Meet Dixya Bhattarai | Culinary Dietitian, Owner behind Indulge FW

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

Hi Dixya, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I come from a family of business entrepreneurs but I never thought I would own a business someday. The process of starting my own business has been a gradual one. I started my website www.foodpleasureandhealth.com back in 2012 and started doing some brand partnerships and media work while working as a clinical dietitian at a hospital. I juggled my full time job as a dietitian and my very small business until 2017-2018. In 2018, I met with my business partner Hao Tran and we started doing our dumpling popup as Hao & Dixya, which further led to other opportunities such as the opening of The Table (which we closed at the end of 2022).

Indulge FW is a brainchild that came about from my experiences as a dietitian/culinary instructor, and experiences from operating Hao & Dixya and The Table. The space inside 3rd Street Market in Sundance Square felt like a natural progression where I wanted to pursue my career in the culinary world and its been a wonderful experience so far.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Indulge FW is a culinary gathering space that is passionate about food, community, and building kitchen confidence. The studio is located in Fort Worth downtown, inside 3rd Street market. At Indulge, we teach cooking classes for all level of cooks. Our instructors come from different backgrounds, have diverse skills and share a mutual love for cooking and conversations around the table! ​
We also offer weekly afternoon tea at Indulge because everyone deserves a tea break from our hectic lives. We pair our tea with seasonal menus featuring sweet and savory treats.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Fort Worth is a big-city with small town feel with so much to offer. I’d start with Magnolia ave for dinner at Salsa Limon or Heim BBQ and ice cream at Melt. Magnolia ave is pedestrian friendly and has a relaxing vibe with many restaurants, coffee shops, and bars – something for everyone.

One must visit Fort Worth Stockyards for the real cowboy experience. Everything is concentrated in the same one block: Exchange Avenue, I’d time our visit with Fort Worth Cattle Drive and stop at M.L. Leddy’s for custom hat shaping, boots, and cowboy apparel. After sightseeing, Provendar Hall in Mule Alley would be a great spot, esp the happy hour menu and oysters!

Sundance Square has live music in the evening and it’s a great spot for people watching. One of my favorite restaurants, Istanbul Grill is in downtown and obviously, we will spend time at 3rd Street Market and Indulge FW whether it’s watching sourdough being made, grabbing lunch, or perhaps taking a cooking class!

We have so many coffee shops in Fort Worth, including Cherry on Magnolia, Casa Azul in Northside, Wildcraft Coffee in South Main, Ascension along the Trinity trail to name a few we will be visiting as many coffee shops as possible as they are all unique.

Fort Worth botanical garden, Amphibian Stage, The Modern, and Kimbell Art Museum are worth visiting.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I am surrounded by some great folks in Fort Worth, whether it is lending their ears for advice, or sharing helpful resources when in need. Few key people I want to give shoutout to are Hao Tran, Dena Shaskan, Trent Shaskan – my OG business partners! Meda Kessler and Kari Crowe both are always there for mentorship and encouragement, which I value a lot. And my partner Shaan Khaled who deserves a special shoutout for his constant support while I navigate the world of owning a business.

Website: www.indulgefw.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/indulge_Fw

Facebook: www.facebook.com/indulgefw

Image Credits
Dixya Bhattarai