Sol sister
PREEMA SARKAR • Solterra Tribe
WORK • Wednesday Routine
PREEMA SARKAR • founder • Solterra Tribe
Neighborhood you work in: Alamo Square
It’s Wednesday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
My workspace is a mix of cozy home office and tiny lab, and I’m usually bouncing between stirring ingredients and typing on my laptop. This morning, I’ve got a pot of edible beeswax melting on the stove as I prepare a fresh batch of Solterra lip balms to fill orders from earlier in the week. The whole place smells like honey and ghee, not a bad background for answering emails!
What’s on the agenda for today?
As a scientist by training, I’m great with facts and data, but let’s be honest: not exactly the most thrilling Instagram content. So I’m figuring out a fun, creative way to share our mission in a quick, scroll-stopping way.
Any restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
My husband and I are actually celebrating our six-month wedding anniversary this week, which I know sounds a little funny, but when you’re working on a startup 24/7, you need to embrace every mini-milestone. We’re treating ourselves to dinner at our favorite spot, Delfina, in the Mission. I’m already dreaming about digging into their famous spaghetti pomodoro and a good glass of wine.
How about a little leisure or culture?
I’m heading to Ontario soon to spend time with my mom, who recently moved to the City Centre neighbourhood in Mississauga. I’m so proud of her for pushing forward and starting fresh after my dad passed away. During my visit, we plan to cook together, take walks and explore her new surroundings. We’ll enjoy a South‑Indian vegetarian breakfast at Udupi Madras Cafe. The chefs there serve more than 60 varieties of dosas and classics like idli, medu vada and thalis. We’ll also grab coffee and Timbits from Tim Hortons, a Canadian childhood favorite.
Any weekend getaways?
Recently, a few friends and I turned a comedy show into a mini weekend getaway. We drove up to Sonoma County to catch Jimmy O. Yang’s stand-up show at the Graton Resort & Casino in Rohnert Park. The next day, we had dinner at Ca’ Bianca in Santa Rosa, an Italian spot in a warm Victorian home where the house-made pasta and bread stole the show. The following morning, we grabbed breakfast at Hank’s Creekside Restaurant, a cozy family-run restaurant that’s a local favorite.
What was your last great vacation?
My last big vacation was a month-long adventure through Europe, where we managed to visit 15 different cities. One highlight was visiting Casa Maria Luigia (chef Massimo Bottura’s inn) in Modena, Italy, to learn how traditional balsamic vinegar is made. We also toured a Parmigiano-Reggiano dairy factory in Parma and even visited a family-run chocolate factory in Belgium.
What’s a recent big-ticket purchase you love?
I recently splurged on a handmade Swiss watch from Speake-Marin, an independent watchmaker I’ve admired for a while.
What store or service do you always recommend?
I always tell people about Rainbow Grocery in the Mission. It’s a fantastic worker-owned grocery store, where you can find all kinds of organic and bulk ingredients.
Where are you donating your time or money?
I support Cool Earth, a climate-action charity that partners with Indigenous peoples to protect rainforests. Whether it’s direct kindness on the street or backing grassroots projects, I truly believe small acts of empathy can ripple outward.