Kathmandu, April 27 -- Celeus Baral exudes a serene aura when you meet her, and when she tells you she bakes, it makes sense. Even during a brief encounter, you can tell she has the patience needed to be a baker.

"You can eyeball cooking, but baking is chemistry. You have to be meticulous. You cannot rush it, or it does not turn out as expected," says the 21-year-old environment science student. She also runs the baking shop Bakeleus. Recently, she has also started selling her baked goods beyond her shop, with her first stall appearing at The Yellow House's Night Market.

Bakeleus's menu lists a variety of offerings, including jams, granola, tarts, cakes, cookies, cupcakes and brownies. Baral began baking in 2020, during the lockdown, an...