Momo Farouq and Sarika Batra’s romance has unfolded like a story from a novel, culminating in the upcoming opening of Pizzeria Cardamomo in Redwood City this September. However, their journey began far from Redwood City—in Lake Como, Italy.
In 2018, California native Batra visited Italy with a friend and dined at a restaurant where Farouq was also a guest. Batra’s friend struck up a conversation with Farouq, who revealed he was from Morocco and owned Pizzeria Cardamomo.
Batra recalled her friend urging her to meet Farouq, saying, “He’s your age and single. Go put lipstick on.” Despite her initial reluctance, Batra complied. Although they did not share a common language—Farouq speaks Arabic, French, and Italian, while Batra speaks English and Hindi—they managed to stay in touch. Farouq visited Batra in Switzerland, and she returned to Lake Como to meet him. They also spent time together in San Francisco and Baja California. After six months of living together in California, they married and settled in Redwood City.
“Our early communication relied heavily on gestures and Google Translate,” Batra noted. “Now, we can communicate much more easily.”
Following the pandemic, Farouq returned to Lake Como to continue running his pizzeria while managing a long-distance marriage. On April 21, he closed the restaurant after 35 years in operation. Farouq and Batra are now bringing Pizzeria Cardamomo to Redwood City, taking over the former Sushirrito location on Broadway.
Batra described the new restaurant as a “scratch kitchen,” emphasizing that everything is made fresh. Pizzeria Cardamomo will feature a seasonally changing menu of organic, handmade sourdough pizzas. Highlights include inventive options like the Morocco, topped with sausage, dried plums, roasted almonds, and cinnamon, as well as classics like Margherita and regional specialties like Pizza al Tegamino from Turin.
Farouq’s dedication to pizza-making is evident in his meticulous process. “He spends three days making his crust and carefully monitors the yeast temperature,” Batra explained. The Redwood City location will also offer hot appetizers such as octopus with potatoes and olives, bruschetta with fig and goat cheese, and saffron and tomato sauce. A variety of seasonal pasta dishes, Italian wines, and beers will also be available, along with outdoor dining options.
Farouq, who grew up in Morocco cooking with his grandmother, developed a passion for bread-making. At 16, he immigrated to Italy and began working in a restaurant. A chef there mentored him, and Farouq’s skills quickly surpassed expectations. When he was given a chance to cook in place of the chef, his food impressed the owner, and soon, patrons were asking for Farouq by name.
Despite difficulties securing a loan, Farouq opened his pizzeria in Lake Como. He started by leasing a small shop by the day, which quickly gained popularity, with lines forming around the corner due to his established reputation.
For Farouq, pizza-making is more than a business—it’s an art form. “He puts his heart and soul into every dish,” Batra said. “He strives to do the best job possible and is deeply committed to his craft.”