CUCINA PICCANTE FEATURING ON FOODEVA MARSAY – SOUTH AFRICAN SMALL BUSINESS CLASSIFIEDS
An Italian quote about food goes like this…
“Mangia che ti passa” (Eat and it will be over, you’ll feel better).
Now I wouldn’t even attempt to pronounce those words in Italian, but I can so relate to what it translates to in English. Being so swamped taking care of my habibi Patient, I have had no energy recently to even think of doing a proper cook up for us. So when My workaholic Habibi, who hasn’t slowed down on the work front, decided to conduct meetings from home, I knew I had to be prepared to also cater to his colleagues arriving at our home.
Earlier this week, I did get a day off, when My hubby decided that we should have the lunch meal for himself and his colleagues catered for by someone else. I knew of just the right enterprise who would be perfect for catering this lunch. Oooh, And I enjoyed playing Personal Assistant as well to hubby at our home office…One more feather to add to my cap…lol.
CUCINA PICCANTE, Is a HOME BASED HALAAL CATERING COMPANY, Based on the EASTRAND in Johannesburg. I have watched this young lady grow, YES I FOLLOW INSPIRING INDIVIDUALS TOO, and today SHE is a CONFIDENT OWNER/CHEF of this amazing small business enterprise.
When I messaged her a few evenings before the required lunch meals, I found her to be prompt and very efficient in her handling my requests. We had settled on a chicken Dish, that she served with chips, salad and Portuguese rolls. Cucuina Piccante usually serves their meals in portion sizes, but I had requested that my meal order to be packed in a few bigger batches, as I would be serving them up plated onto platters for our guests. The meal was delivered timeously, and I was Thrilled with what I received. I plated the food onto platters , and kept it warm until serving time.
The chicken was GREAT, moist and bursting with flavour, not too spicy, which catered for the different taste buds around the table. The Chips and Rolls were just as awesome. And the salad, was Amazing, A huge serving, that was so full of colour and goodness, made with the freshest of salad ingredients. I ALREADY LOVED WHAT I SAW, AND OUR GUESTS THAT DAY, WERE JUST AS AMAZED BY THE MEAL SERVED UP. With super feedback from them all, And I totally agreed their feedback, when I too got to enjoy some for dinner that night.
AN OVERALL … 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 (5 OUT OF 5 STARS) FOODEVA MARSAY RATING FOR CUCINA PICCANTE .
I highly recommend you try this small business enterprise, and I know I will be using their services again for any of my future events.
Take a read and find out a little more about CUCINA PICCANTE , when I got to interview the beautiful and HUMBLE lady behind this South African Small Business, Saajida Laher-Mayet.
Foodeva Marsay:
> CUCINA PICCANTE …I LOVE THAT NAME! Tell me, and my readers, a Little About YOURSELF and YOUR SMALL BUSINESS.
CUCINA PICCANTE:
It”s Italian for “The Spice Kitchen”
My love for everything unconventional 🙂
I am a Mother to four amazing yet very busy kids. A Wife to an astounding husband who always encourages me, his unwavering support can be compared to none, a firm believer in me but also my toughest critic.
I am Blessed to have a business that can allow me to be home for my family & generating an income. My passion for cooking allows me to explore new recipes, especially tweaking dishes to enhance the flavour.
Cucina Piccante started its humble beginnings by providing Halaal meals for a corporate entity that serves their clients meals during training sessions.
Foodeva Marsay:
> What Ignited the Spark in you to you get started with this Business? Have you had any Formal Training in the food industry?
CUCINA PICCANTE:
The clientele mostly being Libyan nationals, quite demanding & headstrong, were extremely thrilled with the meals that were provided. Because of this outstanding success, Cucina Piccante was approached to supply daily Halaal lunches as well as catering for all events requiring Halaal foods. Cucina Piccante has grown through word-of-mouth recommendations.
No formal training as such…trial and error 🙂
Foodeva Marsay:
Wow, that is awesome!
> Preparing Home Cooked Meals, and Catering for special functions, Is tough and time consuming. Has anyone in particular in your Personal Life or on Social Media, Influenced and Inspired you to take on this venture?
CUCINA PICCANTE:
My husband has always been my pillar of strength, best friend and business partner (he will say that he only does the clean-up duty)
After being approached by a lady from my home town to cater for her year-end function and Alhamdullilah from the extremely good review I received, said lady has become one of my closest friends, between hubby and her they bully me into reaching new heights that I have previously been scared to attempt.
Foodeva Marsay:
ALHAMDULILLAH!!!
> How has modern day technology, such as computers/internet/social media, impacted on how you conduct business?
CUCINA PICCANTE:
We have now reached an era where our eyes eat before our mouths and eventually our tummies. Taking this into consideration it is imperative to be on par with what is trending. Social media has taken over the world, as a result Cucina Piccante must be constantly updating statuses, uploading pictures, transmit client’s reviews. These tools assist in building my clientele. However, nothing beats the old fashioned ‘by word of mouth’
Foodeva Marsay:
> What are the biggest issues for running this business?
CUCINA PICCANTE:
To try and source out the finest ingredients at the most competitive prices and then trying to get the client to understand the value of the ingredients, the time and effort that goes into preparing a meal.
Foodeva Marsay:
> Where do you see your business in the next year? In the next five years maybe?
CUCINA PICCANTE:
In the coming year I’d like to reach out to many more venues that have a lack of Halaal caterers at their disposal. MY 5 year goal, is for Cucina Piccante to be a household name, for my meals to have reached every continent and to be having my very own cooking academy…In Sha Allah-Ameen
Foodeva Marsay:
AMEEN…SUPER GOALS!!!
> Please let my readers know how they can CONTACT YOU, and on which social media platforms to catch you on.
CUCINA PICCANTE:
I can be contacted telephonically or WhatsApp on 0834671786
- Email > 786cucinapiccante@gmail.com
or
- INSTAGRAM … @CucinaPiccante
>>> SHUKRAN MARRIAM FOR ALLOWING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY. My utmost gratitude to my creator for bestowing his blessings on my venture. A special thank you to my family, friends and clientele for their loyal support always. Acknowledgement ALSO to the amazing WATALOTWEGOT team, members & followers for opening their hearts and recipe books for any requests <<<
Foodeva Marsay:
SHUKRAN FOR YOUR TIME, AND WISHING YOU ALL THE VERY BEST WITH THIS SMALL BUSINESS VENTURE, AMEEN. AND I AM SUPER THRILLED THAT FOODEVA MARSAY AND MY WATALOTWEGOT GROUP PLATFORM HAS BEEN AN INSPIRATION FOR YOU.
I SIMPLY LOVE A FEEL GOOD STORY LIKE THIS, WHEN YOUNG PEOPLE TRY THEIR BEST TO DO SOMETHING FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES!!!
I HOPE THIS INTERVIEW HAS SPARKED AN INTERSET IN YOU, TO ALSO GO OUT THERE AND BE YOUR BEST.
LOVE AND PEACE
MARRIAM ESSA-SAYED
(@foodeva_marsay)