Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa Strawley.
Hi Lisa, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Buen Provecho started long before I ever baked my first sourdough loaf.
I grew up in a Dominican family where the kitchen was the heart of our home. My mom baked, meals were made from scratch, and people gathered around the table. Food wasn’t rushed—it was an invitation to slow down, share stories, laugh, and simply enjoy being together. Those are some of my favorite childhood memories.
As life got busier, I realized how much of that we’ve lost. Everyone seems to be rushing from one thing to the next. We eat on the go, conversations become shorter, and genuine connection often takes a back seat. I found myself longing for the slower pace I remembered growing up.
Baking became my therapy.
It became the place where I could be creative, quiet my mind, and reconnect with something that felt deeply familiar. There was something healing about mixing dough by hand, waiting patiently through fermentation, and creating food that couldn’t be rushed. Sourdough taught me that some of the best things take time, and I realized that lesson applied to life just as much as baking.
At the same time, I was walking through my own seasons of growth. Between health challenges, career changes, and learning to trust God through uncertainty, the kitchen became a place where He reminded me to slow down, be present, and trust the process. Every loaf became a reflection of that journey.
That’s really what Buen Provecho is about.
Yes, I bake bread, but my hope is that it’s more than something people eat. I hope it encourages families to gather around the table, neighbors to share a loaf, friends to linger over coffee a little longer, and conversations to happen that might not have otherwise. In a world that constantly tells us to hurry, I want Buen Provecho to be a reminder that some of life’s greatest moments happen when we slow down.
Today, every recipe I create is inspired by my Dominican heritage, my love for simple, quality ingredients, and my belief that food has always been one of the most powerful ways to care for people. My prayer is that every loaf carries a little bit of that feeling—the warmth of home, the joy of sharing a meal, and the reminder that the best things in life are worth taking our time with.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Not at all. It’s definitely been a journey of learning, adapting, and trusting the process.
Like many small business owners, I’ve had moments where I questioned whether I was ready. Balancing a full-time career, family life, and building a business from the ground up hasn’t always been easy. There have been late nights, early mornings, and plenty of trial and error.
On a personal level, I’ve also walked through health challenges that changed my perspective. During my healing journey, baking became more than a hobby—it became a creative outlet and a place of restoration. It reminded me that growth doesn’t happen overnight, and neither does healing.
Building Buen Provecho has also meant learning skills I never expected to learn. Beyond perfecting recipes, I’ve had to navigate branding, photography, marketing, pricing, packaging, social media, and the countless behind-the-scenes details that come with running a business. Every new step has pushed me outside my comfort zone.
There have been recipes that didn’t work, products that needed to be tested over and over again, and moments when I had to remind myself that progress is more important than perfection. I’ve learned to embrace those moments because each one has made the business stronger.
Above all, my faith has been my foundation. There have been times when the path ahead wasn’t clear, but I’ve seen God open doors I never could have planned myself. Looking back, I realize every challenge has shaped not only the business but also the person I’m becoming.
If there’s one thing this journey has taught me, it’s that good things take time. Just like sourdough, growth can’t be rushed. It requires patience, consistency, and a willingness to keep showing up, even when the results aren’t immediate.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m the founder and baker behind Buen Provecho, a small artisan bakery inspired by my Dominican heritage, my faith, and the belief that food has the power to bring people together.
I specialize in handcrafted sourdough breads and thoughtfully made baked goods using simple, quality ingredients. Every recipe is developed from scratch and tested until it reflects the standard I want my customers to experience. My goal has never been to create the biggest menu—it’s to create products that people can trust and look forward to sharing with those they love.
What sets Buen Provecho apart is the story behind it. Every product is rooted in tradition while embracing a slower, more intentional way of baking. Long fermentation, homemade ingredients whenever possible, and careful attention to detail allow me to create food that feels comforting, nourishing, and familiar.
Beyond the bakery itself, I’m passionate about education and community. I love teaching others how approachable sourdough can be and helping people discover the joy of baking for their own families. Whether it’s through classes, conversations, or sharing what I’ve learned along the way, I want people to feel encouraged that creating something meaningful doesn’t have to be complicated.
What I’m most proud of isn’t a specific loaf or recipe—it’s that Buen Provecho has become a reflection of my values. It represents slowing down, gathering around the table, celebrating our roots, and caring for others through food. If someone leaves with more than just bread—if they leave feeling connected, encouraged, or inspired to make time for the people they love—then I’ve accomplished exactly what I set out to do.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
One thing I’ve learned is that you don’t have to have everything figured out before you begin. I’m still early in my journey, and I’m learning something new almost every day.
My biggest piece of advice is to view every challenge as part of the learning process rather than as a failure. Not every recipe will work the first time. Not every idea will turn into a product. Sometimes something isn’t meant to move forward, and other times it just needs to be approached differently. Learning when to pivot, when to pause, and when to keep going is all part of building something meaningful.
I also think it’s important not to compare your beginning to someone else’s middle. Social media often shows the finished product but rarely the countless hours of testing, mistakes, and growth that happen behind the scenes. Those unseen moments are where the real progress happens. That’s one of the reasons I intentionally share the behind-the-scenes of my own journey. I want people to see the recipes that didn’t work, the mistakes I made, and the lessons I learned along the way because I know so many people can relate to those moments. Growth isn’t always pretty, but it’s real—and I hope sharing the process encourages others not to give up on theirs.
If I could go back and tell myself one thing, it would be this: trust the process. Growth takes time. Celebrate the small wins, stay curious, ask questions, and don’t be afraid to keep learning. Every setback has taught me something that has ultimately made me a better baker and a better business owner.
Most importantly, remember why you started. When your purpose is bigger than the obstacles, it’s easier to keep moving forward, even when the path isn’t always easy.
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