- Jeffrey Lamont Brown
- Nov 20, 2025
Pre-orders for pickups through Wednesday November 26 are open now! Whether you are planning for an array of hot-from-the-oven pastries to serve to your houseguests at breakfast, or our Wild Sourdough for Thanksgiving dinner, we are always humbled when guests choose to serve IZOLA at their table.
HOLIDAY HOURS:
We will be open every day 7a-2p
Closed Thanksgiving Day
Back open on Black Friday, 7a-2p
If you want to skip the rush on Wednesday, come on by any time before next week and our croissants and sourdough freeze wonderfully. Each box has reheating instructions on the side so that you can serve fresh, hot-from-the-oven croissants and sourdough on Thanksgiving Day.
THE IZOLA FAM BLOWS US AWAY, YET AGAIN!
Last week we shared that one of our workforce partners, Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO), was struggling to provide participants in their programs with a turkey for Thanksgiving due to severe funding shortages.
Thanks to the compassion of the IZOLA family, we've raised more than twice our goal! Forty families here in San Diego will now have a turkey at their Thanksgiving dinner table — because of you.
While Jenny and I weren't surprised that this community showed up in such a big way, it still gets us emotional to see the generosity come pouring in. Each and every day, Jenny and I get the honor of working alongside team members who have faced enormous challenges — people who have made life-altering mistakes, taken accountability, and now show up with their whole hearts at IZOLA, choosing new paths and better days.
Knowing that we were able to support 40 families of formerly incarcerated people, helping them feel the strength and warmth of this community behind them — it fills us with so much joy. As a team member recently shared with us when describing his work at IZOLA - it fills our cup.
THANK YOU.
NEW COMBOS AND DRINKS
New combo alert! Grab a Carnitas Croissant and pair it with a cold Boomtown Mexican-Style Lager — and get a little discount while you’re at it. Lunch just got way more fun.
In addition to the new Boomtown Lager, we've added also added Scarpetta Frico Sparkling White Wine in a can and Jenny's favorite, Hakutsuru Junmai Sake in the cutest glass cup that you get to keep.
SATURDAY LIVE MUSIC
Come enjoy our local San Diego talent every Saturday from 8a-1p.
JOHN AND EILEEN SCHNARR
8-9a
John and Eileen have been married for 52 years and counting. Since 1981 John has written over 200 songs. Having both survived life threatening illnesses just months apart they have come out from under that experience, and joyfully embrace their current season for singing, which came with a soaring duet of Yes!
LEATEA
9-10a
Leatea (San Diego native Dylann Jelden) has been a musician all her life, beginning with classical violin at age 4. She began writing songs and incorporating guitar in high school. She performs regularly in San Diego.
ROBERT CHAN
10-11a
Based in San Diego and inspired by personal life experiences, singer-songwriter Robert Chan writes music that focuses on storytelling. With just three years of experience, he's recently created a new album about a magical love story called "I Promise Cafe."
JOYCE ANN MARTIN
11a-12p
Since the late 1960’s Joyce Ann Martin has shared her original songs with audiences in San Diego.
Her Baby Boomer Anthems and song of peace can be found on the album, UNLEASHED by the Wild Older Women (available on Spotify, and most streaming platforms).
Give it a listen, and you’ll be ready to sing along at her next show.
OUR PROMISE
Hot from the oven was born out of necessity. I was baking out of my home oven and it could only fit a few loaves of a sourdough or a few croissants at a time. But then it quickly became my passion to figure out how to serve everything hot from the oven - because a loaf of sourdough or a croissant just pulled from the oven is life changing.
It is because of our promise to serve you the freshest product that our inventory fluctuates throughout the day, but I think we're getting pretty good at anticipating demand and scheduling our bakes to that demand. Of course to err is human and we do certainly make our share of mistakes.
Like just yesterday when we had guests waiting far too long for their orders, or we oversold on product. We don't take our mistakes lightly and we thank each and every one of you who reach out to me personally to share your experience so that we can continue to do better. Alongside our hot-from-the-oven promise, we also have our IZOLA Almighty Guarantee - if you do not love your experience with us, please let us know and we will happily refund you and try our darndest to make it right.
IMPORTANT SERVICE CHANGES
Last week we hosted our Q3 Shareholder Meeting at IZOLA. Over 900 individuals have invested in IZOLA and without them, we would not be here today. At our meeting we shared the wins and also some of the challenges - including cost increases and more price sensitivity by consumers due to the current uncertain economic climate.
As we hunker down to prepare for what may become some challenging times ahead, we have decided to cancel IZOLA Evenings, effective immediately, and return to our previous hours of 7a-2p every day. It was not a decision made lightly, but to change behavior patterns takes time and investing in the labor costs to maintain the evenings can't be our priority right now as we look to scale to additional locations.
Thanks to those who joined us for IZOLA Evenings - I found them to be truly magical!
NEW HOURS:
Every Day from 7a-2p
HELPING OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY IN NEED
It is not only a challenging business climate right, but it is even tougher for our non-profit partners whose funding has taken a big hit.
This week, I’m hoping we can rally as a community to support one of our workforce partners, Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO).
CEO helps provide employment opportunities, job training and placement to people who have been formerly incarcerated. When it comes to successful re-entry, there are two crucial aspects that people must have: A stable job and stable housing. Both are very hard to come by, but having partnered with CEO for the past year, there is no doubt that organizations like CEO make our community stronger through the support, guidance and assistance they provide to the community.
And the proof is right inside our walls at IZOLA — our retention rate is already double the industry average, and the team members who come to us through restorative justice pathways are performing even higher. These are people who are ready to work, ready to show up, and ready to build something.
Our ask today is simple. This year San Diego's CEO team only has enough budget to provide FOUR turkeys to participants for Thanksgiving this year. But they have a need for FORTY. At $25 a turkey, it's a small lift if we do it together - $900 in donations will make sure 40 families have a Thanksgiving meal.
To help, click below. And to make sure your gift goes straight to the San Diego branch and this specific program, please paste this into the comment box:
San Diego BranchAttn: Site Director Robert SmithTurkeys for San Diego Program
Thank you, truly. Small things like this — when we do them together — make a real difference for real families.
LAST CALL!
Our Artichoke and Feta Sourdough leaves this Saturday.
Travel with us to Greece ....Handfuls of oven-roasted artichoke hearts, feta, Kalamata olives...feel the warm sun on your face as you bite into our Artichoke Heart & Feta Sourdough! We flash roast the artichoke hearts in our SALVA croissant ovens to build the Maillard and pair 'em up with French sheep's milk feta (over a quarter pound of artichokes and feta in each loaf....very tricky to shape....thank you sourdough team) ....rounded out with lemon zest, Italian parsley, Kalamata olives, fennel seeds, and a little garlic and hint of red pepper. We're going to 11.
Pro tip: Slice your loaf, then freeze the slices, and you'll always have a slice ready to toast!
WHO'S READY FOR A VACATION?
Oh boy, I know I am! We wanted to share with you a special place in Mexico. Jenny and I are planning for some R&R here in the new year, but until then felt compelled to share it with you.
Villa La Sirena is a special spot in Boca de Tomatlan Mexico, just 11 miles south of Old Town Puerto Vallarta. It's a place where you can slow down, and feel away from it all.
SATURDAY LIVE MUSIC
With our change in hours, we no longer will be hosting Friday evening live music, but our Saturday mornings are still in full force! Come enjoy our local talent every Saturday from 8a-1p.
XAVY
8-9a
Xavy is a San Diego native saxophonist with a wide range of musical interests. He is also a member of the Funk/R&B band Heaping Teaspoon.
KAHLIL NASH
9-10a
Emerging from the elite San Diego music scene in California, San Diego Music Award winner Kahlil Nash is a Funk/Rock and R&B recording artist/producer who is a multi-instrumentalist. Influenced by artists Michael Jackson, Jimi Hendrix, and Prince, Kahlil Nash thrives to entertain his audience.
LANZA ATTISHA
10-11a
Lanza Attisha is a San Diego based songwriter with a soulful twist on classic pop and blues tunes.
JACOBY CLEVELAND
11a-12p
Music curator and lover of dope vibes.
CAITLYN LEWIS
12-1p
Hi, I’m Caitlin. I’m a singer and songwriter from San Diego. I write to reach out to others and validate shared experiences :)
- Jeffrey Lamont Brown
- Nov 6, 2025
EVERY BITE, A RITUAL
Our new Carnitas Croissant brings together tender, slow-braised pork carnitas with our buttery croissant — finished with crisp chicharrón, bright lime, fresh onion, and cilantro, with a side of Cholula so you can make it your own.
Here’s how I love to eat it: I cut a bite of croissant, add a little onion, a squeeze of lime, and a few drops of Cholula. Each bite bursts with richness, crunch, and just the right touch of heat — the perfect balance of buttery and bright.
And thanks to feedback from our guests, we’ve added even more carnitas to every bite.
At IZOLA, we live by the philosophy of Kaizen — the idea of continuous improvement, little by little, every day. Your feedback helps us grow and create even better experiences, one croissant (and one conversation) at a time.
NEW EXTENDED HOURS
Monday - Thursday 7a-2p
Friday - Saturday 7a-7p
Sunday 7a-5p (we are closing early at 2p, this Sunday 11/9 only)
ONE WEEK BEFORE IT'S GONE!
Our Artichoke and Feta Sourdough will only be on the menu for another week before it leaves IZOLA for good.
Travel with us to Greece ....Handfuls of oven-roasted artichoke hearts, feta, Kalamata olives...feel the warm sun on your face as you bite into our Artichoke Heart & Feta Sourdough! We flash roast the artichoke hearts in our SALVA croissant ovens to build the Maillard and pair 'em up with French sheep's milk feta (over a quarter pound of artichokes and feta in each loaf....very tricky to shape....thank you sourdough team) ....rounded out with lemon zest, Italian parsley, Kalamata olives, fennel seeds, and a little garlic and hint of red pepper. We're going to 11.
Pro tip: Slice your loaf, then freeze the slices, and you'll always have a slice ready to toast!
CLOSING EARLY THIS SUNDAY
IZOLA will be closing early at 2p this Sunday, November 9th, for a special event. We'll be back to normal hours on Monday!
This Sunday: 7a-2p
Monday back to regular hours!
NAVIGATING A CHALLENGING TIME TOGETHER
In just the past week alone, we’ve received notices of price increases from several of our key partners — Deputy, Rippling, Ecolab, and likely more still to come. And our ingredient costs have already risen 14% since Jan 1.
At IZOLA, we negotiate every contract carefully — and we push back when increases aren’t justified. We’re disciplined about value, and ferocious when it comes to protecting our guests and team: for example we recently negotiated a 21% decrease in our workers compensation insurance cost.
We haven’t raised our prices this year, but the reality is that running a small, mission-driven business right now takes constant focus. Our office team works tirelessly to buy smart — sourcing the best value without ever sacrificing quality. We’re testing alternative ingredients to ensure nothing is lost in flavor or experience. A few have passed, most have not. We’ll never compromise on what makes IZOLA special.
We continue to lean into relationships with vendors who share our commitment to value, integrity, and partnership. We reward those who bring us creative solutions and real efficiency — and we move on from those who don’t.
We also know these pressures aren’t ours alone. Many in our community are hurting — some in their 3rd week of furlough unsure how they will pay next month's bills, others in the nonprofit sector facing impossible choices as funding dwindles.
We wanted to share this update simply to keep you informed. Transparency and connection are at the heart of everything we do — and your continued support helps us keep baking, keep improving, and keep showing up for the community we love.
WE'RE HIRING!
Come join our team of kind, compassionate, smart, and hard working people. We have two positions open, both requiring full availability through the end of the year as we enter the holiday season. We're hiring immediately!
LIVE MUSIC AT IZOLA
Due to a special event this Friday, live music will begin at 5p and run until 7p. We will also be hosting Saturday Live Music from 8a-1p.
Come hungry, bring friends, and linger a while — there’s nothing quite like live music at IZOLA. And to celebrate we're offering $2.50 sparkling wine, the best deal in town.
Here are a few of the talented performers that will be at IZOLA this week.
KAHLIL NASH
FRI 5-6p and SAT 9-10a
Emerging from the elite San Diego music scene in California, San Diego Music Award winner Kahlil Nash is a Funk/Rock and R&B recording artist/producer who is a multi-instrumentalist. Influenced by artists Michael Jackson, Jimi Hendrix, and Prince, Kahlil Nash thrives to entertain his audience.
ADDI ROSE
SAT 11a-12p
Addi Rose brings a deep love of classic rock ’n’ roll to every stage she steps on. Drawing inspiration from the music of the 1950s through the 1980s, her performances transport you back to the golden era of rock — when rhythm, soul, and energy ruled the airwaves. Addi’s passion for connecting through timeless music shines in every show, making each performance both nostalgic and fresh.
MADELEINE DENISON
SAT 12-1p
Madeleine Denison is a songwriter and musician currently obsessing over her debut album, Etherlines. This project takes influences from the moments in life that cause time to stop, speed, or cease to exist entirely. With a mixture of folk, indie, and alt rock genres, Madeleine’s music seeks to inspire and restore us to a more beautiful vision of life.
CALLING ALL MUSICIANS, POETS, PERFORMERS AND CREATORS
At IZOLA, we believe in sharing what we create — whether it’s a croissant hot from the oven or a song from the heart.
Our IZOLA Stage has become a space for connection — a cozy corner where neighbors, travelers, and friends gather over coffee and bread to listen, laugh, and feel inspired. Every Friday from 4-7p and Saturday from 8a–1p, we host live music at the bakeshop.
We’d love to open our doors even wider — to local musicians, poets, storytellers, and performers who want to share their talent with our community. Whether you’re looking to hone your craft, practice in front of a friendly crowd, or just bring a little more joy into the world, we’d be honored to have you on our stage.
If that sounds like you (or someone you know), reach out to Jenny — we can’t wait to hear what you’ve been creating.