Today we’d like to introduce you to Faella Bell
Hi Faella, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Growing up, I always had a passion for cooking and tried to learn different recipes. I loved watching cooking shows and even had the opportunity in elementary school to attend an after-school culinary program. Although cooking was a strong passion of mine, I never considered pursuing catering as a business until my sophomore year at Florida State University.
Every week, I found myself cooking authentic Haitian meals for my close friends to fill the void of Haitian cuisine in Tallahassee. One day, I pitched the idea of cooking for college students to purchase, and that’s how Bell Manje was born.
I often received compliments on how beautiful my food looked, and since my last name is Bell, a popular slogan inspired the name of my business. Since then, Bell Manje has grown from a private home catering service to offering catering for large events such as birthdays, weddings, and galas. We expanded our catering services from Tallahassee, Florida to Miami, Florida, and Dallas, Texas. We also provide private chef services, led by our head chef, Faella Bell, who is currently a culinary student at Dallas College.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It hasn’t been an easy journey, especially after shifting our client base from Tallahassee to Miami and Dallas. Our biggest challenges came from trying to grow our marketing efforts while staying true to our brand. In the future, we hope to expand our Haitian catering company into a Caribbean restaurant. No matter where we are, we are committed to sourcing authentic flavors and never compromising on ingredients, even if it’s difficult. We always strive to maintain our integrity with our clients.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Bell Manje is an authentic Haitian food catering company. We are known for our signature Haitian macaroni and party foods that are hard to find in local Caribbean restaurants, such as our authentic Haitian pastries and mushroom rice. We serve dishes that bring our clients back to their childhood.
Unlike other brands, we not only focus on our clients but also give back to our community. At least once a month, Bell Manje uses proceeds from our clients to feed the homeless in our neighborhood. We plate the food with the same care as we do for our VIP clients, and we offer prayer, scriptures, and words of encouragement to those facing difficult circumstances.
I am most proud of how customer-oriented my brand is. From the beginning, even when our client base was smaller, we prioritized serving our clients and put ourselves in their shoes. Whether that meant staying open a little later to ensure they received a hot, fresh meal or listening to their feedback to improve our service, we are always driven by people first!
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
My advice is:
* Don’t reject knowledge. There’s always room for improvement, and gaining knowledge is the first step before applying it.
* Your journey is unique. Even if others are in the same industry, your brand is different. Embrace what makes you unique and be grateful for it.
*Make sure you have a mentor or some form of accountability. It’s easy to become inconsistent, especially in the early stages. Accountability helps you stay disciplined.
* Don’t despise small beginnings. It’s okay if you start with just a few orders. Set small goals, achieve them, celebrate, and grow from there. Avoid disappointment by setting S.M.A.R.T goals—specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-bound.
*Enjoy your process. There will always be somewhere you can be, but the truth is that you aren’t there yet, and that’s okay. You can only make the most of where you are now.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bell.manje/
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@bell.manje?_t=8qOtZ5Bpxd9&_r=1
