For Melisa Fernandes, baking began with a simple wish: to make a cake by herself. Today, the young woman from Nagoa, Bardez, is the owner and head pastry chef of Gharakodden, a patisserie built on years of learning, a willingness to take risks, and the belief that good food is always made with love.
A B.Com graduate, Melisa has always been drawn to creative pursuits, including crafts and singing. Baking, however, was the passion that eventually became her profession.
The first steps
In 2019, she attended a one-day baking course at Foodybreaks, now known as Ecole Patisserie, where she learnt to bake and decorate birthday cakes. It was an experience she remembers fondly. “The best part was that I got to take all four cakes home!” she recalls.
The course gave her the confidence to explore baking further. In 2020, while still in college, she began baking for friends and gradually started accepting home orders. After graduation, she pursued a Diploma in Pâtisserie affiliated with City & Guilds, UK, to strengthen her technical knowledge.
In 2022, she entered the hotel industry, interning at Goa Marriott Resort & Spa before continuing to work there while managing her home-baking orders. Her journey later took her to The Ritz-Carlton, Abu Dhabi, followed by Conrad Dubai by Hilton.
Working in professional kitchens helped her refine her techniques and understand the discipline behind creating quality desserts. Yet, throughout her journey, one ambition remained unchanged. “Owning my own cake shop had always been my dream. While working in Dubai, I felt it was the right time to take that leap of faith,” she says.
She also participated in the wedding cake competition at Salon du Chocolat in Dubai, an experience that allowed her to explore the artistic side of pastry-making. Eventually, she returned to Goa and began running Gharakodden full-time in October 2025.
Building the business
Starting her own business brought a different set of challenges. Setting up a workspace and arranging funds were among the initial hurdles. Even now, frequent power cuts in her area can disrupt her baking schedule, making an already demanding job more difficult.
But building Gharakodden has also taught her patience and perseverance. From balancing college and baking orders to managing the business independently, Melisa has learnt to navigate the realities of turning a passion into a livelihood.
A taste of home
The name Gharakodden, which means “at home” in Konkani, reflects the feeling she wants her brand to evoke. “To me, it is more than just a name. It’s a feeling,” she says. “As a Goan, it represents the warmth, comfort and love associated with home, especially the food prepared with love.”
She added La Pâtisserie de Melisa to help customers understand that Gharakodden specialises in cakes and desserts while retaining its connection to Goan roots.
That personal connection is matched by a strong focus on ingredients and technique. Chocolate remains one of her favourite ingredients and her chocolate cakes are popular with customers. She enjoys pairing dark chocolate with coffee, rum and fruit, while imported Belgian chocolate is available for orders based on clients’ preferences. She also prefers real butter to margarine, believing it adds richness and flavour to her cakes.
Beyond the design
For Melisa, a dessert must offer more than an attractive appearance. Custom cakes require careful planning, time, technical skill and attention to detail, all of which contribute to the final product.
“One common misconception is that when people order a 1 kg or 2 kg customised cake, they are paying only for its weight. They often don't realise the time, effort, planning and skill that go into creating it,” she explains. She wants customers to appreciate the craftsmanship behind every order, with taste carrying as much importance as design.
Growing recognition
Gharakodden has grown largely through word of mouth and returning customers. In June this year, the patisserie introduced the viral London Cake, which brought it wider recognition. Melisa believes they were the first to launch it in Goa and says they sold more than 300 slices.
Stalls at different events have helped her reach new customers, while winning first place at the All Goa Wedding Cake Competition in August marked another significant milestone.
Alongside running the business, Melisa conducts hands-on baking workshops for aspiring bakers. Teaching allows her to share the techniques she learnt through professional training and hotel experience. “I enjoy interacting with people, sharing what I know, and seeing them learn something new,” she says.
Looking ahead
Melisa hopes to establish Gharakodden as a recognised brand in Goa, known for its quality products, designer cakes and distinctive desserts. Her vision also includes creating dessert counters that are as appealing to look at as they are to eat.
She acknowledges that there is still much to accomplish. “I believe we are just getting started, and there is still a long way to go,” she says. “For me, there is no final goal; there is always room to learn, improve, and do better.”
