By Hana Roslan

WHAT started out as a simple, innocent craving for croissants became a business venture for 33-year-old Izza'wade Hj Zaine, who has been running a home-based pastry business since 2010.

"It began during Ramadhan, a time when you're craving all sorts of food.

"I wanted to eat croissants and have loved eating them since I was little, so I told myself I wanted to give baking croissants a go," he said.

"I'm not saying that the croissants in Brunei aren't really good, it's just that when you've tasted food that's really good, it sort of lingers in your memory."

He said that he started making homemade croissants he made from scratch, and started selling them after Raya celebrations, through the suggestions of his lady friend.

"They said my croissants was good and suggested that I start selling. So I began selling them to offices and had a really good response,"he said.

Iaz's Croissanterie can be found on Facebook, selling various types of pastries from plain croissants to plaited pastries, and croissant sandwiches to egg tarts.

The pastries are 100 per cent halal and come in different sizes that can go up to six inches in length, ranging from the cost of 80 cents to $8.50.