About Us
Karenderya is a casual, community-oriented, Filipino-inspired restaurant based loosely on carinderias, or roadside eateries, found all over the Philippines. Our menu references Filipino cuisine staples combined with modern interpretations of many southeast Asian flavor profiles. We are a family-owned and operated business, and we strive to create a welcoming and relaxed atmosphere where all are welcome.
In 2018, Karenderya was named among Esquire’s “Best New Restaurants in America.”
Photo by Milestone Images
Paolo Garcia Mendoza
Chef/Owner
Paolo grew up in Pasay City, Philippines and then moved to Brooklyn, NY at age 15. As a young child, he would watch cooking shows with his mom. He has been a lifelong fan of eating, and is most passionate about the flavors of Southeast Asia, as well as the cultures that have influenced those cuisines. He has two decades of working experience in the restaurant business.
A graduate of the Institute of Culinary Education (formerly known as Peter Kump’s New York Cooking School), Paolo worked in the kitchens of some of the country’s most well-known chefs and restaurateurs, including Floyd Cardoz and Geoffrey Zakarian. In addition, he gained a great deal of experience in high-end catering, working for Abigail Kirsch. Since moving to Rockland County in 2010, Paolo has gotten to know the local restaurant industry well, having served as Sous Chef and then Executive Chef at Café Barcel in Nyack, and as Sous Chef at Roost in Sparkill.
In 2017, Paolo was finally at the helm of his own kitchen at Karenderya, which was named one of the Best New Restaurants in America, 2018 by Esquire.
In 2023, Chef Paolo was named a Semifinalist for a James Beard Foundation Award in the category of Best Chef: New York State.
Cheryl Baun
Owner
Cheryl has always been passionate about learning about, talking about, and of course, eating food. Having spent almost a decade volunteering for various Filipino community organizations, she is thrilled to have the opportunity to raise awareness about Filipino culture here in Rockland County through food.
Building upon 20+ years working in the non-profit sector, Cheryl finds that her skills in fundraising, relationship building, and donor communications translate well into building a community-based presence for Karenderya. She served as the executive director of the Arts Council of Rockland and currently sits on the board of directors of the Rockland Business Women’s Network.
Cheryl is a graduate of Vassar College and received a Masters in Urban Planning from the Robert F. Wagner School of Public Service at New York University. She also completed the Entrepreneurial Training Program at the Women’s Enterprise Development Center.
In 2022, Cheryl was honored as a “Woman of Leadership and Vision” by the Nyack Center and “Servicewoman of the Year” by the Rockland Business Women’s Network.
Check out how it all started! View our Kickstarter Campaign!
