Gave up Harvard dreams for baking; Gopika's 'L'Amour Brownie' is not a piece of cake

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chocolate brownies are the delights that greet visitors to 'L'Amour Bakers' in Gaureeshapattom. It is Gopika who prepares them with love at 'L'Amour', which means 'love' in French. 25-year-old Gopika, who could have had the opportunity to do research at Harvard University, gave it up and entered the world of cakes. Gopika abandoned her plan to pursue a doctorate when she realized that brownies, a baked bar similar to cake but not as popular, had a good chance in Kerala. "If you do what you like with confidence, you will see the results," says Gopika. Brownies are baked in a similar way to cakes, but the amount of chocolate in brownies is higher and the amount of flour is lower. Since baking powder is not used, they do not rise like cakes. Instead of a spongy texture, they feel a little hard when you bite into it.

After completing her degree in English literature at Mar Ivanios, Gopika passed the tough entrance exam of the English and Foreign Languages ​​University (EFL) in Hyderabad on her first attempt. She also received admission memos from central universities including Pune. She did her PG in English literature from EFL. Her thesis was in philosophy. She graduated with distinction in 2022 and thought that she would do a PhD in Buddhism at SOAS University in London. She also had an opportunity at Harvard. She turned to baking in the meantime.

'I love brownies. But I couldn't find a good brownie anywhere in the area. I baked it for myself for the first time...' Gopika said. As the taste clicked with the family and relatives, she became confident. Initially, she did all the tasks from washing the dishes to baking all by herself. She read and studied about the dishes. She did a diploma in baking from IIPC, Bengaluru. After receiving a capital of 15 lakhs for the venture through the PMFME scheme of the Center, Gopika started L'Amour in Gaurishapattam in 2024. Now she employs two people. From children to IPS officers, Gopika's brownies have a huge fan base. She lives near Cosmo Hospital. Her father B.V. Pawanan was the former political editor of Kerala Kaumudi and the press secretary when Ramesh Chennithala was the opposition leader. Her mother Dr. Suma is the principal of Saraswati College. Her sister Parvathy is in Saudi Defense.

Without any adulteration

Gopika prepares her dishes without adding any preservatives. The hours are from 1 pm to 10 pm. Since it operates on the cloud kitchen model, there is no dine-in facility. However, you can buy directly. You can also order online. Swiggy and Zomato will deliver Gopika's brownies. In addition to brownies, she prepares about 30 dishes including cheesecake, ragi cake, tiramisu, and garlic bun.