Daren Moothia: From Engineer to Pastry Chef

In a small kitchen in Camp Levieux, where the scents of warm vanilla and melted chocolate fill the air, a 24-year-old man is baking cakes. While others see a risk, he sees liberation. Daren Moothia chose pastry over engineering.

Daren graduated from the Mauritius Institute of Training and Development, but engineering didn’t ignite his passion. His close-knit family viewed this path as a secure future. His father, a retired messenger from the Mauritius Commercial Bank, spoke of it with pride. His mother, who has run the Tabagie Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes in Beau-Bassin for over eight years, believed wholeheartedly in his potential. His sister, Selvina, a manager at a hotel in England, constantly encouraged him.

However, in 2024, just as he was set to pursue a top-up degree in engineering, he postponed it to January 2025. Meanwhile, something changed: he began helping his mother at the shop, reflecting on his experiences and observing the customers. Most importantly, he finally listened to what his heart had been telling him, "Sometimes we need to stop running to hear what our heart is saying."

Passion

His love for cooking and culinary shows was not new. Since childhood, he enjoyed watching baking competitions, analyzing techniques and understanding textures. But it was a quiet pleasure—a secret he never dared to envision as a career.

During his free time, in between serving customers at the shop, he would playfully make flan. Nothing ambitious—just a whim. But that flan… changed everything. Customers tasted it, loved it, and asked for more. Daren continued experimenting with cookies, simple cakes, and ganache. "I was just testing… then I realized people were finding joy in it. That gave me a shock!" What began as a hobby became an undeniable calling.

The Decision

When January arrived—the long-awaited moment to resume his engineering studies—Daren woke up with a heavy feeling in his chest. He no longer wanted to continue. He couldn't. He walked slowly to the kitchen, sat down with his mother, and said, "Mom… I don’t want to continue. I want to become a pastry chef."

His mother smiled. "If what you’re doing brings you peace, then do it. I’ll always be here for you," she replied. This support comforted him.

This bold choice, seen as risky by others, had perhaps always been in his heart. "I stopped living for dreams that wouldn’t make me happy… I chose to live for what ignites the flame in my heart. Engineering taught me discipline. Pastry taught me love."

From that day on, the kitchen became his laboratory, workshop, and refuge. He spent hours perfecting recipes, understanding every detail, measurement, and texture.

Each cake emerged from his oven with the intention of pleasing customers. "I don’t bake cakes to sell. I bake cakes to give people a moment that makes them feel good."

Before long, orders began pouring in. The shop transformed into a small sweet showcase. Daren's name spread throughout the neighborhood and even the entire region. In just a few months, Daren earned an income that engineering wouldn’t have provided him immediately.

But money was not what made him proud. "Money is good… but when someone tells me, ‘this cake reminded me of my childhood,’ that’s worth everything to me." He knew he had made the right choice and had no regrets.

A Life Not for Me

Today, at 24, Daren dreams of opening his pastry shop, a simple yet warm space where people will come for both the taste and the atmosphere, as well as the stories behind each cake.

Daren creates:

• Elegant, fluffy Red Velvet Cake

• Intense chocolate cake

• Melting and fragrant Pistachio Cake

• Aromatic Carrot Cake

• Delicate Cheesecake

• Orders for all occasions.

He also wishes to reinvest in the family shop so that the business can continue to thrive, evolve, and inspire. "The shop is our history. I want to help it grow, not just for us, but for my mom too."

In a world where young people are often pushed to prioritize security over passion, Daren stands as a model. He did not choose the easy path; he chose authenticity. "Don’t be afraid to change direction," he says.

Daren Moothia did not simply leave a career. He left behind a version of himself that didn’t fit. "I didn’t abandon engineering… I abandoned a life that wasn’t meant for me."