Today we’d like to introduce you to Rajen Giga and Nilesh Ranchod. They and their team shared their story with us below:
Zimbabwean natives Nilesh & Rajen first met during an introductory computer informatics course at Bulawayo Technical Training College, but it was not long before their relationship grew beyond a simple classroom acquaintance. Soon enough, the two became teammates on a local field hockey team, went on various fishing expeditions along the mighty Zambezi River, and eventually took over their respective family business—Nilesh taking over his father’s “Oriental Takeaways” pie shop and Rajen managing his father’s men’s apparel store. Years passed, the economy took a turn, and their lives changed forever. Nilesh decided to immigrate to the USA, settling down in Commerce, GA, with his wife and children. Six years later, Rajen followed suit with his wife and three children to settle in Houston, TX.
Nevertheless, the two did not stay apart for long. In 2010, Nilesh and Rajen found themselves reunited in the same city with the same job. It was as though their friendship had not skipped a beat, and soon enough, their families became inseparable. Several nostalgic conversations and years of working as employees later, the two men came to realize the significance of their journey to the land of opportunity and the value of the skills they had learned along the way. They courageously decided to pursue the dream of building their own business. With Nilesh’s talent for food artistry, particularly his experience with a family-inspired pie recipe that brought him, customers from around the country, and Rajen’s affinity for marketing and management, the concept behind 2 Phat Bastard Pies was born.
Starting out under “Pastry Pals LLC ” in April of 2021, the men participated in local farmers markets, community events, and even the Houston SaberCats Rugby games, gaining successful exposure of their pies in the Houston food scene. A few months later, Nilesh and Rajen were introduced to Houston Conservatory Food Hall and Brewery’s management team and found themselves preparing to present 2 Phat Bastard Pies at the Conservatory Food Hall in Midtown, Houston, which began its soft opening in August of 2023.
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?
Since opening 2 Phat Bastard Pies in 2021, we have been immensely grateful to have the support of our families behind us. While we started our business, just the two of us, each of our family members, assisted us with a different component of the business, from social media management to food preparation assistance, and having this support has helped us grow our business and run things smoothly. However, with any new venture, there are always some obstacles. An obstacle that we have been working to overcome has been brand exposure. When people hear that we are a pie shop, their eyes light up, thinking about the familiarity of a traditional pecan or pumpkin pie, so when we share that we serve savory pies, they are always surprised. For the majority of people that do try our pies they love them upon first bite; it just takes people to try them first to love them. Since opening at The Conservatory in our soft opening phase, we have been appreciative that the community we have grown over the past 2.5 years has continued to show up and support us, and thankfully with social media, we have been able to meet a lot of new faces. As we continue to grow, our aim is to continue spreading the word about our Indo-African origins, as well as introducing Houston to our African/European savory pie delicacy.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next, you can tell us a bit more about your business.
We are an Indo-African savory pie shop that specializes in meat-filled pies. We offer an expansive menu of different pies filled with chicken, lamb, beef, and vegetable mixtures. Each of our pies are filled with a delicious, flavorful, savory filling and encased in a buttery and flakey crust. We like to call our Chicken Mushroom Pie, Steak Pepper Pie, and Lamb Curry Pies our 2 Phat Bastard Pies starter packs. If you are looking to try our food, one of these pies is the perfect introduction, but you truly will never go wrong with any of our menu items. We also offer vegetable and chicken samosas, as well as fresh French fries. If you are thirsty and looking for an authentic Zimbabwean taste, we also serve Stoney’s Ginger Beer and Spar-letta Creme Soda (as well as traditional American sodas). Overall, we hope to be remembered for our delicious and unique cuisine, as well as our warm hospitality. We love meeting new people and being able to share our love of food with them.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
Most people are often surprised by the concept of a savory pie but even more so confused by the fusion we incorporate into our cuisine. Our pies are the product of a 50+ year-old family recipe, with influences from Zimbabwe, England, Australia, and India.
Pricing:
- Chicken Pies (Curry, Mushroom, Jalapeño): $12
- Lamb Pies (Pepper and Curry): $13
- Beef Pies (Curry and Steak Pepper): $12
- Vegetable Pies (Curry and Spinach Paneer): $12
- Vegetable and Chicken Samosas: $10
Contact Info:
- Website: https://2phatbastardpies.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/2phatbastardpies/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/2phatbastardpies/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/2-phat-bastard-pies-houston
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@2phatbastardpies
Image Credits
Chris Nguyen
Priyanka Ranchod
