From Recession Blues to BBQ Dreams: My Journey to Culinary Entrepreneurship

 

Returning from vacation in Abu Dhabi, I was hit with a double whammy: a sudden recession and delayed salaries. Sleepless nights and a mounting sense of panic became my new normal. Noufi, the kids, school fees, bills – the weight of it all was overwhelming.

Part-time job searches were a dead end, and online applications yielded nothing. I was financially adrift. But amidst the chaos, I found solace in the support of friends like Shihabkka and Naufal. Shihabkka, a restaurant turnaround wizard, had transformed a struggling cafeteria into a goldmine.

Naufal, knowing my passion for food, suggested I leverage my culinary skills. With my full-time job consuming eight hours a day, baking was out of the question. So, Noufi and I decided to try our hand at making and selling "pathiri," traditional Kerala flatbread.

Shihabkka placed our first order – a hundred pathiris! Noufi's homemade creations were a hit, a stark contrast to the flimsy, store-bought versions. We saw potential, a market hungry for authentic, homemade goodness.

But then came the plot twist: our flat owner, the villain of our story, shut us down. Our shared living space, with its "sadistic" neighbors, wasn't conducive to a home-based business.

Undeterred, we relocated to a villa in Mohammed bin Zayed City, near our son's school, in the heart of Abu Dhabi's food hub, Shabia.

Now, the real hustle began: finding customers. I spent my free time visiting Shabia's restaurants, offering samples of Noufi's pathiri. Slowly, orders trickled in – hotels, private parties, especially during Ramadan.

We invested in a dough mixer, boosting our production capacity. My next mission: introducing my grilled delicacies to the market.

After countless taste tests with friends and family, I connected with Ilyaskka, a fellow food enthusiast who had faced his own share of setbacks. He encouraged me to host an outdoor BBQ party for his friends, including Azeemkka from the Malayalam film industry.

This was my first foray into outdoor catering. The logistics were daunting: finding a venue, procuring ingredients after my 8-to-4 job, marinating meats, preparing dips (Noufi's specialty), and setting up the grill.

Thursday evenings became my battleground. I'd load my car with everything – chicken, beef, charcoal, drinks, disposables – and head to the venue. My pre-guest ritual included a quick Maghrib prayer.

As guests arrived, I'd light the charcoal (a tricky task!), serve starters, and begin grilling. Hummus, toum, and kuboos kept everyone happy. And amidst the grilling and serving, I even found time for impromptu photo shoots.

It was a one-man show, a whirlwind of grilling, serving, and entertaining. Azeemkka's heartfelt compliment – "Jamshi kutta, you're an amazing guy!" – was a highlight.

Cleaning up was a Herculean task, but guests often pitched in. Then, I'd unwind at a sheesha cafe, uploading photos and basking in the afterglow of a successful event.

Word spread, and outdoor catering gigs began rolling in. Birthday parties, biryani orders (Noufi's specialty), and evening pathiri deliveries filled my schedule. Slowly, I started paying off debts and credit cards.

Of course, there were naysayers, relatives and friends who questioned my "catering job," suggesting I focus on my "education." But I learned to ignore their negativity, their lack of a growth mindset.

This is just the beginning of my story, the journey that led to Jams Cafe Grills and Restaurant. Stay tuned for more!