Tell us about yourself. Where do you live in San Diego County?

Pop Pops is a brand new gourmet frozen pop shop in Little Italy that opened its doors a few months ago. My husband Nissim and I are both Latin Immigrants and have a big dream to offer a high-quality dessert experience with all-natural ingredients. We live in La Jolla and have four teenage daughters. I am also a Realtor.

What are you cooking and eating lately?

I have a very curious palate! I experiment with different flavors and ingredients. I enjoy Peruvian food and Japanese cuisine. 

What are your essential kitchen tips, shortcuts, and tools? 

My best tip for a great result is to make sure you use high-quality ingredients and keep practicing until perfection. Always write down what worked best and recreate it again and again in different recipes.

Passion Fruit. Image: Pop Pops.

Do you have a favorite recipe to share?

For a great salad dressing, try toasting dry hibiscus flowers then blend them with lime juice, a little bit of olive oil, some water, and salt to taste. It’s so flavorful!

What seasonal ingredients and dishes are you enjoying?

Yes, especially now that the weather is heating up. I love fruit; I’m looking forward to peach and apricot season.

What do you love about San Diego's food scene?

There are new and exciting restaurants around us in Little Italy. The way they moved outside during the pandemic has created a festive and electrifying vibe that we enjoy very much.

Where do you like to dine out and shop for food? 

We buy locally at the La Jolla Open Aire Market and try to support small businesses as much as we can.

Would you like to give a shout-out to any favorite local growers or farms?

Yes! A big shout out to Moceri Produce, a wonderful family business that supplies us with great local produce.

Bana-tella. Image: Pop Pops.

What steps do you take to support a sustainable food system and why are these values important to you? 

We manufacture all our pops on site. This keeps our batches small and we allow our menu to evolve and change based on seasonality and input from customers. We shop local and ethically grown produce.

How would you like to connect to the Edible San Diego food community and why? 

We would love to introduce the community to paletas, a dessert originally from Mexico made with intense flavors, customizable combinations, and vegan options. We hope they will try our concept and become a Pop Pops regular.

Key Lime Pie. Image: Pop Pops.

You’ll find Pop Pops featured in Edible San Diego’s Guide to the Coolest Treats on page 30 of our summer 2021 issue. Here’s a free digital version that you can print and tack on the fridge.


Address: 1740 India Street, San Diego, CA 92101

Phone: 619-844-5125

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This article was originally published June 29, 2021 exclusively on Edible San Diego Weekly. Want to join the club? Support the region's only dedicated, local, and independently-owned food media company by signing up for a digital membership or subscription today.

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Rose Fox
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