Today we’d like to introduce you to Mari Fox.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Mari Fox. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Making the career change from nursing to self-made entrepreneur was not an easy one. When a genuine passion for a trade is there, sometimes you just have to take the leap of faith and trust that you will land standing. So with every cake and chocolate delicacy that I uniquely design, I continue to inspire myself to remain on this path and let each piece shine like jewels from my heart.
I worked as a nurse for several years and with that experience I learned how to care for people, be a leader, and the importance that we all have to be a positive influence on the lives of others. Many times I taught others to have the confidence to stand alone, and to have courage to make tough decisions. That everyone has something to offer and everything is possible.
I absolutely felt at home in the hospital setting and all of my patients were special to me. However after many years of practice, that feeling of completion seemed to fade away. Changes are not always easy, especially after dedicating so many years of your life to one path. We all need financial stability, the bills paid and the ability to support our loved ones. Sometimes in the process we forget to listen to our inner voice and follow our own dreams. A friend helped remind me when she mentioned how my eyes light up when I bake and organize parties. That day marked a new chapter in my life, the chapter I got reunited with my heart and passions.
So when did my passion start? Let me tell you!
I grew up with a wonderful and loving Italian family that was very stereotypically and would often spend hours in the kitchen cooking fresh meals from scratch. Baking sweets with grandma and great aunts is one of my favorite memories from my childhood. I was a very happy, sweet, and sometimes feisty little girl. I loved race cars, race horses, speed boats, jet skis, and Horseback Archery, but everything would stop as soon as I heard Nona saying “Angelina mia, vieni qui an infornare con me” (my little angel come here to bake with me). I saw my Nona (grandma) constantly looking at people eating what she baked, and I never understood why. Now I look at people eating what I baked, and their smiles give me a little connection with their heart.
So I started my journey to my unrelated skills and unrelated passions! My family supported all of my passions/dreams. They taught me several lessons, one being that I can do anything I put my mind to. Being afraid of the unknown is expected but should not stop you from continuing your journey. Even the bravest person experiences fear, but chooses to follow the path anyway. Tenacity became one of my first and best qualities.
I was three years old when I started classic ballet, which leads to a passion for music and dance. I still find myself on my tip toes and dancing while I bake.
I have a loving and compassionate Italian mother that I frequently witness opening windows to hand out food, coffee, cakes to workers cleaning outside the building. Compassion and the desire to bring a smile on people’s face became another passion of mine by example of my Mom’s legacy.
My teenage passion was painting so I started painting pretty much anything that I could get my hands on including clothing, canvas, porcelain, and even soap. Now I get to paint chocolate and cakes!
My parents were very successful, and there was always a celebration to be had at our home. I absolutely loved to organize and decorate for every one of them, which lead me to study etiquette, party planning, decoration and interior design.
I also have a passion for nature and the use of fresh ingredients in everything I make. I use nature to inspire the flavors and designs of all my desserts. Who does not love chocolate, right? Chocolate and I share a similar particularity for certain temperatures. We both like to be treated with care, attention and we both shine with the right temperature! Chocolate is certainly my passion and best friend too! I recently learned that we all have a few named unrelated skills, but we do not know how related they are until later when all the pieces come together. So my totally unrelated skills relating to family, baking, music, dance, painting, sweets, compassion, decoration, nature, and chocolate united became my new passion Dolce Affeto Patisserie ™.
So I became The Angel Chef!
I was selected as 1 of 20 Top Chefs to showcase my passion at this year’s Lone Star Bash, held at Minute Maid on July 14th. I was so happy and honored. I prepared a fantastic dessert menu to sample.
Has it been a smooth road?
I learned early in the process that my company’s attitude begins with me believing in myself, recognizing my strengths and weakness, and learning from others. As a new business owner, I’ve had struggles learning all of the intricacies of starting a new business like researching products, naming of the business and marketing. My biggest and still current struggle is finding a location and I believe it is out there waiting for me.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
The Dolce Affeto ™ idea was born from a combination of European unique recipes and the desire to be a part of all the good & happy moments of people’s life. Old country in combination with the mind-blowing of uniquely designed Sweet Sensations.
We are known for the elegance and creativity of our Uniquely Designed Cakes, Entremets, Hand Grafted Chocolate Accents, and Innovated Desserts. We are proud to use the freshest and most authentic ingredients, highest quality, and Innovation. The warm smell of our baking ensures that you and your guests will enjoy a personalized delicatessen.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Houston is an exciting and diverse city, full of new opportunities and different experiences around every corner. So if you have a unique business, Houston is the perfect place to start!
Pricing:
- Cakes – Cakes sizes 6″ in size $40.00; 8″ in size $50.00; 10″ in size $60.00
- Entremets – Entremets are 8″ in size $50.00 each
- Chocolate Accents – $40.00 each
- Chocolate Truffles – $2.25 each
- Chocolate Bonbons – $3.25 each
- Macarons – $2.50 each
- Cupcakes – $3.50 each
Contact Info:
- Website: dolceaffeto.com
- Email: chef@dolceaffeto.com
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