OVER 700...
When I launched IZOLA back in 2020, I just wanted a good loaf of bread. I didn't have any training in baking, but I knew what tasted good to me, so I began obsessively testing different methods, different room temperatures and bake strategies.
For our croissants, after over 700 tests, we know which ingredients taste the best, what temperature the room must be at when we're laminating them, the thickness that the dough and butter must be rolled to in each stage of the lamination process, everything.
Recently we've been running a test on the milk we use in our croissants, testing our existing milk against a different brand. It seemed like it would be a straightforward test - a simple blind taste test to see if we could taste any difference in the two types of milk. But there is a reason why we insist on testing and verifying every part of the process before any changes are implemented, as this effort proved to be no exception!
TEST ONE: In our first test, the control croissants were overproofed, resulting in a breadier texture with small, tight pockets when you slice one in half. On the other hand the test croissants were vastly underproofed, with big air pockets but the webbing was thick and doughy. Yet both the control and test were proofed on the same tray in the same proofer and baked at the same time. So we thought, ok, maybe it was because of the yeast - two different pieces of yeast were used for the control and test.
TEST TWO: Our Dojo team remade the test, using yeast from the exact same block of fresh yeast. In test 2, we no longer had the proofing issue but the test croissants came out too short in height.
TEST THREE: For test 3 we made sure to obtain the average weight of the test and control croissants and the test were actually coming in slightly heavier and so should not have come in short. Oddly enough, we again experienced proofing issues with the test croissant - some looked beautiful, others again were underproofed. Though the results were nowhere near ideal, we proceeded to a blind taste test to at least see if we could taste any difference in flavor.
The results?
2 taste testers favored the test milk, another 2 the original milk - a straight down the middle, 50/50 split!
BUT...what we quickly realized was that each and every taste tester chose the FIRST croissant they tried as their winner. A classic example of the primacy effect in full force...
And so here we are, about 2.5 weeks into our test and just as puzzled...But you can bet that we won't rollout any changes unless we see an improvement over what we serve now.
Ready to experience our traditional croissant - one that has taken us over 700 tests to arrive at? Pre-orders are open now, or just pop on by for a croissant served hot from the oven.
We are open and baking hot from the oven every Tuesday - Sunday, 7a-2p.
NEW ADDITION
Today we launched a new organic Coconut Soda from Tractor Beverage. We love Tractor for their belief that beverages should be prepared with the same intention as the food they accompany. The Coconut Soda is delightfully refreshing and is crafted from organic coconut cream and has flavor notes of vanilla and sugar cane. Not overly sweet, allowing the coconut to shine.
We hope you love it as much as we do!
LAST WEEK!
Last week for nominations! Our fave local magazine, San Diego Magazine, is closing out the nomination window for their annual Best of San Diego list. Love IZOLA? We'd love it if you nominated us for Best Bakery!
Nominations are open just until the end of the month....
SATURDAY LIVE MUSIC
Every Saturday between 8a-1p, we host local musicians at IZOLA. Come on by and enjoy the abundance of talent that we have here in our community! Here's a little sampling of who will be by this Saturday:
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.(And he is one of our musical directors, responsible for curating the thoughtful lineup of artists each weekend - thank you Kahlil!)
KAYLEE DAUGHERTY
10-11a
Kaylee Daugherty is an up-and-coming singer in the San Diego jazz scene. With roots in gospel and R&B, her musical interpretations come with soul and passion.
KATRIZ TRINIDAD
11a-12p
We're excited to welcome singer/songwriter Katriz Trinidad to IZOLA. She has found great enjoyment in performing music genres such as Neo-Soul and R&B where she explores the most of her creativity, especially through her songwriting. She has appeared on The Voice and has performed at NFL, NBA and MLB games.
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