How SEVVA started: Hong Kong’s ‘Queen of Cakes’ Bonnae Gokson savours the sweet taste of success
Bonnae Gokson has seen her flagship restaurant, SEVVA, Ms B’s Cakery shops and C’est La B cafe-bar go from strength to strength
SEVVA, pronounced “savour” - meaning to experience the full taste or flavour of something - is inspired by the word “seva” in Sanskrit, meaning “to serve from the heart”, and that is exactly what she does.
When opening the restaurant in 2008, Gokson wanted to reflect the city’s multinational food through her upbringing in Hong Kong and also her travels. “Hong Kong is cosmopolitan, multinational, where there is not just Chinese food or Italian food or whatever, but a great mélange of cuisines.”
I have always been a foodie and my dad always told me I was supposed to be a twin ... I don’t look like a twin, but I eat like a twin
SEVVA’s menu includes traditional regional Chinese fare alongside Western and fine European dining. “Most of our dishes come from recipes from aunts and grandmas,” says Gokson, who is known for her incredible style and pursuit for perfection, whether it be in her designs or dishes.
Watch: Bonnae Gokson is optimistic about the future of Hong Kong:
Starting off in the fashion industry, she created the look for the stores of Joyce Boutique Group, founded by her sister Joyce Ma. Gokson was initiated into the food and beverage industry when her sister’s fashion empire opened Joyce Café. “My first encounter with food was within our fashion stores,” Gokson says. “My sister decided to open a small cafe because we worked with Italy so much and she had vineyards there, and Italy has the best quality food.
“I have always been a foodie and my dad always told me I was supposed to be a twin ... I don’t look like a twin, but I eat like a twin,” she jokes.
