Inspiring Conversations with Anajd Dokaj of La Baia Italia Food

Today we’d like to introduce you to Anajd Dokaj

Anajd, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I grew up in a small town called Atina, located one hour and thirty minutes from both Rome and Naples, where both my parents worked in the restaurant industry. Our friends loved coming to our house because my mom always cooked delicious meals, and our birthday parties were always the most fun. My sister and I started working in the restaurants where our mom worked when we were little, and that’s where our passion for cooking began.

Eventually, our parents opened their first food truck called “La Baia dei Sapori,” which features two dolphins representing my sister and me. For many years, we enjoyed working in the beautiful setting of Italian village festivals; it was truly a wonderful period of our lives in Italy.

In 2013, my sister Brisida and my brother-in-law Vito moved to Los Angeles. I couldn’t resist the temptation to visit them, so I left Italy and our food truck for a few months. It was my first time in America, and it felt like a dream come true. I have always loved dancing, and during one of the evenings, I happened to meet the woman who would later become my wife and give me the most special person in my life: my son, Wesley.

After moving permanently to Los Angeles, I worked in several Italian restaurants in Beverly Hills. However, I always dreamed of opening my own business and having my own food truck again. In 2019, I realized that dream and bought my trailer, but Covid slowed everything down, and I was only able to open it in 2022. The design was created by two talented Italian artists who are good friends of our family, Sara Cocco and Vincenzo Vitrano. I wanted to evoke a sense of being in Italy, complete with our beautiful scenery and a table set for an Italian Sunday. I also kept the same colors as our Italian truck, with the two dolphins now representing my son Wesley and my niece Grace. The name evolved to “La Baia Italian Food.”

For a few years, I worked in Los Angeles, but six years ago, my sister and brother-in-law moved to Columbus. When we visited them, we fell in love with this beautiful city, which we now call home. In August, we packed up everything and drove across nine states to move to Columbus. This city is truly magical; it welcomed us and our food truck with open arms, filling our hearts with warmth.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Nothing in life is easy if you want to make your dreams come true. When you leave everything you know—your country, your friends, and your parents—to start a new life on the other side of the world, everything is unfamiliar, and you have to learn a new language. Having my wife, my sister, and my brother-in-law by my side has been a great help, but the journey to achieve my American dream has been long yet beautiful. America is a land of great opportunity if you are willing to work hard and never give up.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
La Baia Italian Food is the result of our deep love for Italy and the culinary traditions we grew up with. Italians living abroad often seek out the flavors and aromas that remind them of home. For many, nothing embodies home more than a delicious pizza topped with hot tomato sauce, stringy mozzarella, freshly cut prosciutto or mortadella, and the irresistible scent of fresh basil.

Here in Columbus, we’ve created a little corner of Italy. In our pizzas, panini, lasagna, and Nutella crêpes, you will discover the simple and authentic flavors of Italy. We are filled with joy that since we opened, word of our food has spread by word of mouth among Italians in various places and venues where we go. As a result, we often find ourselves meeting new friends, sharing stories and pizzas, while our children play and make new friends.

What makes you happy?
My happiness is deeply connected to my family. It brings me joy to see the people I love healthy and living happily together. I will feel immense happiness when my brother-in-law Vito, who serves in the U.S. Navy, returns from his deployment safe and sound. Happiness, for me, also comes from seeing that dreams can come true through hard work.

I grew up with the belief that in life, you need both roots and wings to soar. My roots, which provide certainty and happiness, are my family. My wings, which represent my dreams, enable me to pursue my aspirations because we are all made of the same material as dreams.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/la_baia_italian_food/profilecard/?igsh=YmNyZmd2YzU1dDFj
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LabaiadeisaporiDiAnajdeMonica?mibextid=LQQJ4d