This is a tale of friendship, food and design that have melded to form Bolla. Words by Jamie Crocker
Just a stone’s throw from the harbour along Fore Street in Porthleven, Cornwall’s most southerly working port, an unexpected slice of Parisian bistro culture has taken root. Bolla, a wine bar and eatery that opened its doors in July 2024, represents more than just another addition to Cornwall’s flourishing food scene – it’s the culmination of two creative journeys that converged in the most serendipitous of ways. This establishment, which blends the chic sophistication of considered continental dining with the warmth of Cornish hospitality, emerged from a friendship between two women whose paths to Porthleven could not have been more different.
ABOVE: Jaime and Luci
The story begins with Jaime, a chef whose culinary journey spans continents and whose philosophy was forged in the crucible of fine dining kitchens across London. Her introduction to the world of hospitality came remarkably early – at age 11 – in an era when such things were still possible. This early exposure to professional kitchens laid the foundation for what would become a lifelong passion for food and flavour.
During her college and university years, Jaime balanced her studies with work as head cook at a recording studio café in East London, an experience that taught her the art of managing a professional kitchen while maintaining creative output. Her subsequent career took her through some of London’s most prestigious fine dining establishments, each position adding layers to her culinary expertise.
But it was her four-year sojourn in India that truly transformed her approach to cooking. “My approach is about taking very little and getting the most out of it,” Jaime explains, describing her culinary philosophy. “When you understand spices, you begin to see infinite possibilities in even the simplest ingredients. Take a beetroot – suddenly it becomes a canvas for exploration.” This time in India wasn’t just about learning recipes; it was about understanding the fundamental principles of flavour combinations and the transformative power of spices.
While Jaime was building her reputation in London’s culinary scene, including a stint as head chef at the prestigious Wellington Club in Knightsbridge, Luci was developing her artistic voice on the other side of the world. Her journey began in West Sussex, where her childhood bedroom walls were plastered with drawings – an early indication of her creative spirit. Initially drawn to fashion design, a pivotal moment at a London university open day led her to reconsider her path.
It was in Sydney, Australia, where Luci’s true creative direction emerged. A graphic design course became the catalyst for her artistic evolution, introducing her to layout, typography, and the technical tools that would later prove crucial in creating Bolla’s visual identity. “When I encountered Adobe InDesign, everything clicked,” Luci recalls. “I knew exactly which direction I wanted to take my career.”
Returning to England in 2012, Luci chose Brighton as her base, combining her visual merchandising experience at Ted Baker with growing opportunities in graphic design. Her role at What’s Happening in Brighton magazine provided valuable experience in layout and coordination, while freelance work allowed her to develop her distinctive style and work with independent and established businesses for a variety of design work from branding to illustration.
The inspiration for Bolla crystallised during Jaime’s years of chaperoning culinary students in Paris through the Erasmus+ program. “I developed a serious love affair with Paris,” she recalls. “What captivated me was how one establishment could seamlessly transition from serious coffee service to lunch to dinner, with knowledgeable staff who cared deeply about both food and wine. Nothing was stuffy – you could smoke a cigarette, sip Gamay, and watch the world go by, or savour a perfectly executed steak tartare.”
This Parisian influence would later become crucial in shaping Bolla’s identity, but first, Jaime’s journey would take several more turns. After having children, she transitioned to freelance catering in London before accepting a position at Truro & Penwith College, where she spent a decade running the college restaurant, Senara. It was here that her passion for wine began to develop – she took her Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) awards and is starting her L4 diploma later in the year.
The COVID-19 pandemic proved to be a catalyst for both women. For Jaime, it led to the creation of Poké Food, a collaboration with her personal trainer friend Serene, providing nutritionally balanced meals for clients maintaining their fitness routines during lockdown. For Luci, furlough from her design position became an unexpected creative opportunity.
“During lockdown, I filled four sketchbooks,” Luci remembers. “It was a time to experiment with different styles, to find my voice without pressure. There’s something freeing about sketching – it’s less restrictive, more spontaneous.” This period of creative exploration led to online art sales and eventually influenced her decision not to return to her previous employment.
Their paths eventually converged at Porthleven’s Shipyard Market, where Luci had secured a stall selling her prints, cards and bags after relocating to Cornwall in 2021. Jaime’s Poké Food, which had outgrown its home-based origins, also found a home in the market. What began as a vendor friendship soon blossomed into a creative partnership that would transform both their trajectories.
When their current location became available, Jaime envisioned creating more than just a restaurant – she wanted to establish a community hub where solo female diners could feel comfortable with a book and a glass of wine, where families could gather for boisterous celebrations, and where the lines between coffee house, wine bar and bistro would blur into something uniquely welcoming.
The design process began in Jaime’s kitchen, where she and Luci brainstormed over wine and sketches. The name “Bolla” – Cornish for “bowl” but with an Italian lilt – emerged organically, and Luci sketched the logo then and there. “Jaime gave me free rein with just one requirement: dusty pink,” Luci remembers. “The trust between us made the creative process incredibly fluid.”
Luci’s background in visual merchandising, combined with her experience in brand development, proved invaluable in creating Bolla’s distinctive atmosphere. The interior design draws from both women’s travels, creating a space that feels both international and intimately local. During renovation, they discovered original floor tiles that became a central feature of the design, adding an element of historical authenticity to their contemporary vision.
“We wanted customers to feel they’d had an experience while dining at Bolla,” Luci explains. Her approach combined retail, art and graphic design principles to create an environment that enhances the dining experience without overwhelming it. The space reflects both women’s belief that good design, like good food, should be accessible without sacrificing sophistication. The menu reflects Jaime’s extensive wine knowledge and her talent for creating what Luci describes as “relaxed food done really well.” Small plates showcase Jaime’s gift for extracting maximum flavour from carefully chosen ingredients, while the wine selection benefits from her ability to guide customers toward perfect pairings.
This approach to food and wine is deeply rooted in Jaime’s Italian-English heritage and her years of culinary exploration. “Food was always a huge deal in my family,” she notes. “It’s about taking simple ingredients and elevating them through understanding and technique.” This philosophy aligns perfectly with Bolla’s ethos of accessible sophistication.
Since opening, Bolla has quickly become exactly what its creators envisioned: a neighbourhood local with international flair. It’s a place where conversations flow as freely as the wine, where solo diners feel as welcome as large groups and where the boundaries between café, wine bar and restaurant dissolve into something uniquely welcoming – a space where the vision of two creative forces has combined to create something greater than the sum of its parts.
Regular events, from wine tastings to special dining experiences, have helped build a community around Bolla. “We wanted to create a place where people could come together, where food and wine could be appreciated without pretension,” Jaime explains. This vision has resonated with locals and visitors alike, making Bolla a destination for those seeking both culinary excellence and comfortable conviviality.
Bolla represents a remarkable synthesis of culinary expertise and design sensibility, but perhaps more importantly, it embodies the power of creative collaboration between two women at the height of their respective crafts. The space they’ve created serves as both a testament to their friendship and a gift to their community – a place where the sophisticated meets the comfortable, where design enhances dining, and where everyone is welcome to linger over a glass of wine or a perfectly crafted coffee.
As Bolla continues to evolve, both Jaime and Luci remain committed to their original vision while staying open to new possibilities. “This is just the beginning,” Jaime says, while Luci nods in agreement. “We’re excited to see how Bolla will grow and change while staying true to its core values of quality, community, and creative collaboration.”