https://soundcloud.app.goo.gl/U7bR4NBPtR6vyWNR8
Host Intro: Since the beginning of COVID-19, the virus caused a decrease in the economy, created devastation for businesses forcing working class people to resign or shut down their business for good. In order for some businesses to continue their revenue, former employers became creative by working from home for their clientele. A hard worker such as Anastasia Sahai, who is a culinary chef, has been unemployed due to the pandemic. She then established herself through social media platform on Instagram @bakedbyana_nyc baking delightful desserts. Although she has been on the rise to make money with her creative baking skills, she has been overwhelmed during the pandemic of missing her family from Trinidad and has not continued her yearly visitation since the boarders remain closed.
Track: I am here with Anastasia Sahai in her comfortable two bedroom apartment in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, NY. We decided to have a one on one interview to capture her daily routines of how she prepares to make delicious delights for her clients and also discuss the challenges of not seeng her family.
AMBI: Sounds of oven trays, baking machine, and timer.
Act: Anastasia: So when I graduated culinary school my plan was to stay there and some of my professors told me that the opportunities over there aren’t really that good. As a chef there’s only so high you can go and you’re probably working at a hotel because Trinidad is so high on tourism. I came over to New York and with not really any help, all my family still lives in Trinidad, I worked 19-20 hour shifts for catering companies all over the city.
Track: Anastasia migrating from Trinidad took the opportunity to establish her culinary dreams in the big city. She dedicated her time and effort working long hour shifts and managed to visit her family. Since the pandemic occurred she took a different route from being out of a job to creating a small culinary business for herself at her own home.
AMBI: Sound of apple pie crust splitting.
Act: Anastasia: Now after Covid I was out of the job almost 90% of the food industry and since I worked in catering most of my career most of the restaurants were opening and catering companies have no clientele right now. It gave me an opportunity to explore at home and go into things I’m interested doing like my own little business such as baking horderves, pas sweets and also do full size cakes from the comfort of my own home to a small specific clientele.
Track: Because Anastasia is concerned about social distancing, she is ecstatic receiving her orders via phone messages or emails.
Act: Anastasia: Because of Covid I have been doing all of my orders contactless from messages, emails, and calls.
AMBI: Sound of client leaving voicemail of placed order.
Track: In terms of staffing, a culinary chef’s hands is always busy with baking and delivering. As for additional help, Anastasia receives help from her live in boyfriend Josh to help with carryout deliveries
AMBI: Sound of both Anastasia and Josh speaking.
Act: Anastasia: Usually when I have a big order Ill be in the kitchen for 4-5 hours getting everything ready baking my things the day of drop off so while Im baking and cooling everything, my partner boxes everything up, packages it, sticks the logs on all the boxes and then we deliver.
Track: Anastasia manages to remain occupied with her small business although it has been almost 2 years since she hasn’t seen her family in Trinidad. The boarders still remain close and there is no specific date when they’ll re-open to the public.
Act: Anastasia: I think to keep myself super pounded-busy I tried to go home as often to see my family and about a year and a half ago they closed the boarders to Trinidad because it’s a very small island so if one person gets sick a lot of people get sick and they haven’t really opened it back. Everything in Trinidad is open except for the boarders so it’s the first going on two years since I haven’t seen any members of my family
Track: Anastasia has overcome her overwhelmed sorrow for her family into taking her culinary skills into another level. She dedicates her time between baking at home and in contact with her family, even though it’s not face to face. With Covid still on the rise and businesses still not blooming for clientele, Anastasia is hoping for the future she will make her own business store from her own house and sell delicious delights. In the meantime, she is still hoping that Trinidad will re-open their boarders and will see her family again, along me with to visit as well. For Baruch College, I am Desiree Holman.