Food can take you places – to those childhood days relishing aloo parathas prepared by grandma or along those muddy lanes to that tiny stall selling phantom cigarettes, toffees and mints. Food, can evoke the strongest memories, sometimes enough to lead you right back home.
Just like Priyanka Sardessai’s little passion project Larder and Folk that grew from her yearning for her hometown Goa and the fondest memories of food. Along with her husband, Siddharth Sumitran, she has created an inviting space, serving some sumptuous delights.
After graduating from the Culinary Institute of America with an associate’s degree in culinary arts, Priyanka worked at cafes in NYC and later with Chef Amninder Sandhu in Mumbai. But when the first lockdown happened in 2020, she took a plunge towards her passion project that started right from her kitchen.
“While trying to keep myself busy in 2020, just like everyone else, I started baking bread in my mum’s kitchen. And after receiving a great response from friends and family, Siddharth and I decided to start a space of our own,” Priyanka mentions.
She further adds, “Siddharth is a freelance photographer previously based in Bangalore. We got married in the same week we opened our first outlet in 2021. While I cook and handle the kitchen operations, Siddharth overlooks the front-of-house management and handles everything creative at Larder and Folk. That’s where our journey began.”
At present, the 10-seater café Larder and Folk at Neugi Nagar, Mala, has a well curated menu of freshly baked items, desserts and sandwiches.
“My favourites are the Hot Honey Fried Chicken Doughnut, Beesting and our BLT sandwich. Besides these, some crowd favourites are the Pollo Picante, Tiramisu doughnut and our classic chocolate doughnuts,” reveals Priyanka.
With its fresh and comforting ambience, the café has a minimal and modern deco which creates a relaxing atmosphere. “Our small and cozy space allows us to cater to our guests needs. Our team is trained to explain each and every item on the menu to make it easy for the customer to pick and choose their food,” Priyanka mentions.
Larder and Folk simply means food and people and the bakery cum café is just about that – offering something new and making sure customers leave with pleasant and memorable experiences each time.
“Whether it’s the expressions on a new customer’s face when they eat our doughnut for the first time or a regular who appreciates our quality of food and orders our food for the nth time, we’ve shared many memorable moments with our customers and team,” Priyanka fondly mentions.
The café serves some American style food and desserts with their own spin on everything and also take custom orders for cakes, breads and hampers as well as caters to small private events.
Priyanka also has some great news. “Larder and Folk is moving to a new location in Sao Tome, Panjim. A new 30-seater café, located right behind the Panjim Post Office will be opening soon,” she announces excitedly.
DETAILS:
LOCATION: Neugi Nagar, Mala, Panaji, Goa
CAFE TIMINGS: Open from 9 am to 7 on from Tuesday to Sunday. Closed every Monday
PRICING: ₹500-₹800 approx
INSTAGRAM HANDLE: @larderandfolk
CONTACT: 9359815109
REACH OUT AT: larderandfolk@gmail.com
DELIVERY AVAILABLE: Swiggy and Zomato.
