Franko & Coffee

Ukrainian Bakers Are Flooding the Bay Area With Sophisticated European Pastries | Eater SF

"Named after a famous Ukrainian author and philosopher and slated to open in January 2025, this Sausalito bakery is deeply rooted in Ukrainian aesthetics and flavors. Owner Iryna Nevozhai, a former tech recruiter who moved to the U.S. from Kyiv 10 years ago and now lives in Mill Valley, says, “I love Sausalito, and having worked in hospitality in the past, I’ve always envisioned a cute European-style bakery there.” Nevozhai found a vacant Victorian building — formerly a barbershop and a cigar store — and, while waiting on permits and construction, runs a stand at the Sausalito Farmers Market introducing syrnyky, the cheese-stuffed pancakes popular in Russia and Ukraine, to the community while observing the local palate. On the upcoming menu are croissant sandwiches filled with prosciutto and pears or smoked salmon with cream cheese and dill; croissants filled with berries, pistachios, or bacon and cheese; and Slavic powerhouse cakes such as Napoleon cake layered with puff pastry and custard cream, rich Kyiv cake flavored with chocolate, and a multi-layered honey cake (popularized locally by now-closed 20th Century Cafe). “We focus on traditional Ukrainian and Eastern European flavors, but we also stay attuned to local tastes and customer feedback,” Nevozhai says. Behind the menu is baker Sofia Terebova, who previously owned March & Co., a bakery in Kyiv that closed due to the war and who worked as a bakery manager in Arizona before joining the team. Nevozhai also wants the shop to reflect the service and quality she experienced back in Kyiv, where “the baristas are very knowledgeable, happy to be here, and know how to present items to the customers.” To complete the vision, Ukrainian décor items such as Karpatian sheep wool chair covers and traditional clay lamps are being shipped to the U.S. to outfit the space with regional flair." - Flora Tsapovsky