This expat homemaker turns dreams into beautiful theme-based cakes

This is the 'sweet' story of a young homemaker who has earned a name for herself, doing what she loves the most. Nahana Nissar, who is settled in Qatar, specializes in melt-in-the-mouth homemade cakes in myriad flavours and shapes. She is an expert in baking theme-based cakes and the admirers of her fabulous cakes have become her regular customers. Nahana runs a Facebook page called Cakery where she posts pictures and other details about the various cakes that she bakes.

Nahana who did B Tech in computer science had always been passionate about cooking. Finding new and interesting recipes and trying them out had been her favourite hobby. No one would believe when Nahana says she had failed miserably every time she had tried baking during her college days. She completed the course in 2011 and soon got married to Muhammad Shafeeq who was working in Doha. As a young bride, Nahana moved to Doha, dreaming to earn a job and an income.

The youngster had to keep aside this dream when she became busy taking care of her family and two little kids. It was only after the birth of her elder daughter Manha that Nahana had brushed up her baking skills. She watched hundreds of videos on YouTube to learn more about the nuances of baking and to rectify her mistakes. She decided to attend a baking class when she felt that her cakes require perfection and a classy finish. However, Nahana hardly imagined that baking would soon become the main source of her income.

Nahana says she learned baking to treat her kids to some amazing homemade cakes and to post videos on her YouTube channel called Nenaskitchen. Her confidence skyrocketed when she received compliments for a cake that she had packed to her husband’s office. Soon, her kids’ classmates and their parents too became fans of Nahana’s homemade cakes. It was a friend who gave her the first order for a cake for a get-together of fifty people. Nahana admits she was stressed and scared while preparing her first order. It took her around five hours to prepare that cake. The cake artist cannot forget the tensed moments that she had gone through, waiting impatiently for the reviews. However, that order turned out to be a stepping stone in Nahana’s career as a cake artist. Those who enjoyed the cake that day didn’t forget to get Nahana’s number from her friend. There was no looking back from here and Nahana soon started the Cakery which specializes in designer and theme-based cakes.

Theme-based cakes that are done using fresh cream are Nahana’s speciality. She talks to her clients to know more about their likes and preferences and then designs the cakes. Though she does regular cakes, her theme cakes have more takers. She enjoys experimenting with new flavours and tastes and tries them a few times before suggesting them to her customers. While some customers have clear ideas about the designs and flavours that they need, some others give her total freedom to decide the design for them. A thorough professional, Nahana insists on using only high-quality ingredients and vessels. That, Nahana says, is the secret of Cakery’s amazing success.

Nahana confesses she was distressed for some time that she wasn’t able to work after earning a BTech degree. However, she is now thrilled that she is earning a decent income by turning her passion into a business. Moreover, the feeling of fulfilment gives her immense joy.

Nahana credits her husband for his wholehearted support. She says his support and encouragement inspire her to try out unique designs and elevate her artistry. The couple has two daughters, Manha and Mehrin.