Sweet Success in the Palisades

Highlands Resident Jordan Solomon Opens La Lune Bakeshop

By MARIE TABELA | Contributing Writer

At the start of the pandemic, many sought comfort in trying their hand at activities previously deemed too time consuming in today’s fast-paced world. Through social media feeds and articles alike, the activity of choice for many (in addition to aimless neighborhood walks) was clear: baking.

While there is surely now a graveyard of failed sourdough starters and bread with raw centers, one rising star was able to take her pandemic pastime and turn it into a bona fide money maker.

Jordan Solomon of the Highlands found herself looking for an outlet as the breakneck pace of her course load from the UCLA Architecture and Interior Design Program eased during its transition to an online learning platform. With fewer courses on her schedule, Solomon began spending more time in the kitchen of her childhood home baking cookies for loved ones.

When it became clear that Thanksgiving 2020 would not be spent with the whole family at Grandma’s house, she made extra sugar cookies to send to her sister, Jamie Gray, and other family members. For Christmas, it was the same. By then, word caught on that the Highlands had a new Top Chef in town.

“I had been posting pictures [of my cookies], and people began commenting on how they’d pay for them and wanted me to make cookies for them,” Solomon recalled.

Her mom, Pam Solomon, works for the foundation at St. John’s and began ordering cookies as gifts for donors. It was at that point that she began looking into the steps required to become a Cottage Food Operation.

By the beginning of 2021, Solomon had her Class A Cottage Food Operator License, and La Lune Bakeshop was officially open for business. Named for her beloved Cavalier King Charles spaniel, Luna, the French-inspired bakeshop specializes in a wide variety of macarons as well as decorative sugar cookies and drop cookies.

As a chocolate lover from the moment her great-grandmother’s French chocolate cake recipe touched her lips, Solomon worked tirelessly to create the perfect chocolate chip cookies and cited them as a “must-try” item on her menu.

Solomon is also able to put her love of design into her sugar cookies, making beautiful custom creations that often take on patterns of intricate textiles.

“Fabric is my go to inspiration,” she shared. “It’s hard when you’re looking at other cookies for inspiration to really find something that’s original, so I try to stay away from that.”

With fabric and home decor serving as the muses for her creations, the result is a truly delicious and creative product that stands out from the rest. Through her website, one can fill out a request form and go over their ideas, or create one with Solomon for their cookie order.

Though she plans to return to school when in-person classes resume, she is confident that she’ll be able to keep up with the orders and adjust how many she takes on accordingly. With the support of a strong online community of cottage bakers, she has learned many tricks to improve efficiency and volume.

“It’s amazing,” she shared. “Everyone is very supportive and willing to share techniques and offer classes, and I’ve seen my skill level improve a lot since December.”

Despite the doors only opening officially in 2021 for La Lune Bakeshop, her cookies are in high demand—with bookings already extending into June. Though this hobbyist-gone-pro had her world turned upside down in 2020, she showed what can happen when you’re one tough cookie.

For more information or to place an order, visit lalunebakeshop.com.