Lisa North and Lemon Drop Pastry Shop Return to A Sweet Affair
By Cesar A Reyes
Lisa North never set out to own a bakery, but sometimes the most meaningful paths are the ones that find you. Originally from the East Coast, Lisa moved to San Diego in 1995 and quickly fell in love with the city she now calls home. “I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else,” she says. Over the years, San Diego became the backdrop for her life’s biggest blessings such as buying a home, finding the love of her life, and raising her children in what she calls “literal paradise.” That deep connection to the community would later shape not only how she lives, but how she bakes.
Before Lemon Drop Pastry Shop existed, Lisa owned a legal research company and was simultaneously enrolled in culinary school at Grossmont Community College. Baking was just a passion then. Then COVID hit, the world shut down, and like so many others, Lisa was forced to pivot. “I leaned on both my formal culinary training and my personal experience,” she recalls, unsure of where the leap would land her. Working out of her tiny kitchen with one KitchenAid mixer, she started small—very small—by selling a single item: the Lemon Drop Cookie. What happened next still surprises her. The response from the community was immediate and overwhelmingly positive, encouraging her to expand her offerings. Soon, lemon blondies, cakes, truffles, and other bright, citrus-forward desserts followed. What began as an uncertain experiment quickly evolved into a thriving cottage bakery.
Today, Lemon Drop Pastry Shop specializes in handcrafted lemon pastries—along with other flavors—custom dessert creations, and corporate-branded logo cookies and cake pops. But for Lisa, the business has always been about more than what’s in the display box. “I’ve learned firsthand how powerful food can be in bringing comfort, connection, and joy to the community,” she says. Her desserts have become part of countless milestones, from weddings and baby showers to birthdays and graduations, and she approaches each order with care and intention. “I am honored to share in those moments,” she says. “My promise is to go above and beyond to transform my clients’ visions into delicious, custom edible art.”
That belief in connection and shared joy is what led Lisa to participate in POZabilities’ inaugural A Sweet Affair fundraiser last year, and what inspires her to return again this year. “Last year’s event was such a positive experience,” she says. “It was heartwarming to see vendors and residents unite to support the vital work of POZabilities.” For Lisa, the event wasn’t just about showcasing desserts; it was about standing alongside a community committed to compassion and inclusion. She speaks with genuine respect about POZabilities’ mission, recognizing the organization’s crucial role in San Diego by offering support, education, empowerment, and social interaction for individuals impacted by HIV/AIDS.
Giving back is not an occasional effort for Lisa—it’s woven into the fabric of Lemon Drop Pastry Shop. The business regularly supports local military members, first responders, schools, and nonprofit organizations throughout San Diego. “For me, community outreach isn’t just volunteering,” she explains. “It’s about sharing warmth and connection.” She believes that food has a unique way of bringing people together, especially during moments when support and kindness matter most. “Together we lift each other up,” she says, a sentiment that guides both her life and her work.
When asked to choose a WORD or phrase that represents her shop and her involvement in A Sweet Affair, Lisa points to the phrase she lives by: “Baking You Happy.” Through Lemon Drop Pastry Shop, Lisa uses baking to bring comfort, joy, and connection to everyday moments and life’s biggest celebrations. Being part of A Sweet Affair allows her to extend that joy beyond her kitchen, supporting the important work POZabilities does for the San Diego community. In the end, Lisa’s story is one of resilience, heart, and the belief that sometimes, something as simple as a lemon cookie can create a lasting ripple of happiness.