On any given Monday at the Phelan Farmers Market, you can find the Rose Noir Chocolates & Baked Goods booth, which is a local bakery offering fresh homemade breads, delicious cookies, and artisan cakes, baked fresh that very day, and look more like art than food! Behind the table is the owner, Lindsey Newman, a talented baker whose sweet creations have become a decadent treat for the Tri-Community.
What makes Rose Noir stand out isn’t just the quality, though each item is made with organic ingredients and meticulous care, it’s the way Lindsey connects with her customers.
“People share personal things and they make memories for their families with the products they buy from me,” said Lindsey who’s favorite part about the farmers markets is getting to talk to people in the community and see families grow. She mentioned how wonderful it is to bake cupcakes for a baby shower or birthday and then seeing the family come back each week to share how everyone enjoyed the treats and how special it made the occasion. Proving that it’s not just food, but it’s an experience.
Before founding Rose Noir Chocolates, Lindsey Newman graduated from Serrano High School in 2007 and then attended culinary school at Le Cordon Bleu in Pasadena. At first, she had her sights set on becoming a chef specializing in savory dishes but then developed a newfound love for pastries during her training. After culinary school she worked her way to becoming a pastry chef at a fine dining restaurant and hotel in L.A. where she crafted high-end desserts for one of L.A.’s world-class chefs. But in 2020, when the pandemic hit, the restaurant was forced to close its doors, leaving many of its staff without work, so Lindsey decided to return to her hometown of Phelan, which not only offered her a fresh start but a surprising opportunity.
Operating out of herhome kitchen, Lindsey launched Rose Noir Chocolates and began selling at the Phelan farmers market in October of 2020. Her training from culinary school and background in fine dining gave her a strong foundation, which has helped her business thrive.
“The chefs I learned from taught me the importance of using seasonal ingredients so they are at their peak flavor, to use quality ingredients, and to treat them with respect,” said Lindsey, who continues to apply those ideas to her own seasonal flavors and desserts by collaborating with the other local farmers at the markets. She uses local raisins from G Family Farms at the Wrightwood Farmers markets to create one-of-a-kind oatmeal raisin and pecan cookies and prefers to use fresh local peaches from the Phelan Farmers Market for her peach crisp desserts. “I like to use whatever is in season at the farmers’ markets. It’s full circle, they [the farmers] grow it and then I get to use it and turn it into something else,” said Lindsey.
Lindsey’s passion for food and community extends beyond her booth. As part of the Phelan Pinon Hills CSD Parks and Rec program, she’s able to teach a free baking class for local children. The classes, which cover everything from cookie decorating to scratch-made pizza, are designed to do more than just keep kids busy. Lindsey emphasizes the use of fresh, local ingredients and teaches basic kitchen skills that inspire confidence and creativity. For many of the kids, it’s their first time handling dough, or learning that a cupcake can be made without using an instant box mix from Betty Crocker. “I even teach the kids how to make whipped cream. It’s super easy and I think it tastes way better than anything that comes from a can,” said Lindsey. The last kids’ baking class was offered on Saturday, July 19th at the Phelan Senior Center where kids ages 5-17 learned how to make pizza.
Whether she’s serving customers at the market or teaching kids how to make whipped cream, Lindsey Newman is helping to redefine that prioritizing local and quality ingredients in your cooking is possible in a small town, one handcrafted treat at a time.
As Rose Noir Chocolates continues to gain local popularity, you can catch Lindsey’s bakery booth at these events happening in July around the Tri-Community. Be sure to follow her on Instagram @Rose Noir Chocolates to see her various baked good offerings each week or to custom order cakes, cupcakes and more for your special event.
Wrightwood Farmers Market– Fridays from 4:00pm-7:00pm in the Wrightwood Community Building Parking Lot on Hwy 2 in Wrightwood.
Phelan Farmers Market – Mondays from 2:00pm-6:00pm in the Phelan Community Center at 4128 Warbler Rd. in Phelan
