Prologue to Paerns Emerald Bakery and Cafe
As muffled conversations and. farewell notes of jazz float up to the sky – the baker gets to work. The bassline and flour have charted a path; the stage has been set. Somewhere in the throes of dawn, the musician and baker find harmony. Lost in their fundamental desire to put together ingredients that make magic; they make something anew. The aroma of bread and notes of the accordion dance together; inspiring and emulating. Food and music universal languages that speak to us all. While crossing the busy street of Banani 11 in Dhaka city, you can randomly walk into the recently launched Emerald Bakery and Café. Owned by the family behind Emerald Restaurants, the Emerald Bakery started its journey with a small shop in Uttara back in 2018. It was initiated by Shamima Rahman with her dream of stepping into the bakery market, and moved to a bigger space within the food court at Chef’s Table in Gulshan. But overall Emerald Restaurants is co-owned by Shamima Rahman (mother), Aminur Rahman (father), Shaker Ibne Amin, Sabbir Ibne Amin and Ayeman Ibne Amin (sons). Shaker Ibne Amin found a gem of a location; one of the very few independent houses left that can be used commercially. This opportunity encouraged them to dream of a street-side venture, not confined within a tall structure made of steel, glass, and concrete. Hence with this new thought process, the Emerald Bakery and Café went through a rebranding. The new branding has a core value of using patterns, as suggested by Prianka Ameen, who worked along with the designing firm, Inked Studio, to wrap this concept throughout the whole café and packaging. “Bakery is science, where measurement is the key and patterns are very mathematical by nature. However, we also wanted to make our place cozy and homely, creating an ambiance that one experiences in a family-run bistro. Therefore, perfectly made patterns would be too rigid and organised for us. Therefore, we decided to go with handmade/drawn patterns, where each motif is flawed yet unique. We have taken this concept to drive the whole design process; from branding and our menu to the architecture,” Sabbir Ibne Amin said while explaining his wife’s concept. Before intervening with the venture in a new location they surveyed and studied a lot of human behaviour. That is mostly how Inked Studio works, being a human-centered design studio. Hence, they tried to build a place where one can work individually, plan office meetings, hang out with office colleagues or friends, have family dinners, or just spend a lazy afternoon with a book. These use cases helped generate the design, the seating layouts, lighting, and sound panels, and Parisian-influenced subtle and muted colour palettes, mostly inspired by nature and the colours from their dishes. Patterns have been made on feature walls using simple and rudimentary techniques. Blocks used for drawing patterns on the f loor have been repurposed to see thru panels that separate open spaces. There is a conscious repetition of elements but in a very organic and uneven way. The paintings of different sizes have been printed and framed first before deciding which walls they belonged to, just as the way one buys paintings for our homes. Mostly the paintings chosen are of classic female painters, although famous among art enthusiasts, are not fairly represented to the masses as opposed to their male contemporaries. Therefore, about half the paintings are works of female artists such as Tamara de Lempicka, Irma Stern, Emily Carr, and Suzanne Valadon. Prianka Ameen, the food consultant for Emerald Bakery, worked closely with Mr Ayeman and the chefs to design and develop the menu. As the cafe business is competitive where they have established The Grove Bistro, Gusto, and Trouvaille, Ms Prianka was tasked with designing a menu that could differentiate “us”. “Studying European and North American cafes and bistros, we came up with our very own twist of a concise, healthy, and diverse menu. Our dishes reflect the comfort and homeliness while strengthening the identity of being both a cafe and bakery,” Mr Sabbir added. The architectural project was led by Inked Studios, a design firm where team members from different fields and expertise work collaboratively to design, develop and execute ideas. Designers who worked on this project from Inked including Zehra (anthropology and literature), Auhona and Navid (Architecture), Redwan (Hospitality Management and Client Servicing), Nashad (Art and Visual Design), Ayeman (Business Administration and Entrepreneurship), Sabbir (Mathematics and User Centered Design) and Zara (Business Administration). The brand line for the bakery and café is the food that syncs. Every project under Inked Studio and Emerald Restaurants has a concept and story behind it. As the venture grows old, it changes but the core concept always remains the same, just as a human. Authored by Rehnuma Tasnim Sheefa
Basking in Rome’s Sun In Dhaka
Residing in a quiet corner in Dhaka’s Gulshan area, one can find a mini-Europe as soon as s/he spots Raffinato. “Raffinato Ristorante Italiano” – just by seeing the name, one can already sense its Italian essence. At the first glance, I noticed a cozy, two-story white house with an L-shaped stairway leading to a small balcony, which gave more of a European home vibe.
You Actually Want to Hang Out in! Brutown’s Got a Funky New Friend: Say Hello to Nervosa.
For those who enjoy café culture, a delightful spot has opened its doors to Dhaka’s vibrant crowd. Nervosa is a cafe located on Siddheswari Road, Dhaka, at the edge of a bustling neighbourhood—just above Brutown, which has long been a favorite in the heart of Bailey Road. Why Nervosa The name, “Nervosa,” is a deliberate nod to the beloved sitcom Frasier, where a fictional coffee shop of the same name served as a backdrop for the characters’ daily lives. Sabeel Rahman, CEO and Proprietor of BruTown and Nervosa, explains his choice with a playful intrigue: “The question of ‘Why Nervosa?’ is what makes it captivating. It draws attention, it’s a memorable name.” Consider Nervosa as the upscale, fancy, artistic neighbor of the popular cafe, BruTown, finding its niche in the community. Behind the Scenes Rehnuma Tasnim Sheefa, the principal architect of Parti.studio elaborates on the design philosophy: “Every design develops from a concept or a vision and if for a restaurant or a cafe, the branding has its influence as well. For Nervosa, that concept was built on strong character and a vibrant color palette, designed to draw a younger crowd into the cafe, as envisioned by the owner. When working in a public realm like cafes, as an architect I also had to focus on the psychological impact a person would have with the colors and the characters.” The color palette evolved gradually. Pale Orange took precedence, aligning with the theme initially, with striking illustrations bringing life to the walls. To make the illustrations stand out, a monochrome backdrop was introduced for the floors, ceilings, and other walls, allowing the boldly patterned and colored furniture to shine truly. The exposed brick on some of the walls adds a touch of urban grit, while the wooden flooring brings warmth and texture; keeping them aligned with the basic pale orange color. The cafe culture in Dhaka thrives on connection. Comfortable seating arrangements encourage heartfelt conversations, from an upcycled plush couch perfect for intimate gatherings to communal tables fostering spontaneous interactions. Nervosa goes a step further with cozy bookshelves stocked with comics and novels, perfect for anyone who wants to settle in with a good read. Instagrammable Spots Several strategically placed elements aim to create visually captivating ‘Instagrammable’ moments. The journey begins at the entry staircase, where a whimsical illustration introduces the cafe’s personality. Upon entering, a prominent neon light sign immediately catches the eye. Inside, a one-of-a-kind waffle mirror greets you at the entrance for your mirror selfies with your friends. Track lights are incorporated here to highlight specific areas, making them ideal for photos. “You will also find the neon lights in different spots around the cafe”, shares Architect Sheefa. The use of neon lights is an interior design trend in restaurants targeting younger crowds, particularly Gen Z. They create a visually appealing and Instagram-worthy atmosphere, making restaurants more attractive to social media-conscious customers, to create a unique and memorable visual experience. illustrations that speak to you To add character to the interiors, the beams and walls are filled with vibrant illustrations. In the beam above the counter, the illustrated characters resemble the target audience of the cafe, and how they interact and behave. Describing the artworks, Mashqurur Sabri, the artist, shares, “Nervosa walls are a burst of young energy and Dhaka madness — messy, loud, and full of heart. The hand-drawn, sketchy art style mixes raw lines with pops of bold, chaotic color — think warm reds, electric yellows, moody teals — capturing the city’s wild rhythm. From buzzing rickshaws to rooftop chill scenes, it’s the city on caffeine — vibrant, warm, and wide awake.” “When I think of Nervosa as perceived by the public, I wish it to be known as the most happening place in Siddeshwari,” says the owner, Sabeel Rahman. The vibrant interior, the playful name, and the strategic use of social media-friendly elements all point to a well-thought-out strategy. Nervosa isn’t just serving coffee; it’s serving an experience. And if the initial buzz is anything to go by, it’s an experience that Dhaka’s café-goers are eager to embrace. Written by Samira Ahsan
Delifrance’s baked items are made with flour from the Grands Moulins de Paris, a major French milling company operating since 1919. The recipes served follow the franchise standards, and the new recipes also get approved by Paris. Hence, the international-quality chefs bring to the table a range of savoury dishes alongside croissants and other finger foods.
