Today we’d like to introduce you to Nneka Osueke.
Nneka, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I was born and raised in Dallas, TX and moved to Los Angeles, CA shortly after I graduated with my Bachelors degree from Sam Houston State University. While in LA, I transitioned to a plant-based lifestyle in June 2016, but the foods I had trouble giving up were deserts. I am a sweet-tooth connoisseur, so me give up brownies?! Not a chance! So, I started looking for vegan alternatives to dairy, eggs, and refined sugar.
LA was a vegan playground, but when I moved back to Dallas after graduate school in September 2018, it was hard finding plant-based deserts without having to drive 20 minutes into the city. I reflected on how veganism was a growing trend, and thought, “If I’m having these issues, there’s got to be others with the same problem.” After I moved to Houston, this realization is what propelled me to open The Sacral Bakery.
Now, I reside in Ratchaburi, Thailand, where I teach art and English and whip up new dessert recipes for the Sacral Bakery’s Houston return next year. Along with being the Head Baketress In Charge (The HBIC) of TSB, I’m also a visual artist and author. My upcoming book, Blooming Abroad: The Black Girl’s Journal-Guide-Memoir for Traveling and Living in Foreign Lands (takes breath of air), comes out in April 2020 and details my travel journey and some important tips about living and traveling abroad.
Has it been a smooth road?
My, my, my! A resounding, “No!” will do for this one. The road was extremely tough moving from LA to Dallas then to Houston, all while looking for work as a newly graduated young adult, trying to establish a business, and maintain all of my other passions such as painting and writing. Even with the bakery, I spent days and nights, perfecting recipes, managing my own social media, building and updating my own website—I was a one-woman tech team! Ultimately, I received a wonderful career opportunity to move to Thailand, which is where I currently reside. I mainly post about the vegan foods I try in Thailand and the cultural dishes that will inspire TSB’s menu when we return to Houston later this year.
Please tell us about The Sacral Bakery.
The Sacral Bakery is a plant-based dessert shop which delivers vegan baked goods right to your doorstep! My mission is to show those interested in a vegan lifestyle the ways to enjoy your favorite desserts and make healthier choices at the same time. I choose quality ingredients, aim to keep most of the menu refined- sugar-free, and include some gluten-free options, as well.
Also, TSB is a shining example that plant-based food does not have to taste like cardboard! Vegan desserts CAN be rich and decadent just like the ones made with milk, butter, or eggs, and you don’t have to sacrifice taste for health!
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
The vegan trend is POPPIN’, which reminds me that groupthink isn’t ALWAYS a bad thing. I went plant-based for my health but later discovered just how much my dietary lifestyle benefits our own planet.
As a practicing yogi and African spiritualist, there is a big awakening happening within many individuals. A lot of us are getting serious about self-improvement and taking better care of bodies. I believe, without a shadow of a doubt, The Millennials are leading the global movement toward a cleaner, more conscious world, and the growth of Veganism falls right in line with that idea. In 5-10 years, maybe even less, it’ll be one of the biggest industries on the planet, and we’ll be responsible for that.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.nnekaosueke.com
- Email: info@nnekaosueke.com
- Instagram: @nnekaosueke @thesacralbakery
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