Casa came about more by accident rather than design. I’d bought a Coffee Roaster from a chap I met in a pub. We all know how that can happen. It sat around for a couple of years. The breakthrough came when I read in the Sunday Times Business section that a new business model called Handpicked Hall was being created in the Grand Arcade, in Leeds city centre, whereby you could turn up, set up shop, pay by the day or week, and sell your wares. All without signing any kind of contract!
Count us in please. And Casa Colombiana was born, at least the coffee roasting bit.
Handpicked Hall rekindled interest in the Grand Arcade which had hitherto been derelict for some 7 years. But as a concept it lasted just 10 months, after which landlords invited those businesses that had shown promise to move into other premises. My wife Marta and I settled in at no 6, adding food to our Coffee offer, then live music and dance a year later, to complete the full authentic Latin Experience.
Post Covid, Casa Colombiana became Casa Leeds. By now we’d discovered that ALL our great tasting, delicious food had always been Gluten Free, due to the exclusive use of maize flour and cassava flour in Latin American cuisine. Because of this, more and more Coeliac sufferers and gluten intolerant diners found their way to us. To be honest, we had absolutely no idea that this was even an issue.
We now know just how big a thing Gluten Free dining is. Here are a couple of snippets of what customers are saying:
“Wow what a fantastic experience!! We found Casa whilst on a flying visit to Leeds, and what a find. They put so much love into the food, service and ambiance and best of all, it’s totally coeliac safe. Probably the best dinner I have eaten out since diagnosis 9 years ago. Thanks so much, we loved it.” (Lara Rutherford).
“If you are gluten free you will love ❤️ this place. I did all the food is gf and it's tasty. Have been back, still great, with exceptional hosts. Love this place” (Rob said).
We’ve had people here literally in tears as they ate churros for the first time in a decade. An elderly lady in her late eighties had tears in her eyes as she thanked us for helping her feel like a normal human being again. The reason? She‘d been able to sit in our restaurant and choose anything she wanted from a standard menu, without fear of cross contamination, the first time this had happened in some 25 years as a Coeliac sufferer! Crazy that, isn’t it?
But if you’re just a lover of good food, Casa is for you too:
“Such incredible food - we ate more than the recommended amount because we just couldn’t get enough!! Everything was delicious (as pictured). And the service was brilliant, it felt like being at someone’s home. The staff were friendly, and warm and attentive. David (the owner) made us laugh and was telling us stories and was kind and welcoming! We don’t live in Leeds, but we will be back, because this place is worth the trip!”(so said Jenny Samuels).
”What a very lovely dinner this was! Met at the door by David, who I think is just about the most charming host I've ever had the good fortune to encounter. Several rounds of excellent service, cocktails and delicious food later we waddled our way out very content indeed. Highly recommended :)” (Dale Johnson).
Why then are we here, I hear you ask. The restaurant at Casa is what we really love. No one expected us to last a year, least of all us, but we‘re still here 10 years later. Yes, we’ve just celebrated our 10th anniversary in this tough industry. Tiny single site independents in a sea of chains! We are here because Casa currently only has only 30 covers. We regularly have to turn guests away due to lack of seating. A bigger place on one level would enable us to do so much more. We could welcome more guests, spread so much more happiness. The food we serve, the ambience we serve it in, the love with which we do all this is not lost on our guests. It has got so we even almost think of our business as a social enterprise.
And you, by being one of our crowdfunders, you would be participating in this. Any money raised will go towards expanding the existing restaurant to grow capacity, or moving to new premises altogether. Our chefs long for a proper commercial kitchen where they'd be able to let their creative juices flow. Join us, Marta and I, and be part of what we hope will be an exhilarating next decade!