Pastry chef Ricky Saucedo will bring panadería and cafe Lala to 165 North Perry St. in Lawrenceville Square in early February.
Saucedo told What Now Atlanta that Lala is a way for him to reconnect with his reason for being a pastry chef after working for multiple restaurant groups. Saucedo previously worked in classical music before making the jump to hospitality.
“The concept brought me back to the reason why I chose to switch careers,” Saucedo said. “Being back in the kitchen brought me closer to my maternal side of the family that I was always super close with, and growing up, everything was centered around the kitchen. So I really tried to incorporate a lot of memories in the design and the flavors in the pastries.”
The 2,700-square-foot space will feature unique design touches such as an outdoor mural that will pay homage to family members who have passed away. There will also be touches of Los Angeles culture throughout Lala.
The all-day bakery and cafe will feature coffee, conchas and different flavors of cinnamon rolls, which will feel familiar to anyone who has been to the Lala pop-up around Atlanta.
In the evening, the spot will offer cocktails, as well. Saucedo has partnered with Jose Pereiro of MidCity to consult on the cocktail program. It will be designed for pairings with Saucedo’s desserts, such as chocolate teacups, cajeta and other Latin-inspired sweets.
Saucedo also plans to bring focaccia pizzas to the menu, which he has been experimenting with at his pop-ups.
Saucedo already has expansion plans on the horizon. He is scouting locations in Atlanta for a second opening, with plans to open there in May. Eventually, Saucedo hopes to expand to additional cities such as Asheville.
