Today we’d like to introduce you to Cassaundra Bayot.
Hi Cassaundra, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
Mahal Eating has always been a dream of mine since culinary school, but with no direction or goals behind it. When I met my co-founder and fiancé, he really inspired me to take my dreams seriously. He is a quarter Filipino and grew up eating the same foods as I did. It was really special to share our culture and it inspired me to do that with others.
We started with something small such as our pre-orders, then ventured to pop-ups, and now we’re doing what we’ve been dreaming about for the last two years – private dinner parties. We started our own YouTube channel as well and was a hit from the start. We’re so incredibly proud of how far we’ve come and excited for our wildest dreams to come true in the New Year!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Starting your own business and especially in the food space, has not been smooth in any way. With all the legal things to do, finding your voice in the culinary industry, and accepting many road bumps, starting a small business is not for the weak-hearted.
I think one challenge was staying true to who we are and why we started Mahal Eating. We started saying no to opportunities that didn’t align with who we are and our business goals. We wanted to say yes to everything that came our way and sometimes it just doesn’t serve us as a company.
Another big challenge (a good one nonetheless) is the amount of growth we’ve experienced. It’s such a blessing and still hard when it’s just Alonzo and me. We have amazing friends who help and support us and that makes it so much easier too.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I have been in the culinary + hospitality industry for years. I specialize in making people happy, whether it’s with food or an experience as a hospitality professional. I’m incredibly proud to be a people person; to be able to meet so many great people, hear their stories, and make a difference in their lives.
I think that’s what makes Mahal Eating so unique. We care about the authenticity of the food and the people we serve. I want people to have a lasting impression of Filipino food and how we treated them like they were our family.
How do you define success?
To us, success is sharing our heritage and culture. If I had zero sales but was able to influence someone about Filipino food and our culture, I would feel like a millionaire. I grew up falling in love with Filipino food as I didn’t know everything – I knew enough. The older I got, I finally realized how important it was to share this with others. So, for me, having an amazing clientele and sharing what I was taught is the greatest reward.
Another key factor is having great people to work with! We couldn’t have done our first-ever private dinner parties without a strong team. We have to thank Artist Uprising Studios for the space, Alex Obar for helping us plan the event, Cabus for performing a live set + DJ, and Ty Dozier for all of the amazing content.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mahaleating.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mahaleating
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Mahal-Eating/100086807224036/
Image Credits
Tyler Dozier
Digi Productions
Trinity Ciders
