Copyright dayakdaily
By Wilfred Pilo While serving beverages at an eatery, 34-year-old barista Nicholas Tan often interacted with customers who occasionally expressed a liking for something sweet: a slice of cake, perhaps, or a pastry. It was these everyday conversations that planted a seed in Tan’s mind. Inspired by his colleagues, friends, and family, he decided to make brownies and honed his skills, teaching himself how to craft the perfect sweet, chocolatey, portable, fudgy brownie. What began as kitchen experiments soon became a passionate pursuit. After months of trial and error, experimenting with butter, eggs, sugar, cocoa powder, and other ingredients, adjusting ratios and baking times, Tan finally perfected his portable fudgy desserts. “I had my colleagues, friends, and family try my brownies, and they loved them. So, if they like them, I believe these portable desserts could have a larger audience, especially those with a sweet tooth. Since they were easy to make, I decided to commercialise them,” he told DayakDaily. “Of course, I was motivated to take on the challenge of what I do and started selling online, and now at weekend vendor markets in the city, to gauge customer reaction and expand my brownie business. That’s the target now,” he added with a chuckle. Tan shared that he was willing to undertake the new challenge within the culinary arts and pastry profession and to become involved in the food cottage industry, a sector that has seen growing interest among young entrepreneurs seeking alternative career paths. “I want to make good desserts for local markets and ensure my brownies are competitive. For now, I still need to hone my skills, but with the right chemistry in making these desserts, I think I’ve aligned myself in the right direction.” Practice makes perfect, as they say. Tan acknowledges local palates and preferences, recognising that demographic tastes are evolving. He hopes to capture the market where brownies are well-received and in demand. “Ideally, I’d love to open my own small brownie shop and attract customers who truly appreciate these desserts. People always have choices, and city dwellers need convenient options like these for their sweet cravings,” he explained, outlining his plans. It’s an ambitious dream for someone still finding his footing in the industry, but Tan believes there’s room for specialty dessert shops that focus on doing one thing exceptionally well. As a newcomer to the culinary trade, Tan hopes to receive support from individuals who appreciate vendors like him. He believes there are numerous newcomers in the culinary field possessing innovative ideas within the savoury food industry, and he supports their entrepreneurial spirit, encouraging them to strive for excellence. “I love this profession, and making sweet treats, as I love chocolate as well. Who knows, I could be another Joseph Sehl, the first pastry chef who made the dessert in the USA (United States) more than a century ago,” he said with a smile. Tan currently sells his brownies individually. Classic Almond Brownies are RM5 each, or a box of four for RM20, whilst his Orange Marmalade Brownies are RM7 each, or a box of four for RM28. Individuals interested in these portable desserts may contact him via WhatsApp at 014 686 5238 or on Instagram at @henghua_boy. — DayakDaily
