The enticing smells and tasty morsels of Parrella Petite’s baked goods are a familiar presence at festivals, vendor markets, and other area events — and that’s on purpose. Since 2022, co-founders Olivia Parrella and Rob Lacer have turned their mutual love of baking into personal and professional success.
“Getting to talk with people face-to-face, hear their feedback, and watch them enjoy our treats means everything to us,” Parrella says. “We’ve built such a sweet community of regular customers over the years, and getting to know them — and even their families — has been one of the best parts of what we do.”
Customer response is strongest to Parrella Petite’s Best Damn Chocolate Chip Cookies, rosemary focaccia, coffee and cream cookies, and desserts, including bourbon bars, brownies, and seasonal-flavored bars. “Word-of-mouth has honestly been one of the biggest reasons our business has grown,” Parrella says.
The couple has supported their wholesale business by utilizing commercial “ghost kitchens” at establishments like Bad Randy’s Hot Chicken & BBQ Lounge and Entwined Wine & Cocktail Bar. They prepare smaller batches for public events in their home kitchen.
They make 700 bagels a week for Honey Moon Coffee Co.’s four local shops, as well as breakfast sandwiches, bagels, and some gluten-free items for Black Lodge Coffee Roasters in New Harmony, Indiana. Their longest relationship has been with River City Coffee + Goods in Downtown Evansville, providing cookies, bagels, scones, muffins, and fresh caramel that the coffee shop uses in its beverages.
“We stick with other small businesses,” Parrella says. That local sentiment extends to their ingredients, Lacer adds: “We try to source all of our ingredients locally and in season.”
Lacer has spent 17 years in the food industry — including five years baking — and has experience as a sous and head chef. Parrella’s grandfather successfully ran Ray Parrella’s Italian Restaurant for three decades in Jeffersonville, Indiana, where she was raised.
The pair met years ago when they helped open 812 Pizza Company in Georgetown, Indiana, and then worked together in other restaurants such as Cosmos Bistro. The business and romantic partners have comfortably settled into Evansville, where Lacer grew up, attended Central High School, and still has family.
“This has allowed us to quit our jobs and go into business by ourselves,” Lacer says. “It’s a no-brainer.” Adds Parrella, “We’re definitely calling Evansville home, in more than one way.”
