Born and raised in La Romaine San Fernando, chef “Rad”, as he is fondly called, attended the St Madeleine Secondary School before heading to the Trinidad and Tobago Hospitality and Tourism Institute (TTHTI) where he received a diploma in Baking and Pastry Arts.
“I started baking when I was about ten years old. Growing up as an only child, in my times of boredom I’d take my mum’s old Naparima Girls’ Cookbook and try different recipes, especially desserts. I think I was also drawn to the kitchen because it runs in my blood. My grandmother, back in her days would bottle nuts and channa to be sold in local supermarkets. My mother worked in a West Indian cuisine kitchen in Philadelphia, and my sister is a chef,” he says with a smile.
He, however, found himself drifting towards sweet rather than savory foods, and discovered a love for the art of dessert making.
After working in several gourmet cafes and bakeries, he learned some of the harsh realities of working in the food industry.
“To be honest, the food industry in Trinidad and Tobago doesn’t pay graduates of TTHTI that well and I found myself getting more and more torn with if I would stay or not. What I also found was the fact that while working under someone else, there were a strict set of items that I had to make and there was no room for me to show off my true talent and potential,” he explains.
Rad also disliked the fact that many of the items that were to be used we already pre-made.
“There is no feeling like putting something on a plate that you yourself didn’t make from scratch and I wanted nothing more than to do that because it was embedded in me from such a young age,” he reflects.
“After leaving my job, I was just about to enroll to become a safety officer. The fact that I knew it paid well also pushed me to stop baking for a while but my parents simply suggested that I attempt to start my own baking business and with their support and half of my final paycheck, I started what is known today as Morsels”.
His decision to leave the store online he explains, is because of the sudden popularity of gourmet cafes and shops. So without having the capital as well as the market, online is where it stays for now.
He works Sunday to Sunday and this is because he has a relationship with all is customers he wants to keep. It is an established dedicated delivery service and Morsels aims to satisfy.
One of chef Rad’s biggest challenges was an exquisite dessert buffet he prepared for a client who was celebrating her husband’s birthday. Consisting of over 800 items, most of which he did himself, the biggest reward for him was the fact that it helped solidify him as a master at what he does.
Chef Rad has also appeared on the popular television show Cake Wars on Food Network. The episode aired on July 18.
“I was up working, saw the ad and decided there was no harm in signing up. Within five days I was contacted and they were elated to have me on the show. It was an amazing experience and honor because to think that I’ve been decorating for only two years and to know that I was asked to be on this international platform, it gave me so much validation that I was where I needed to be in life. It was also really gratifying that I am currently the only Trinidadian to make it on the show and also the youngest contestant they have had as well.” The process to have one of chef Rad’s creations is simple. He asks for a week’s notice or for the least four days, either through Facebook or email, a reference photo of what is wanted and then he quotes according to the task at hand.
An order form must then be filled out and a down payment is made either online, through the bank or a visit to chef Rad himself for cash.
He is also very proud of the opportunities he has had to do motivational speaking.
He has made appearances at “Pursue Your Passion” hosted by Atlantic LNG, and has been asked to speak at his alma mater’s career day, as well as to a police youth group in the Chaguanas area.
“Nobody ever pushes you to get involved in business. No one ever asks you, ‘What’s your dream’? or ‘What’s your passion’? and I want to share my own story that doing what you love can also be rewarding in more ways than one”.
As for the future of Morsels, Rad says that his loyal customers have asked him for a storefront but he’s happy with his online business.
He says if he needs to expand, a simple kiosk would do for now. Rad is also proud to mention that Morsels now supplies newly opened PrimeCut Resturant and Food Bar with a full line of gourmet desserts.