Bogusia Dhingra – Green journey of food for soul to food for thought.
MOSAIC had the chance to connect with BogusiaDhingra, a Polish woman who has made India her home and married into the Dhingra family which has a valued legacy in confectionery that stands out for its soul-rich patisserie and foods. We visited Alma Bakery and Café
located in sector 104, Noida to meet with its co-founder Bogusia. The name “Alma” is
significant, meaning “soul” in Spanish, encapsulating the café’s ethos: a soulful journey of food nourishing both the body and the spirit.
The legacy of care
From Confectionery to Café Bogusia’s journey to Alma Bakery and Café began long before she set up this café and opened its doors. Having married into a family with a strong legacy in confectionery and hospitality, her passion was nurtured through years of experience in PR, marketing, and the food industry. Bogusia formerly worked at the embassy and later transitioned to joining the family pursuits. This rich background has been the foundation for Alma Bakery and Café, now six years old. While Alma draws on family traditions, Bogusia is proud of the unique stamp she has brought to the café. From the start, her vision for the café has been deeply rooted in sustainability—an attitude that influences everything, from sourcing ingredients to waste management. Bogusia quotes, ‘Alma is a café that goes beyond providing good food, it is about creating a comfort and inviting space where sustainability can be both practised and demonstrated”.
Building a sustainable kitchen
When asked how she ensures sustainable practices in her kitchen, she tells us, firstly we have established SOPs for our kitchen and also our staff is experienced and well-trained, so most of the sustainable work is already incorporated into their routine. It is only challenging when new staff comes in and we have to train them on the work environment here that accounts for everything from managing wastage to responsible consumption of food and water. But, once staff gets settled then it is just part of their daily work. One of the key principles Bogusia has implemented is composting. “One wrong step can alter the entire composting process,” she says, emphasizing the importance of doing it correctly to avoid attracting flies and bad odours. The café had also partnered with an NGO to recycle plastic waste and to take care of kitchen waste, adding to its comprehensive waste management strategy. Water conservation is another crucial aspect of their operations. Bogusia recounts how she discovered that around 65% of the water from water filters is wasted. Rather than
letting it go to waste, she connected the rejected water for use in washrooms and to water the plants, an example of how even small steps can make a big difference.
Sourcing local, thinking global
MOSAIC discovered that sustainability at Alma Bakery and Café extends beyond the kitchen, Bogusia is committed to sourcing ingredients locally, preferring farm-fresh produce from nearby vendors. “It’s about meeting local suppliers and knowing where our ingredients come from,” she says. Organic vegetables, hydroponic herbs, and seasonal ingredients are staples in their kitchen. However, she admits that the journey to becoming fully sustainable is ongoing. “We’re not entirely there yet, but every step counts.” One unique feature of Alma’s menu is the manner in which it incorporates local alternatives without compromising on taste. For example, instead of importing ‘Arborio’ risotto rice from Italy, Bogusia sources a local variety from the northeast of India that offers a similar texture. This adaptability is key to ensuring the café’s economic and environmental sustainability while also, supporting local farmers and producers.
She shares that “We have long switched to using imported flour or cheese, India has great alternatives to authentic ingredients which our Italian menu demands. There is a couple that creates a wonderful variety of cheeses in Uttarakhand and of high quality too, so we source our cheese from them. The same is with vegetables and dessert ingredients”.
Green design & vibes
The design of Alma Bakery and Café is a reflection of Bogusia’s deep respect for nature. Working closely with the interior designer, she ensured that plants would play a crucial role in the design of the café. She shares, “I wanted the design to be centred around the plants and not otherwise, and so if you look around from our green wall to the floating green deck the space is designed visually using the green and the calm of our plants”. Not only do the plants add to the aesthetics, but they also serve a functional purpose, a space where the temperature is largely regulated, and the air is purified by the plants that surround it. She also shares that plants require a lot of care and maintenance, in the past too especially during the pandemic a lot of her plants suffered because of the lack of fresh air for the doors were shut and the café was not operational, despite the situation, she used to travel from Delhi to water her plants and give them fresh air. She knows plants cost a lot but they are a great investment, especially when customers come and enjoy a lovely peaceful time there.
Community engagement
Alma Bakery and Café is more than just a place to grab a cup of coffee or a bite to eat. It’s a community space, a hub for people to connect, share stories, and enjoy meaningful conversations. Bogusia has created an environment where people quickly become friends, exchanging numbers over a cup of coffee. One of the ways Bogusia fosters this sense of community is through events like National Pierogi Day on October 8th, where patrons can enjoy traditional Polish dishes and workshops. The café also hosted small markets featuring sustainable small brands and home entrepreneurs, giving them a platform to showcase their products and also a space for people to network over good food. In this way, Alma Bakery and Café not only promotes sustainability but also supports local artisans and small businesses.