Today we’d like to introduce you to Larissa Davis.
Larissa, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
It all started when I was a teenager and when my mother found out she was allergic to foods that contain gluten. Once my mother found out about her food sensitivities she started to want to eat healthier. So she not only bought healthier foods but she also educated herself on what would be better for her to eat. Her nutritional knowledge flowed down to me because of how she wanted me to make better choices in my diet. So without knowing it, I slowly started to go towards the vegan lifestyle. Veganism was the farthest thing from my mind at the time because it sounded boring.
The first thing I cut off was soda while in middle school. Then in high school, I got rid of animal milk and yellow of the egg because I realized it made me nauseous. In my early college years, I stopped eating eggs altogether. Red meat never tasted good to me because of the weird flavor so I rarely ever ate it. I realized midway in college that pork slowed down my digestive system so I started to rarely consume pork. The only meats I was eating were chicken and turkey but only two to three times a week. It was about two and half years ago when I watched “What the Health” on Netflix and from that moment on my life has never been the same. “What the Health” made me realize that I was naturally repelling animal products and why I was doing it.
So I decided to try out being full vegan for about a week and to my disbelief everything in physical body felt better with more energy. I had no problems going vegan because I naturally was headed in the vegan direction. During the first year of my vegan journey, I tried to make every recipe I could get my hands on. During that first year, I learned the difference between healthy vegans and not healthy vegans. The second year I ate more healthy and plant-based. Third year I started to realize how important it is to help spread knowledge about going vegan so what better way than to make a business out of it. So I started with selling vegan baked goods while educating the local Houston population on what being vegan really is. It’s been an amazing journey ever since and I don’t regret anything!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It has honestly been an up and down battle. For example, it makes me feel good about myself when I do a successful event where I sell a lot and I get great customer reviews which happens at least half of the time. When I get an unsuccessful event where I barely sell and get many bad customer reviews (which has never happened) I feel like giving up but then I realize that I have worked too hard to give up now. I learn something every time I do an event. Regardless of the event outcome I’m always trying to improve my business for better customer satisfaction.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the How?! Desserts story. Tell us more about the business.
My business is named How?! Desserts and it is a vegan bakery. I am the owner and I make all of the decisions. I am the only vegan bakery that has the option of infusing CBD into my desserts. Having CBD infusion into my desserts makes a statement of how I’m willing bring a very plant-based product to the customer to not only relax any discomfort but also satisfy your sweet tooth. I also create and sell vegan ice cream cakes. I am very proud that I can honestly say that I got where I am without any assistance other than paid for workers at events. I distinctly bake products that I feel customers will love and can relate to culturally. Also last but not least my business is black woman-owned. Every bite of my dessert will make them feel like they are at home while also trying something new. I create any desserts from New Orleans pralines to Tres Leches to All American pop tarts to southern desserts such as peach cobbler. I plan on expanding my desserts to other cultures such as macaroons.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
Well, the good luck that has played a role is that I went through a 12 week small business program called Emancipation Economic Development Council that really helped in perfecting my flaws in my business. I was honored to have met some of the most intelligent business minds I will ever know in my entire life. This opportunity and what it has brought me will stick with me my entire life. Another way that good luck has played a role in my life is my bachelor’s degree in Nutrition from University of Houston. It helped me look at the science of food which helped me become a better cook.
The last but definitely not least good luck that I have had in my business is my mother’s influence to eat healthier. This has single-handedly been the most impactful aspect to my health journey. My mother has taught me more than what I could ever learn from a university because of the life experience that has come along with it. The only bad luck is the lack of financial support that I have as a new business owner but that will change in the near future.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.howdesserts.com
- Phone: 8324921135
- Email: howdesserts@gmail.com
- Instagram: howdesserts
- Facebook: How Desserts
- Twitter: @DessertsHow
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