Meet The Baker
My name is Asrelea, you can call me Azzi. I am the owner and baker of Opal’s Paradise, a business dedicated to my beloved grandmother, Opal, known to me as Nana. She was the true chef and baker of our family, so naming the business after her just made sense.
A little about me: I grew up with unique allergies that limited my ability to enjoy traditional foods, especially desserts. As a self-taught baker, I relied on the Food Network, YouTube, and cherished memories of my Nana’s indirect teachings. My life changed in my early 20s when I discovered an allergen-free bakery and tasted desserts I had been deprived of since childhood—it was pure heaven!
I used to say, “you can’t miss something you’ve never had,” but that day was a game changer! Inspired to give baking a try, I found myself doing pretty well. I often made lemon squares that my mom absolutely loved. Without realizing it, I was creating desserts that were about 90% vegan and delicious. Little did I know, I would become fully vegan a few years later.
After a brief career in healthcare, I decided to follow my true passion for cooking. About a year before starting my business, I discovered I was also gluten intolerant. Learning to bake gluten-free was challenging, filled with trial and error—heavy on the error at first. Because I grew up not knowing how a lot of desserts tasted, I rely heavily on my family as taste testers, to this day, all my desserts are family-tested and approved before they’re added to the website.
I take immense pride in what I do. I absolutely love baking and creating new flavors, and I make sure that love is poured into every dessert I create. It truly warms my heart to see the joy on people’s faces after they try one of my desserts, especially those who share my struggles with vegan and gluten-free diets. I am honored to be the bridge to sweet bliss while embracing inclusivity and delighting every palate, one sweet treat at a time, and I look forward to uniting a community of all dietary preferences through my delicious vegan desserts.
