones that set her aside in the growing market of home-made treats. "It was very important having a helpful network of friends, said Abd-El Aziz, who was supported by her friends during the launching process. Each helped with their own area of expertise, between coming up with a name, designing the logo, photo shoots and publicity. Like most professions, being a baker is a process that entails continuous learning. Between recipe books, her granny's tips and personal hunches, with every order she attends to Abd-El Aziz is applying some things differently and definitely learning something new. Purchasing her ingredients at a local supermarket, Abd-El Aziz strives to offer her clients the best quality which she believes is easily attained using local material. TIn the future, Abd-El Aziz dreams of opening her own bakery. "I would still want to be managing it, monitoring all recipes, she explained, adding that she wishes to study pastry at some point down the line. "I want people to come [to the bakery] for the food, not just the company they come with, said Abd-El Aziz, adding that if one mixes good food with comfortable interiors, people will seek the place for what it offers, which is what she strives for. Abd-El Aziz is currently juggling her full-time job as a student affairs assistant at a local American school and her newly established business. With the wedding season sneaking up, Abd-El Aziz is already scheduled to cater for several. In addition, she caters for baby showers, bachelorette parties, carnivals and open days. For orders or inquiries contact Mona Abd-El Aziz at [email protected] or (+2) 016 553 6994
