Gati Cafe localized worldwide flavors with Texas ingredients

On the menu

The concept started as a dessert shop, selling vegan coconut milk ice cream, including Thai coffee and tea flavors, pandan, lavender caramel, toasted coconut chip and black sticky rice horchata. Other cafe desserts include brownies, cookies, banana bread, macaroons, cakes, and other baked goods.

After opening, Sanitchat decided to expand the menu to include an entirely gluten-free brunch and bakery lineup because she had always dreamed of selling breakfast.

Staying local

One of the menu’s key features is its locally and sustainably sourced ingredients. Sanitchat learned about local produce and meat when she sold her food at local farmers markets before opening up her first restaurant. She used to trade leftover food for fresh produce from nearby vendors, slowly adding ingredients from the market into her rotation.

“I started learning how big the U.S. is, how things could travel from far away [and] what common footprint it creates if it has to be shipped from too far away,” Sanitchat said. “So, I started the principle of using all local meats ... [and] vegetables whenever possible.”

The meals and treats at Gati are crafted with plant-based colors and organic sugar, with much of the menu being vegan.

Another pillar of Thai Fresh that Sanitchat brought over to Gati Cafe is the menu prices. Sanitchat chose to price items according to the restaurant's production costs and pay employees a livable wage. The restaurant offers employees paid time off, paid sick leave, insurance and a wage based on the livable wage in Austin, not just in Texas, Sanitchat explained.

“Our mission is people-first,” Sanitchat said. “So, we take care of our employees, we take care of the community, farmers, and ranchers, and then we take care of the customers. We want customers to get the best possible ingredients and products they can, that is good for their health and the environment.”

One more thing

For Gati Cafe fans who are looking for even more desserts, Sanitchat said the brand is looking to expand its wholesale efforts to ship whole cakes and brownies across the country and ship or deliver ice cream locally. The goal, Sanitchat said, is to reach a wider audience, starting with integration into local grocery stores.

• 1512 Holly St., Austin
• www.gatiatx.com