Life & Work with Leslie Nguyen

Today we’d like to introduce you to Leslie Nguyen.

Hi Leslie, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I started making my mini donuts in 2012 as a side passion project. I started with music festivals and events but I had put the donuts away for a period of time to focus on my main business, Bosscat Kitchen+Libations and Ten Sushi + Cocktail Bar. Once I got the restaurants going I brought the donuts out of storage and I set up an area in the kitchen and started making the minis again, but this time the way I wanted to make them, cute with fun toppings. I slowly grew the business out of the restaurant kitchen and people would order through IG and pick up at the restaurant. Things with work was going well. I had the bars going and donut orders pumping, but I was personally going through heartbreak and a torturing depression that sent me into the darkest period of my life. I wanted to commit suicide and was so unhappy with life, but I kept getting donut orders so I had to wake up to make these minis. I would wake up super early, make the donuts in the dark listening to Lana Del Rey and crying. I go back home crawl into bed and not want to wake up, but I would get messages about how much the donuts had made an event magical or how much joy it brought someone. I slowly was ruled by these messages and I see now how it can impact someone for a short period of time. It started to make me happy to make someone else happy. I saw the value in giving back with the donuts and now I use that to fuel my purpose in life.

Then covid hit and I lost all the catering business and no one was able to order. I began to offer delivery and made a decorating kit and people started to order throughout CA. I was receiving so many orders that I had to create an online ordering system. People kept asking me for shipping so we created a whole division of shipping minis and decorating kits.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Struggles I stated in the story prior. Having covid hit at first was a struggle, but was a blessing in disguise. The online ordering systems and shipping came out of the struggles and made us more efficient.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I own several other restaurants in Orange County and in TX. 3 different concepts, Bosscat Kitchen+Libations, Ten Sushi+Cocktail Bar, and Bybloys Mediterranean Cafe. I am known for creating beautifully designed spaces for the restaurants. Our dining experience sets us apart from the others. We have a more interactive approach to dining.

What are your plans for the future?
I am planning on opening a storefront for the donuts so I can do fun tea parties. I am expanding the restaurants so hopefully can find locations close by each.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.missminidonuts.com
• Instagram: @missminidonuts
• Facebook: @missminidonuts
• Linkedin: @missminidonuts
• Twitter: @missminidonuts
• Youtube: @missminidonuts

Image Credits
Wales Communications only on the first top 2 photos