Meet Jo Khatavkar | Rocker Baker Mom

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jo Khatavkar and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jo, maybe we can start at the very start – the idea – how did you come up with the idea for your business?
I’m married to a fella from Mumbai, India, and we have a four year-old son. I’ve been cooking Indian food since we were married in 2015. I loved coming up with new recipes using what I had learned from my husband and I cooking our palak daal over and over again.

My teaching career ended during the pandemic. I was exhausted of working for others and putting myself and my family on the backburner. This was THE time to give this small business idea a shot, but I needed to start it without costing an arm and a leg. BAM! Becoming a Cottage Food Baker was my way in. But due to the many restrictions on what I could create and sell, I needed to stick with sweet baked goods, so I had to think.

My son had always loved my Cardamom Cookies (didn’t eat his Halloween candy, only wanted these crazy-good cookies) and my friends and family were big fans of my Chai Rolls. Those were my first two items and the ideas took off!

My husband and I came up with the name of Babu’s from our son, Viv. Since he was born, we have always called him “babu”, which is a Hindi reference similar to “sir” in the U.S. My husband, Rohan, was also called this by his mother when he was a child. The logo of our business is a blue bear dressed in a peacock feather headband, representing the mischievous child Lord Krishna (Bal Krishna). We’ve always compared our Viv to Bal Krishna, knowing he will do great things in his life. This business is for him.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I created Babu’s because it was something new, yet familiar, and I have a passion for trying out different flavors and getting others excited about new food. I saw a need for more Indian sweets and desserts, as they’re often afterthoughts at Indian restaurants. Our goal is to expose the community to the wider range of flavors in Indian cuisine, that’s it’s more than just Tikka Masala and Garlic Naan (both are super tasty for sure). To soften the experience for folks that may otherwise be hesitant to try out new foods, our Indian-fusion baked goods, such as our White Chocolate Chai Blondies and Orange Cardamom Rolls, are good entry-points for many.
I have also created treats that are based around traditional Indian desserts, such as our Gajar ka Halwa Cupcakes, Mango Lassi Cupcakes, and Gulab Jamun Bundt Cakes. Perhaps the treat I am most proud of is my Kaju Katli (Cashew Fudge). It’s “fudge” made from powdered cashews, simple syrup, a lil’ rosewater, and a pinch of cardamom that literally melts in your mouth with delicate flavors. This is my guilty pleasure and my husband and I always have some on hand for us to munch on.

The sky is the limit with Babu’s and the possibilities. We will keep churning out new flavors and spreading our flavors throughout the Denver-metro area and BEYOND!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If you’re staying in the Denver-metro area, I’d say spend a lil’ time in the new hip neighborhoods, but definitely check out the more local and long-standing places.

For food: Havana and Mississippi area has some great small business restaurants (Seoul Mandoo and Katsu Ramen are my faves). Baker-area has some fun bars and cheap eats, even though that area has changed a lot since I used to party there. My family loves a good ice cream, so we’d definitely check out Sweet Cow on S. Pearl and Glacier on Yosemite.

For entertainment: Red Rocks is a MUST. Lakeside is just a fun place to visit with friends or family to get that rush that you just might derail on the Wild Chipmunk. Wash Park is gorgeous for walks and a picnic. The Botanic Gardens are good for when you need a peaceful few hours.

Outside of Denver: Manitou Springs is perhaps our favorite place in Colorado. We love to wander the main street, check out the old Penny Arcade where our son can go on some of those old kiddie rides for a quarter. We always have lunch at the Sahara Cafe nearby for their Shawarful (shwarma and falafel mix pita wrap) and some Blackberry ice cream.
The North Pole/Santa’s Workshop is usually on this list, too. It was built in 1956 and is family-owned and operated. I used to also work their a couple summers in high school. It’s a low-key and well-kept gem in the area.
And no trip to the Springs would be complete without a stop at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo for their amazing giraffe habitat where you can feed 14 giraffes lettuce (I’m kind of a nut for giraffes).

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My husband, Rohan, and my babu, Viv.

Website: babusindianinspiredtreats.com

Instagram: @babusindianinspiredtreats

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/joannakhatavkar

Facebook: facebook.com/babusindianinspiredtreats