Layla’s Kuhinja

Traditional Bosnian Cuisine by Chef Sanela

Sanela grew up in a strong food culture and has been cooking since she was six years old. Raised on a farm, she helped her family cultivate fruits and vegetables and the family would press ciders by hand each year. As a child, she has fond memories of preparing homemade Bosnian pita with her mother, and of her father’s encouragement and praise for her cooking.  Every fall, the entire community harvested plums, apples and pears and would cook jams outside in large vats over an open fire; the whole village smelled like fresh jam.

These memories and traditions shape her cooking today. Sanela specializes in authentic Bosnia Cuisine made with natural ingredients, and a lot of love. Sanela sees food and cooking as an art, deeply rooted in ancient knowledges and traditions of the land – from the Illyrian peoples and through the Roman and Ottoman empires.

Sanela’s goal is to one day open a storefront of her own that can bring a taste of Bosnia to the Bay, which became her home when she arrived as a refugee in 1998.

She looks forward to introducing and serving fresh baked burek, savory cevapi and other classic Bosnian dishes in a way that brings community together.

Follow and Support Sanela:

• Instagram: @laylaskuhinja