Art, science—and one extraordinary run

ART + SCIENCE

Our sourdough begins with four simple ingredients: organic flour, water, salt, and leaven.

Simple, however, is not the same as easy.

This glimpse behind the scenes was captured by sourdough team member Shannon, who paused to appreciate the quiet choreography of sourdough happening all around her: leaven being prepared, amendments individually scaled, tickets following each dough through the process, and rulers tracking its rise.

Behind every loaf is a balance of temperature, time, fermentation, measurement, and touch. Everything is weighed, timed, recorded, and checked across our 10 page recipe — not because bread can be controlled completely, but because paying close attention gives it the best possible chance to become something beautiful.

Our sourdough team watches how quickly the dough is fermenting. They adjust for the warmth of the room, the temperature of the water, and the mood of a living starter that is never exactly the same from one day to the next. The additions folded into our loaves are individually scaled, so every batch receives the right balance in every bite.

That is the science.

The art begins where the measurements end.

It is shaping with enough tension to build a beautiful loaf, but with enough tenderness to preserve everything happening inside.

After a night's rest in our coolers, our bakers take it across the finish line with the final score and bake. The baker's blade moves across the surface, creating a path for the bread to open as it bakes. Steam fills the oven. The crust deepens from gold to amber to a rich, burnished brown. The loaf expands, crackles, and emerges looking almost sculpted — each one related to the last, but never quite identical.

That is the beauty of naturally leavened bread. It is precise, but never mechanical. And after all the scaling, folding, waiting, shaping, scoring, and baking, what remains is wonderfully uncomplicated: a warm loaf with a deeply caramelized crust, a tender, open crumb, and the flavor that can only come from time.

Part art. Part science. Entirely made by hand.

OPEN EVERY DAY 7a–2p

In a rush? Just give us a call at 619-289-8358 when you arrive and we'll bring your order out to ya - we call it IZOLA Drive By.

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A NOTE FROM JENNY

Hi everyone, Jenny here.

I wanted to pop in for a moment to celebrate the inspiring, courageous, and truly remarkable man that is Jeffrey Brown.

Last Friday, we rose before dawn and drove to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. We arrived around 5 p.m., shared dinner overlooking that vast, awe-inspiring expanse, and were in bed by 7.

Why so early?

Because at midnight, Jeffrey would wake up and begin running from the North Rim to the South Rim.

Our view at dinner

There is a very particular flood of emotions that comes with watching the person you cherish most disappear into complete darkness to undertake something so immense. I was thrilled for him, proud of him, anxious for him, and worried — despite knowing that Jeffrey is the most capable man I have ever known.

Seven hours later, we reunited at the South Rim. Jeffrey had completed more than 24 miles and climbed over 5,800 feet.

Every day, I feel deeply fortunate that I get to build a life with this man.

Jeffrey is the vision behind IZOLA. He pushes us, each and every day, to create a better experience for our guests than we did the day before. He keeps pushing the boulder uphill as we choose to do things the way we believe they should be done — not simply the way that is easiest. And he challenges me, our team, and everyone around him to believe that we are capable of more than we imagined.

This run was extraordinary, but what moves me most is that it reflects the way Jeffrey lives every day: with courage, purpose, discipline, and an unwavering belief that the impossible may simply be something we have not done yet.

Congratulations, Jeffrey. I am endlessly proud of you — and so grateful to be beside you for this wild, beautiful climb.

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SATURDAY LIVE MUSIC 

Every Saturday, we host live music at the bakeshop. Come on by to see how talented our local San Diego musicians are! Follow us on Instagram to see the lineup each week.