Umkhalid from home cooking to strong business

(Women Gateway)

Success is a solitary journey, which changes the life of an ordinary person. UmKhalid is one such person who fought all odds in the society or even at her home to make it to the top. She was a housewife with ordinary cooking talents quite common in the seventies as Bahrain hardly had restaurants unlike the chain of food outlets at every corner.

People back then used traditional cooking and other delicious cuisines as western and Indian food were out of reach. Umkhalid’s passion for cooking unleashed her creativity to come out with new dishes for her families. She discovered her talent by preparing sweet dishes, cakes and chocolates.  Her motivations were the increasing number of finger licking guests who kept pouring everyday.

 When her recipes became irresistible to many, some of her friends advised her to sell her dishes. She hesitated in the beginning but later started her solitary journey as successful businesswoman.
Umkhalid never thought that her dishes made out of the ingredients love and sincerity for her family and friends would be popular in a short period. Her dishes were the talk of the town as she started receiving orders from all over Bahrain within months.

The phones kept ringing and demands for her dishes were growing. This motivated her to open a shop with adequate staff to help her. Although all the staff were trained but she insisted doing all the cooking herself to offer the same ingredients to all her customers.

"I cannot depend on my employees as the satisfactions of my customers Is what motivates me and makes them addicted to my cuisines," she explained. Umkhalid started her business in the early eighties and since then is developing it every year, thanks to the support of her families.

She said her husband retired from his job to help her, especially to deliver the orders and deal with daily documentation and business affairs.  "My daughters used to help me, but after they got married they are now busy taking care of their own families." Ummkhalid says wryly.

She is happy and content, but sometime wishes that she had never started this business because of work pressure. "This job makes me independent and productive, but it becomes very tiring at times, especially during festive seasons, such as Eid . I don't sleep for two to three days to finish all orders," she said. "Eid passes by in work while I'm sleeping after staying awake for days. I feel I need to rest to commit myself to new orders."

Umkhalid's stories could be attributed to many factors, it’s a cocktail of talent , family support and courage mixed with love. No one can also deny the freedom; Bahrain gives to each individual, including women to establish their business activities. Umkhalid's achievements are sweeter than her dishes which  have been tasted by many. After all, success is sweetest to those who have not tasted it...