We had the good fortune of connecting with Lola Sandra and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lola, why did you pursue a creative career?

I had gotten into a Doctoral program after college and thought that was going to be my path. It was difficult for me, but doing well in academics was an expectation. Creativity or extracurriculars outside of academics weren’t really supported in my family. A couple of weeks before I was due to attend grad school, I had an internal shift where I started questioning everything I was taught & what I genuinely believed. I wanted to explore my own interests and the things I loved doing. Like baking and cooking, which I had always loved – Home Economics was the class I had most looked forward to. Then after school, I’d go to my friend’s houses & we’d bake!

Theater, I had fallen in love with ever since I had seen a high school performance of The Music Man when I was in elementary school. I remember being captivated by high school players, who made looking like they were on a train seem so real just by the way they bounced their knees, the sounds they were making to mimic a moving train, and the orchestra that was playing – all things that took me right out of the high school auditorium I was watching them perform from. I loved it, I was amazed by it, and I wanted to do it too.

Modeling was something that I had gotten into as a child and luckily I enjoyed it. Being at a shoot felt playful and I much preferred doing that than being in school! I love working with people who take pride in their creative contribution – whether it’s a photographer, wardrobe stylist, or hair and make-up artist. Everything is so specialized & it’s fun to be a part of bringing something to life that different people have put their creative touch on!

Pursuing a creative career, regardless of what it is I’m actually doing – cooking, modeling, acting, events, gives me a sense of freedom, growth, fun, & inspiration, and hopefully I’m inspiring others too!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.

I came to LA for acting and signed with my manager right before COVID. I was so excited about it but then everything shut down. I really struggled mentally during quarantine, but I took it as an opportunity to get certified as a nutritionist, as it was something I was always interested in learning more about. As difficult a time it was, because of quarantine, I was able to focus on food and nutrition. It was my way of coping with the trauma of that time. I was meal prepping for friends and neighbors and had a built-in network of taste testers for all of the recipes I was coming up with. It’s when I perfected my curries, the Tofu Tikka Masala,  Chana Masala, and my Indian Wedding Cookies – they’re all hits! All vegan, using my own proprietary blend of spices inspired by what my mom cooked for us everyday growing up. You can find them on shef.com by Lola S.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
When my best friend visited, we had the best week ever! As soon as she landed, we went for a hike at Solstice Canyon. You can see the ocean, there’s a waterfall, and architectural ruins. You can’t visit LA without doing the Runyon Canyon hike and seeing the Hollywood sign. Of course the beaches are a must – Muscle Beach in Venice is a great spot for people watching. Strolling through the Venice Canals feels like a mini getaway in the city. Marina Del Rey Beach is great to enjoy a beach that isn’t so crowded and to play volleyball! Stop by Erewhon & grab a smoothie to sip on while you walk down Abbot Kinney – there’s a bunch of shops, cafes, and restaurants. We love dining experiences so we hit the LA dining scene hard. We went everywhere from Wally’s Beverly Hills to more laid back spots closer to the beach, like Chulita. Quiadaiyn has some of the best Mexican food & service, and is a great spot for a low key meal. If you find yourself craving a nourishing, home cooked meal while you’re recouping from a full day, you have to order from Lola S. on Shef.com! The LA food scene is great because it’s easy to find vegan options on a lot of menus. For nightlife & dancing, we went to Hollywood – Warwick and Highlight Room to dance. To grab a drink & just chill, the Lincoln and The Brig in Venice are perfect. I love catching a live performance – theater, music, or comedy – there’s always something happening here! The Mar Vista Farmer’s Market is one of the best. Go early enough to grab a Rochy’s Babka before they sell out!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?

My close friends – they literally make me feel like I can do anything, are always supportive, and remind me of who I am when I have meltdowns! Growing up, my sister always gave me a boost of confidence to try anything new. My mom was a single mom when we immigrated to the US from India – her focus was on surviving. Knowing that, I gave myself permission to focus on things that truly interest me.

I’m really lucky and grateful to collaborate with people across so many different fields – Delulu Wine Club (@DeluluWineClub) is always fun to work with, bringing our food & wine together, Jacob Atwood (JacobAtwood.com) has captured some of my favorite modeling shots, and Marco Di Luca Event Design (MarcoDiLuca.com) throws the best events that I love bringing my food brand, LOLA, to!

Website: https://shef.com/order/shef/lola-s-1

Instagram: @NourishedByLola

Other: Feel free to dm me on Instagram for catering inquiries and personal cooking for off menu items!

Image Credits
Delulu Wine Club @deluluwineclub (pics in the blue top & food products), Chad Gledhill @chadtakemypic (dinner table shot with friends)

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