Sommelier Paula Marsola journeyed from grapes to one of Florida’s top bakeries

“You can’t buy happiness, but you can buy bread and that’s the same thing,” says Paula Marsola, owner and founder of Lady Baker, a small and cozy bakery located at the Shops at Pembroke Gardens in Pembroke Pines.

Marsola began her culinary journey with a passion for wine. She studied and became a certified sommelier. She realized that wine and food are in a marriage, then started her journey into the kitchen, which led to a 5-star rated cozy bakery, open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. according to Google Reviews.

A typical day starts at 4 a.m., when all of the bakers come in and prepare the bread, pastries, and delicious goodies for the day. Starting at 8 a.m. Lady Baker opens its doors to its guests as they enjoy fresh sandwiches, delicious coffee, and fluffy bread.

Marsola enrolled in a yearlong program at Escola Wilma Kövesi de Cozinha, in São Paulo,  where she fell even more in love with culinary arts. 

“Unexpectedly, I enjoyed cooking so much I wanted to learn more,” said Marsola. 

After moving to South Florida with her husband and two daughters, Marsola enrolled at Le Cordon Bleu and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in culinary arts. 

It wasn’t until the bread module from one of her courses made her discover her true passion: warm, crispy, fluffy bread! 

“I was fascinated and completely absorbed by the process and the transformation from a bunch of simple ingredients into something so beautiful,” said Marsola.

Marsola’s relationship with bread grew stronger as she gained interest in pastries and other baked goods. She followed that passion to the San Francisco Baking Institute and fell deeper in love with every post-graduate class she enrolled in.

Within minutes after stepping into Lady Bakery, you may notice the bright words shining above the hallway to the restrooms. “You can’t buy happiness, but you can buy bread and that is the same thing.” 

That’s the phrase that describes what Lady Baker is truly about. 

Aside from the bread, Lady Baker is also home to several other baked goodies, meals, and drinks.

 “I  have created many different, tested, and approved recipes,” said Marsolo. “Sometimes my recipes appear in my dreams!”

Yansall Rasquides is a junior majoring in journalism. Her Venezuelan background inspires her to write and report while giving a platform for people to speak their truths.