Naveena began baking 8 years ago while on a break from work in London. She discovered it was a stress reliever for her to bake late at night when she had the kitchen to herself. She then took up fondant cake decorating after seeing beautiful cakes online and taught herself techniques by watching YouTube videos and using Google. Naveena now runs her own baking business called "Yum's the Word" and teaches classes, though balancing it with caring for her young son who likes to "help" can be challenging. Her future plans including expanding her business and traveling abroad to learn more skills.

1. Presenting…
Naveena
Thangadorai

2. Baking?
Baking was something that
happened to me 8 years ago. I’d
taken a break from work and
was in London for a few
months. Till then I hadn't
cooked or baked anything. But
there were so many baking
shows on TV then and it
seemed so easy. The first thing I
baked was an apple brownie
and there it all started. I realized
what a stress buster baking was
to me. I always baked at
midnight when I had the kitchen
to myself. Just me and the
batter 

3. Fondants?
Fondant cake decorating was something
that just happened to me. I saw the lovely
cakes online and was tempted to try my
hands at it. There was no one teaching in
Chennai (my son then was 1, so there was
no way I could leave him and go
elsewhere to learn). I decided to learn on
my own.
Youtube and Google are my gurus so to
speak. They taught me all I know about
fondant.

4. And you started teaching as well?
I got to know Zenobia of Passionate Baking
when I just started out. It was she who
suggested I take classes.
I’d already been getting quite a few enquiries
and I am enjoying teaching as well

5. Yum’s the word? 
When I started Yum's the word in Dec
2011, it was at the insistence of family
and friends. And never did I imagine
what a big part of my life it would
become.
I still vividly remember the first enquiry I
got I was literally shivering with
excitement - just for an enquiry 

6. HBG and Showcase?
HBG has been a revelation of sorts. That
there are so many people out there who
are sharing all their tips and recipes and
tricks is such an amazing thing. And it
makes you feel part of a community.
Am sure the showcase is going to be a
big success this time too. Glad I’m in,
though I'm scared nervous and looking
forward to it all at the same time!

7. Ingredients?
I do get all my basic ingredients locally. Only
things needed for fondant, edible glitter
paints and the likes are procured from USA
UK and Australia. If any friends are coming
from these countries they immediately get
requests from me to bring stuff.
Nowadays nothing makes me happier than
getting a goodie bag of baking stuff 

8. Challenges?
For me? It’s mostly having my son
around. He's at this stage where he still
needs all my attention. I bake and
decorate mostly through the night.
Though there are days when I've
decorated with him around.
I give him a fondant mat some tools
and some fondant to keep him
occupied and he happily says he's
making cake.
But keeping the final cake away from
his hands – now that’s the biggest
challenge these days!

9. Future plans?
From here I would love to start a
small cake design studio and bakery.
Before that would love to go abroad
and learn more.
But all that has to wait till my son
grows up.

10. Good luck girl !
See you soon at the
showcase! 