I started the Bawi Bride blog 1.5 months ago on a whim while I was struggling my way through a Parsi recipe wishing that my mom is NZ was awake so I could just ask her for tips. I realised that there are many Bawi brides out there whom a Parsi food blog may help so I quickly started it up.
20 days later, I was happy I started as it became an outlet for me to share my writing and since then I have already learnt about 20 new Parsi dishes that I probably wouldn’t have otherwise.
What does this have to do with the Rodinhoods?
Well, on a similar whim early last week I posted a discussion wondering if there was a way that the blog could become a business considering how passionate I had become about it in the space of a month. I knew there were some uber talented people here so was hoping that I’d get a few ideas that could be implemented some months down the line. And, what a surprise it turned out to be.
Thanks to the awesome community I received so many responses on how I could improve and turn this passion into a business that I was completely overwhelmed and excited.
Here’s what I’ve already achieved thanks to all of you:
- Facebook page is live. Almost at 175 likes in 2 weeks
- Bawi Bride is now on Twitter. Overcame my fear of sounding dumb and even ran my first competition called #DhansakConfessions
- Blog views have increased by 1000 views thanks to the above two activities
- Best of all, decided to start the Bawi Bride Kitchen where I serve up a weekly rotating menu of goodies that are available on order – already received 5 orders for the weekend!
- Went for my first food tasting review and met another amazing community of food bloggers
- Got another Parsi themed event for which I am in advanced discussions
- Working with several Rodinhooders to get my blog looking prettier and more attractive so even more viewers drop by
- PR by iDiva and possibly now in the 2014 Times Food Guide and in a Parsi community newspaper too
Compared to the stuff that many achieve, I am aware that this is really nothing considering I have yet to make some revenue but I still cannot express my thanks. It is completely thanks to how motivated I felt when I received all those responses that I was able to take action.
A big shout out especially to Darshan Bhambiru, Sanjay Shenoy, Nameet Potnis and Sameer Guglani for connecting with me one-on-one. And ofcourse thank you also to Asha, Alok and everybody that commented – this could not have been possible without you!
Do check it all out and if you have any other comments, keep the feedback coming!
asha chaudhry
thanks for the lovely testimonial perz. i was so looking fwd to the responses on your post. your ASK has become a huge goldmine! i also love the way rodinhooders just go out of their way to help one another. your post is the perfect case study for that!
pls share this link on your previous thread. so everyone involved gets to read it…
Darshan Bhambiru
Wish You Good Luck always, From New zealand to India and then Going Global.!!!
Go Bawi You are a Global player now m/
Your Better Half would be a Happier person for sure Bride!!! 😉 Cheers!!
Perzen Darukhanawalla
Most welcome Asha 🙂 I have shared the link to ASK and will also be compiling all the comments into another post next week 🙂
Perzen Darukhanawalla
Thanks Darshan! He is very happy as he now gets to taste new food every 2 days. I am worried i have set a wrong example hahaha.
asha chaudhry
awesome! very soon we’ll be writing a testimonial for you 🙂
Nameet Potnis
Heartiest Congratulations! Have been spreading the word on twitter, will do so on Facebook too 🙂 Good Luck 🙂 Let me know if you need any help 🙂
Perzen Darukhanawalla
Thanks Nameet – for all your help and also for your wishes. Next open house may just need to be a #Dhansak party.
kaanchan bugga
Fantastic!!!! Congratulations!!!
asha chaudhry
perz, you do realise, you’ve actually started up?!!!
Himanshu Mody
Awesome awesome awesome !!! Kudos to you for believing and ya the spirit of everyone here is so amazing. How big is hardly a concern, how much revenue is too early to worry about. You have found something you are passionate about and one thing is leading to another giving it traction. Just keep walking. All the best and cheers.
Perzen Darukhanawalla
Thank you so much Kaanchan! When is your next post coming up? am looking forward to it! perhaps something to do around egyptian mummies and Parsi food?
Perzen Darukhanawalla
Thank you so much for Himanshu for the kind words, the encouragement and for following us on FB!
Perzen Darukhanawalla
I knowww!! am so excited – seems I have kind of stumbled into it 🙂
kaanchan bugga
hahahaha, now we’re talking – a collaborative effort ? Mummy’s dhansak? with crepes …. :)))
Perzen Darukhanawalla
Think that is perfect! Il send you an email!
Vikram Parekh
This is fantastic. Congratualtions Perzen, and wish you all the good luck!!
Perzen Darukhanawalla
Hi Vikram,
Thanks for sharing the link, your insights and for your wishes. Though your wife already bakes, if you ever want to try some Bawa favourites, you know whom to call now
Deven Shah
From event management to #BawiBride, awesome 🙂 Congrats and best wishes!
Kaizad Patel
Awesome Perzen,
Was reading your blog last night and got all drooling with the images and recipes. Have fond memories of Sunday Dhansak at home. It was with kebabs and kachumbar, burp!…. could not do much else after the meal other than siesta. We also had Duke’s Lemonade with it!
Wish you all the very best with your venture.
Cheers!
Kaiz
Karan Pandhi
All the very best Dikra, 🙂 …. I’m too young too say Dikra but what to do educated in a Parsi school does come out anyhow …… Congratulations Perzen ….. hope to taste something in Veg someday ….. All the very best ……. 🙂
Rahul narvekar
hey perzen – can we explore a possibility of linking your blog to ours – do check http://www.indianroots.com/daily . Thats my new venture .
Perzen Darukhanawalla
Thank you so much Karan. In fact most of my desserts are vegetarian and eggless so feel free to order anytime. The menu for next week will be coming out tomorrow 🙂
Perzen Darukhanawalla
Hi Rahul,
I checked out the link you shared but it gives me a 404 error (though I absolutely love the creativity behind the Kumbh mela page – laughed about it for a good 15 minutes). So, I am assuming you mean sharing it on daily.indianroots.com
This sounds very interesting and I love how clean and classic your site looks. Sure, am open to linking – can you drop me an email on perzen dot patel at gmail dot com and we can take this forward!
Thanks for thinking of me.
Perzen Darukhanawalla
Thank you Deven. Now I just have to find a way to weave the event management part back in – working on that too 🙂
Perzen Darukhanawalla
Hey Vikram,
I had some catering related questions – is it okay for me to chat with you/your wife briefly for some of them :)?
Karan Pandhi
will surely order something from the menu ……. actually got a school friend who too runs a Parsi outlet in Vile Parle (East) called Cafe Mailoo ….. you should try it out ……. 🙂
Alok Rodinhood Kejriwal
Games2win is inaugurating a cafe next week!!!
We MUST make people sample your stuff there!!!!
Please mail me (Alok@rodinhood.com) and cc Dinesh@games2win.com !!!
Perzen Darukhanawalla
Hi Alok,
Wow – this sounds like a super opportunity. Let me cost a few things out this afternoon and I will email you all the details by tonight. Thank you so so much for thinking of me!
Regards,
Perzen
Sunaina Shenoy
Hi Perzen,
Many many congratulations for this great start.. your blog is really amazing.
Can you give a short write up on how you managed to get these nos, as in your efforts on the seo end? That would be a great help.. thanks
kaanchan bugga
Perzen, please check your blog… have been trying to access it for the last 10 minutes have tried quite a few times but cant access it for some reason… is there something I’m doing wrong?…..
Perzen Darukhanawalla
Hi Kaanchan,
Thank you so much for your comment. I have looked into this issue and the reason is that I just bought my individual hosting for the blog so the files are shifting servers in the back end. This process should be complete in another 5 – 6 hours.
However, if you want to access the site in the mean time you can do it via http://www.ahuramazda.com/bawibride
Let me know if you still have any further trouble.
Perzen Darukhanawalla
Hi Kaanchan,
The move is now complete. If you click on http://www.bawibride.com you will note that it is all working again now 🙂 Hope to see you on the blog soon!
kaanchan bugga
Great! Will check it out…. 🙂