For Dayleen Coleman, her fondest childhood memories don’t involve a television or toys. Rather, the San Marcos native said her best memories include late nights when she baked with her mother.

Decades later, Coleman has turned her favorite childhood experience into a thriving career as a pastry chef and chocolatier. She is the owner of the recently opened D’liteful Chocolat in Lake San Marcos. The pastry shop offers customers a taste of divine European-style chocolate and desserts made fresh daily.

The new business has been years in the making for Coleman, who was previously employed in the social work field but loved baking for friends and family.

“I always used cooking and baking as my way to give to my family and friends,” Coleman said. “It relaxed me, especially after trying days at work.”

After taking online classes, Coleman took the leap to study at Le Cordon Bleu and discovered a love for creating sweets.

“I’ve always found joy and solace in baking and discovered a passion for chocolate in culinary school,” Coleman said. “I’ve never considered myself very artistic, but I could create beautiful and delicious pieces of art with chocolate as my medium. I love seeing the joy others experience in my classes while making their own delicious masterpieces.”

Although it wasn’t easy to change careers, Coleman said she found inspiration to do so from her mother, who single-handedly raised her and her sisters.

“She has always demonstrated to me and my sisters that with determination and hard work you can achieve your goals,” Coleman said. “She courageously stepped away from being an employee to starting her own business several years ago. I’ve watched her through the ups and downs of being a business owner and am always amazed at how she overcomes the many obstacles that it brings.”

Now, Coleman is fulfilling the taste-buds of North County visitors by offering varied assortment of truffles and chocolates, salted caramels, crême brûlées, macarons and other desserts.

“I hope our customers and community see that D’liteful Chocolat is more than just a storefront,” said Coleman, who is a mother of two. “We not only want to share our delicious creations with our customers, but we also want to share our knowledge and passion for baking and chocolate by offering classes onsite and throughout the county at unique venues.”

For more information about Dayleen Coleman or D’liteful Chocolat, go to www.dlitefulchocolat.com or call (760)653-3029. D’liteful Chocolat is located at 1030 La Bonita Drive.

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