THE QUIET ONE
THE QUIET ONE
Our Moroccan Black Olive Chocolate Croissant has always flown a little under the radar...At first glance, chopped black olives and chocolate may not sound like obvious companions.
But sometimes its unexpected pairings like this that surprise you most.
We fold chopped Moroccan Beldi olives into a dough made with buckwheat and sourdough starter, creating something altogether different from our traditional croissant. The butter-to-dough ratio is lighter, giving it a more delicate feel — less richness, more lift...lacy....tender.
Inside sits a single baton of chocolate, just enough to bring warmth and sweetness without overpowering what makes this pastry special.
Then, before it heads your way, we brush it with walnut oil.
The result lands somewhere between sweet and savory, familiar and unexpected. Salty olive, warm chocolate, soft tang from the dough, delicate crunch from the layers.
It’s the pastry for people who trust curiosity.
Or for those willing to be pleasantly surprised.
Always hot from the oven.
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.
CELEBRATIONS
This is a special time of year at the bakery. We see more guests coming in from near and far, gathering around tables, bringing family through the door, and celebrating graduations and milestones with the people they love.
Jenny and I got to do the same this past weekend, celebrating our son Sacha’s graduation from the University of Chicago.
Four years ago, we sent him off to college by taking the train together to Chicago. This year, we took the train again to arrive for his graduation. This trip carried a lot with it. My mom, my sister, and her two kids joined us, and together we marked the one-year anniversary of my dad’s passing while traveling through Colorado, through the mountains where we spent so much time as a family.
Dad used to take us on weeks-long trips into those mountains. We would camp out, cook over an open fire, explore backroads, and spend long days together. He loved road trips and had driven through so much of the Colorado Rockies with my mom. He would have absolutely loved this train trip. Being together there, moving through that landscape, felt like the best way to remember him.
When we arrived in Chicago, it really started to sink in that Sacha is now stepping into his next big adventure. He graduated with honors in Mathematics, and rather than rushing straight into the expected next step, he’s taking time to travel, reflect, and figure out what lights his fire. Tonight, he leaves to begin his travels overseas, starting in Japan.
I’m deeply proud of the work he has done to get himself here. And I’m just as proud that he knows himself well enough to pause, breathe, and choose his next steps with intention.
And as if that weren’t enough to hold in one week, tomorrow marks IZOLA’s sixth anniversary.
It was a strange and beautiful thing to be away from the bakery for a full week right before this milestone. We were mostly radio silent, and our team handled the week with confidence, steadiness, and leadership. As always in this business, there were fires to put out, and this week had more than its fair share. But our leadership team navigated it so well.
To have the gift of stepping away, being with family, and trusting the team to carry things forward means more than I can really say. It reminded us how strong this team has become, and it makes us even more confident as we look toward what comes next. Thank you to our leadership team.
So this week, I’m sitting with a lot. Pride. Grief. Gratitude. Relief. The strange ache of watching a child grow up and step out into the world. The joy of seeing a team rise. The reminder that time moves quickly, whether we are ready or not.
Take the time. Gather your people. Sit a little longer. Celebrate the milestone while you’re still in it.
It really does go by in the blink of an eye.
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.
