We were lucky to catch up with Bindu Marasini recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Bindu, thanks for joining us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

I grew up on the foothills of the Himalayan mountains on our family’s farm in Nepal. I learned to nurture our land, and in return, the land nurtured me. Bindu Bites continues to strive for a beautiful relationship with local and Nepalese farmers. From locally grown cilantro for our sauces, to peppers that only grow in the Himalayas, our goal is to provide the freshest and safest ingredients for our customers. Growing up in Nepal also taught me how to make the delicious foods of my culture. From momos to sauces, I have carefully curated recipes that honor the delicious and fresh flavors of my home. Bindu Bites aims to share these flavors with those who may have never had them before, and those who long for a familiar taste of Nepal. I noticed that the rich flavors that I hold so near and dear, were few and far between here in Austin, Texas. I would find myself feeling dissatisfied at my attempts to experience a home cooked meal the way I remembered. As the saying goes, “See a need, fill a need!” I knew my new home of central Texas was yearning to experience the culinary arts of Nepal. I started Bindu Bites with the mission of crafting authentic Nepalese cuisine in a healthy and environmentally conscious way. Through Bindu Bites, the land continues to nurture me, and all those who enjoy.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My father left Nepal for the United States when I was just two years old. For ten years, he worked as a chef in Houston, Texas, saving up enough money to reunite his family in America. Because of my dad’s sacrifice, my mother, three siblings, and I were able to join him in the winter of my 11th year. I learned English, played soccer, worked in the summers, and helped my mother with the garden at home. She never let me, nor my siblings, forget the importance of fresh, homegrown produce. I received my Masters in Accounting from Texas Tech University, and began to work my way up the corporate ladder. Somewhere along the way, one of those steps broke, and I had to take a second look at my path. To continue climbing a broken ladder, or start over on the ground floor of another venture? Weighing the options showed me that independence will always tip the scale. In the early summer of 2021, Bindu Bites was born, and the real adventure began! I started crafting recipes that reflected the flavors of my youth. Chicken momos, veggie momos, sesame based sauces, and cilantro based sauces: all staples of my home in Nepal. Through trial and error (more times than I like to count), my dumplings and sauces began to take a beautiful shape. The crafting of handmade dumplings is a labor of love, evident in their folds and flavors. I always look forward to the smile that creeps across my customer’s face as they sink their teeth into their first momo.

Have you ever had to pivot?

As a young college student, it is easy to get caught up in the idea of making big bucks after graduating. Everyone’s talking about their future salaries, their fancy internships, their big name bosses. I worked for five years to obtain my Bachelors and Masters, and before I knew it, I was behind a desk myself, counting the dimes as they fell into my pocket. The shine of money can be quite hypnotizing, placing you in a trance for 40, 5o, 60 hours a week. When I finally woke up, I noticed that the money had become quite dull in the shadows of being overworked. Losing that work-life balance inspired me to find a new way to live. I took my savings, the support of my loved ones, and my drive for independence and decided to start Bindu Bites. Long nights, and even longer days gave way to a brand I am proud to call my own. Although I still find myself behind a desk, I also get to find myself lifting weights, swimming in Barton Springs, and enjoying time with my friends and family. Building Bindu Bites was the best decision I have ever made. It is important to be able to look critically at your life, and recognize when it’s time to pivot. Sometimes it can feel like a 180 degree turn, but that’s usually where the magic happens.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

“DIY” doesn’t always imply a “hack” to make things easier. Sometimes, doing it yourself is the hardest part. Becoming an entrepreneur in itself is an act of resilience. It is a complete reshaping of the mind, body, and soul, stretching and bending you to points you didn’t know existed within yourself. I find myself working long hours in the kitchen on my feet, forgetting to break for a meal, desperate to perfect my recipes. After the cooking comes the selling, which can feel like trying to perfect a recipe in itself; Crafting taglines, brand logos, and more. The work isn’t only physical, but mental too. I’ve had to train my mind to see a business from every angle, constantly learning new pieces of the puzzle. Bindu Bites allowed me to reintroduce myself to the world, and to myself. Bindu Bites has continuously taught me resilience. No two days are the same, and two years into this adventure, I still find myself learning new ways to grow.

Contact Info:

• Website: bindubites.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/bindubites
• Facebook: Facebook.com/bindubites
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bindu-bites/
• Shopify: shop.bindubites.com