Demetrius Gonsalves hopes to make every celebration and everyday
indulgence a little sweeter with his handcrafted treats
VINIKA VISWAMBHARAN
NT BUZZ
Every batch that leaves Demetrius Gonsalves’ kitchen carries a simple intention: to make someone smile. It is an idea that lies at the heart of Deme Bakes, the Ribandar-based home bakery where brownies, cookies, and cakes are crafted not just as desserts, but as part of life’s celebrations, gatherings, and
cherished moments.
“My love for baking started early,” says Gonsalves. “I spent a lot of time in the kitchen with my mother, baking for my family. I loved seeing how simple ingredients could turn into something that made people smile.”
That early fascination eventually grew into something much bigger. Over time, Gonsalves realised that baking was not only about creating delicious treats. “I realised how much joy a brownie, cookie or cake could bring to someone’s day,” he says. “I started Deme Bakes to turn that passion into a way to share warmth, creativity and comfort with my community in Goa. Every item I bake is made with care, quality ingredients, and the intention of creating memorable moments.”
Like many small businesses, Deme Bakes began with encouragement from those closest to him. “I was baking regularly for friends and family, and everyone kept saying, ‘You should sell these!’ At first, it was just a thought, but I started experimenting with recipes, testing what people loved most, and getting honest feedback,” he says.
What emerged was a clear vision: a small, heartfelt bakery offering fresh, homemade treats prepared with care from his home kitchen. Today, his menu includes brownies, jaggery brownies, New York-style cookies, brookies, honey nut crunch cookies, date walnut cookies, and cakes in a variety
of flavours.
While baked goods may be the foundation of the business, relationships are at the centre of what Gonsalves hopes to create. “I don’t want customers to feel like customers,” he says. “I’m building Deme Bakes as a family, and I want everyone who orders to feel like
they belong.”
That philosophy influences every aspect of his work. Rather than chasing large-scale production, he focuses on personal connections and handcrafted quality. “Every bake is made with the same warmth, care and intention you’d get from family at home,” he says. “I’m building this for strangers meeting for the first time, family gatherings and friends getting together after a long time. I hope my baked goods become part of
meaningful memories.”
Goa has played an important role in shaping the brand, with Gonsalves handcrafting every bake in his home kitchen and incorporating local ingredients such as coconut jaggery into his recipes.
Running a home bakery, however, comes with its own challenges. Among the biggest has been finding the right balance between affordability and sustainability. “Figuring out fair pricing that covers costs while staying accessible has been difficult,” he admits. “Building trust and visibility as a new home bakery in a very competitive market has also been
a challenge.”
Despite those hurdles, there have been moments that have reaffirmed his decision to take the leap. “One moment that made it all worthwhile was when a customer messaged me saying that everyone, including their child, loved the cake and brownies at a birthday celebration,” he says. “Reading messages like that made me realise I wasn’t just baking,” he says. “I was creating memories and becoming part of precious moments in people’s lives.” On other occasions, what has stayed with him is simply seeing the smiles on people’s faces when he delivers a fresh batch of brownies. Those interactions remind him of the deeper purpose behind his work.
Looking ahead, Gonsalves measures success differently from many business owners. “Success is when every bake I make brings genuine joy,” he says. “Whether it’s someone’s morning coffee treat, a birthday cake or a celebration, that’s
what matters.”
According to him, true success also means preserving the values that inspired the venture in the first place. “If I can make a sustainable living doing what I love, while maintaining the quality, care and warmth that make Deme Bakes special, that’s success,” he says. “If I can wake up every day excited to bake and know my customers are happy, then I’ve achieved what I set out to do.”
