Bao Sisters owner trades European engineering gig for food truck business

After five years of working as an engineer in China, Lei Lei gave up a postgraduate degree in Europe to open a food truck in Alice Springs. Read why she made the huge switch.

Lei Lei gave up a successful career as a telecommunications engineer in China to open a food truck in Alice Springs, and she doesn’t regret a thing.

Ms Lei had been working as an engineer in China for five years when she decided to take a gap year in Australia using the working holiday visa.

She travelled all around the country working in multiple hospitality venues, from fast food to Indian restaurants, Australian pubs and classic cafes.

“For the first time I was looking forward to going to work, I was on my feet for 12 hours a day sometimes but still felt energised and excited,” Ms Lei said.

She had originally applied and was accepted into a postgraduate degree at the University College of Dublin for the Spring of 2020, but when Covid hit she decided to change her plans.

Alice Springs international student Lei Lei gave up her full time role as an engineer to start food truck business Bao Sisters in July, 2021. Photo: Charles Darwin University.

“So it took me a moment to figure out what I really want to do, and at this time I realised my real passion is about food and cooking.

“I remember visiting Broome and they had their Food truck festival; it was a celebration of food and culture; it planted the seed for me for my next big goal.

“I started looking into studying cookery at Charles Darwin University, I moved to Alice Springs, and I began to research food trucks,” Ms Lei said.

Ms Lei had only visited Alice Springs once in 2019 before she moved there, but believed there was unique opportunities available for vendors in the region.

“I went to Alice Springs in the summer time, but it was too hot so I decided to continue my travelling, but I could tell and feel this was a town with a very diverse culture and a vibrant atmosphere here,” she said.

“It’s such a unique location here in the middle of the centre, and it’s a major stop on the way from Adelaide to Darwin so I felt it was a good spot for me to start building my dream.”

She enrolled and completed a Certificate III of Commercial Cookery, which allowed her to understand the rules and regulations around operating a food business and helped her with marketing and budgeting strategies, as well as cooking techniques.

She opened Bao Sisters in 2021, at the Alice Springs show on Territory Day.

“I wanted to make something very special, so the first opening day we went to Alice Springs show, and I remember doing a lot of preparation and lifting, my arms are still sore,” she said.

Bao Sisters is now parked up at Desert Park, a popular tourist destination, six nights a week, and has become a go-to for many locals.

Ms Lei said she hoped her journey would inspire other locals to continue making their hospitality dreams a reality in tough circumstances.

“I feel if an international student like me can run a food truck then maybe some other people that love food, love cooking and love this industry, then maybe this can inspire them to stick to the plan,” she said.

“Don’t just quit this, quit the job, because it’s really sad to see some businesses say goodbye to Alice Springs.”