MEET THE TEAM
Credit: Ajane Farrar
PETRUSHKA BAZIN LARSEN, PRESIDENT & CEO/CO-OWNER
Prior to opening Sugar Hill Creamery with her husband, Petrushka worked as Vice President for Programs & Education at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum and Program Director at the Laundromat Project, a non-profit organization committed to building resilient neighborhoods using art, art making, and culture as platforms for meaningful exchanges between New York residents. In her spare time, she guest curates exhibitions at Sugar Hill Children’s Museum of Art and Storytelling; is an Adjunct Lecturer in Art Education at the City College of New York; and serves the Harlem-based non-profit Harlem4Kids as a Board Member. She is the proud mom to three children ages eight and under, and has been a Harlem resident for 20years.
Credit: StarChefs
NICK LARSEN, CHIEF CREATIVE OFFICER/CO-OWNER
After attending the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota, Nick moved to New York City to pursue a career as a stand-up comedian. For five years, Nick supported himself by waiting tables while, “being funny, just not that funny.” Finished with showbiz types, Nick graduated from the International Culinary Center and began his ascension through some of New York City’s finest dining establishments. He worked for David Bouley’s flagship restaurant as Maitre D’Hotel, and then joined Blue Hill as Service Director under Dan Barber. Nick became the General Manager of the highly-regarded restaurant Telepan. There he led a team of 40 employees including front of house and kitchen staff while overseeing the restaurant’s daily operations. He is currently head of acquisitions for the procurement of ice cream and confections for his three children ages 6, 8, and 12.
Bianca Balkaran, Public Programs Coordinator
Bianca Balkaran is a recent graduate of The City College of New York where she majored in Environmental Earth Systems Science and minored in Black Studies. During her time at CCNY she took a course, led by Petrushka, in which she learned how she can combine her value of community, unceasing passion for the arts, as well as her skills in research, organization, and planning. She hopes to be a part of building connections between people and the Harlem community.
EVI ABELER, PHOTOGRAPHER
New York City-based food and product photographer Evi Abeler helps clients in the culinary, lifestyle, and travel world to communicate the love, passion and craft that go into every project through simple, elegant imagery. In addition to her commercial work, she offers photography training and runs the Food Print Shop. Her clients include Food & Wine Magazine, Starwood Hotels & Resorts and Whole Foods Market