Paulena’s Bakery has found success at Fulham Farmers’ Market, giving the founder freedom and the opportunity to pursue her dreams.
Serena Kohar, 31, founded Paulena’s bakery in April 2025 in order to honour her ‘Oma’ – Indonesian for grandmother – Polina, who was a matriarchal chef and ran her own bakery in Indonesia for more than 30 years, but sadly passed away in December 2024.
Kohar decided to keep her legacy and memory alive by naming her bakery Paulena’s, which also a portmanteau of her name and her husband’s, Paul Kho.
Kohar said: “Oma taught me how to bake, and I taught her how to use WhatsApp and emojis.”
Paulena’s Bakery is quite the juxtaposition to Kohar’s day-job as a senior consultant and user researcher, and she plans to go on sabbatical for a few months to focus on growing the business.
Kohar said: “Being an entrepreneur and business owner has been quite intense, but I have found it a very fulfilling journey so far.
“Trading at a farmer’s market is the easiest and most simple way to meet and engage with new and old customers.
“Sometimes you have good days, sometimes you have bad days, but you have to keep showing up because your audience will still be there.”
Paulena’s bakery started with wedding and birthday orders in April and started trading at Brook Green Market and Fulham Farmers’ Market in june.
Serena runs the microbakery with the assistance of her husband.
She said: “[Working with Paul] I have someone I can really rely on and completely trust.
“He is a big chef at home, so I always have someone who can test my new recipes.
“Oma loved Paul and always said how lucky I was to find a man who cooks for me the way he does, and I 100% agree.”
Fulham Farmers’ Market was created by Push Dhawan, who organises the market and got it off the ground for what he admits is the selfish reason of really liking good food.
Dhawan said: “I really like spending my time in the community, and it’s about bringing people that are alike in the food world together and see what amazing things we can create.
“Also, importantly, it’s about eating in the right way, so knowing where our produce comes from, buying direct from the farmer you can make an informed decision as to how they’ve grown the produce, and I think that’s why farmers’ markets are so great.
“At a farmer’s market you get a lot more variety, you get specialised things you won’t get from a supermarket that are much fresher, high in nutrients, high in vitamins.
“Markets are great for when you’re planning a big cookout or you want to try cooking something new, you know you’re going to get some of the best produce.”
Push runs various markets across London, with a new market opening in Highbury on 12 July, with aims to open another market in Leyton this year.
Fulham Farmers’ Market also contains other homemade food and goods such as The French Comte, Panela bakery, Bread and Macaroon, Chopaholics, and The Olive Tree.
Fulham Farmers’ Market runs every Sunday from 10am-3pm.
Featured image: Melvin Boateng
