We had the good fortune of connecting with Madiha Chughtai and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Madiha, what do you attribute your success to?
I believe the biggest factor that contributed to my success is my desire to always learn and better myself. I started off making regular cakes for my family, and that ignited my love for baking. I studied the craft of baking and learned how to create grandeur cakes. However that was not enough and I continued to follow my passion and discovered the world of the French desserts. I began learning how to perfect recipe after recipe and put my own spin to it. Constantly challenging myself with new recipes excites me, and every setback just makes me more determined to succeed.
Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
What sets me apart from other bakers is that I am the first to bring Halal French desserts like entremets and macarons into Houston. At first, it wasn’t easy. many of the recipes I learned involved products that weren’t Halal, and I often struggled to find substitutes for them. And when I did find a substitute I often had to change the recipes so that it would taste the same as the original dessert. One lesson I have learned is to never give up and persevere through difficulties.
Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would take my friend to the most popular places in all of Houston – Downtown Houston, NASA Space Center, and the Minute Maid Park Stadium to catch a game. For shopping, we would go to the Galleria Houston and Memorial City Mall, two of the largest malls in Houston. And when we want to go for a bite, Houston offers a variety of great bites throughout the city. Aga’s and Bundu Khan offer some of Pakistan’s best food and barbeque. What’s more, M&M Grill and Cafe Hayat serve delicious Meditteranean dishes that leave you wanting more.
Website: https://mscakesbakes.com
Instagram: @mscakesbakes
Facebook: @MsCakesBakes
Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/ms-cakes-and-bakes-richmond