Today we’d like to introduce you to Manashi Das.
Hi Manashi, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Manashi moved to Austin to start Bar-B-Q Boutique, a brand that takes the painstaking part out of barbecue prep work. The boutique is her atelier—her studio, and she is the marinade artist. Atelier is French for “An Artist’s Workshop,” and Manashi is the artist as she prepares her spices, marinades, and rubs from scratch, mindful of the ingredients used in preparing them to create a fine balance between taste, lighter yet flavorful and refreshingly bright recipes that cater to both vegetarian and non-vegetarian population.
Bar-B-Q boutique was conceived after identifying the challenges faced by working professionals, busy parents, bachelors, and long commuters who crave a healthy, home-cooked experience without the hassle. Restaurant food is an easy fix, but not a healthy choice unless you spend a fortune for that right pick every time. Purchasing raw uncooked products from meat and grocery stores still puts you in that same spot of having to choose between taste and time, and most of the time, the clock takes priority over taste. Bar-B-Q Boutique is formed to act as a connector between the two. Say goodbye to not only those frequent restaurant grubs and elaborate barbecue preparations but also to precooked, processed, ready-to-eat products loaded with unwanted ingredients. We take pride in saying that “We are an extension of your kitchen, minus, the fuss associated with it”.
Her Vision: To create a trusted brand through culinary waves
Why wait for someone else to set the stage? Every successful business has a “secret sauce”, a unique formula that sets it apart. Manashi uncovered this secret in the US chain concept—the birthplace of countless successful franchises.
Culinary school taught her the fundamentals of the food business, and eventually how to establish a franchise model. Interning at ‘Blazing Onion,’ a local burger joint turned chain in Seattle, Washington, she learned how consistency in products and uncompromising quality for services are the keys to the formation of a successful chain model. From grassroots production to understanding the intricacies, Manashi absorbed the essence. Applying these principles, she ventured into Bar-B-Q BOUTIQUE and has set goals for herself to keep working relentlessly unless it becomes a ” Austin, Texas born entity” brand on its own.
Manashi dreams of taking her creation worldwide, building a “Texas-born” global brand. Her refusal to follow the job-seeking bandwagon and dedication to job creation exemplify her entrepreneurial spirit, evident not just in the USA but also in India with ventures like KidzCareHub, a Daycare cum Early Childhood Learning & Development Center curated under the guidelines and services rendered in some of the excellent daycare facilities of America.
Manashi’s journey is a testament to resilience, creativity, and a refusal to settle for the ordinary. From Ping-A-Meal to Bar-B-Q Boutique, each venture reflects her determination to create opportunities not just for herself but for others. As she dreams of expanding globally, Bar-B-Q Boutique is poised to become a Texas-made legacy, leaving an indelible mark on the world of pre-marinated and ready-to-cook products.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Starting a business on your completely from scratch is never smooth. Its challenging but also teaches you a lot of things-learn to adapt to unseen problems & work on their solutions promptly. You develop the ability to do critical thinking & learn to see every problem as an opportunity to get better & better.
Some of the initial struggles that I encountered was while trying to grasp the customer psychology. Since our product was something new- it took a while to understand that should focus NOT on selling products or items but on selling a CONCEPT.
I worked for two years on this idea, created all the recipes- but when it come for real execution, theory & practical was away apart. It took me a year to structure all of it- people management, customer service, inventory logistics, seamless coordination between the production department & the retail front, efficiency the list can go on!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Texas Bluebonnet Residential/ DBA- Bar-B-Q Boutique?
Bar-B-Q Boutique bridges the gap by offering pre- marinated, ready-to-cook meats and grilling products crafted with carefully balanced spices and natural ingredients.
By eliminating the labor- intensive aspects of meal preparation while preserving the authenticity of home-cooked meals, Bar-B-Q Boutique delivers a truly distinctive and elevated culinary experience.
HOW ARE WE DIFFERENT:
Concept is built on thorough market-based research for home cooked meat recipes minus the elaborate preparation process. Instruction based Easy to Make meat items from the comfort of your home. Cozy, Cool & Upscale, yet an affordable Meat Cafeteria with dine-in options!!
Upscale butcher store for unseasoned Halal Meat, Poultry & Fish products.
We are proud of all the unique flavors- Marinades & Spice Mixes we created from recipes all across the globe- We are NOT making any fusion recipes- we are trying to be as authentic as possible while creating the recipes specific to that region.
We want the people to know that Bar-B-Q Boutique is the first in this industry to come up with idea that completely revolutionized the Meat buying concept by introduction a highly structured, sophisticated, hygienic platform for ready to cook meat products. You enjoy a boutique kind meat purchasing experience, yet very competitive priced. Because we want to people’s day to day grocery shopping place. One stop shop for all your meat & meat cooking solutions with plenty of customizable options for you. Come get the taste of different spices the world has to offer, many of which you might have never heard or tasted. Spice is all about flavors & has tons of health benefits associated with it.
How do you think about happiness?
That customer say ” We have never seen such a Meat Store” in our life!!
I feel any business you want to do should add value to people’s life. It should have a purpose. The fact that I’m able to make a small contribution to people’s day to day busy lives by eliminating the painstaking steps of meat preparation is very rewarding. We wanted to send the message that ” we are an extension of your kitchen” & we are able to get accepted that way is huge success for us.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.barbqboutique.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barbqboutique?igsh=MTVsNmF0NDUydG5rYg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61552954965093&mibextid=wwXIfr&mibextid=wwXIfr
