Welcome to the very first edition of The Toasty Dispatch—the newsletter where I’ll share the highs, the lows, and all the delicious details as I work to bring Toasty Polvo to life.

2025 is already off to a heavy start, but honestly? I’m still riding the high of the last two weeks of December. For those who’ve known me over the last 15 years, you know my career has been deeply rooted in government and the public sector. Since 2016, it’s been… a lot. Waves of hard news hit me like a freight train starting in November, and by mid-December, I was a walking dark cloud.

But once upon a time, my exit plan from government was desserts. Back in 2012, I graduated from the French Culinary Institute with certifications in Cake Techniques and Design and Restaurant Management. I even got my New York City Food Handler’s license, ready to dive into the culinary world. Then my public sector career skyrocketed, and the joy of creating food got put on hold.

Fast forward to December: I found myself learning how to make Filipino polvoron, a crumbly, buttery dessert that’s pure comfort food. Normally, I whip up macarons for the holidays, but this year, I needed something simpler—something nostalgic to get me through.

Enter my partner, who works at a dispensary, and my suddenly lightbulb moment: WAIT, WHAT IF THESE WERE INFUSED? And just like that, the idea for Toasty Polvo was born—a cannabis-infused twist on polvoron that’s as comforting as it is creative.

While I enjoy sharing updates on Instagram, we all know the algorithm isn’t exactly cannabis-friendly. If you’re here, you’re already ahead of the game—this is the space to follow the journey, stay in the loop, and even snag opportunities to try Toasty Polvo before it hits dispensary shelves.

What you can expect from the Toasty Dispatch

• A real, unfiltered update of Toasty Polvo progress.

• Sneak peeks of the cannabis strains I’m experimenting with.

• Behind-the-scenes moments of launching a cannabis business in NJ.

• Events recaps and things I’m planning to attend.

• Opportunities to test out new recipes—because I really can’t eat all of these myself.

• Random cries for help, whether it’s business advice, cannabis connections, or recipe tweaks.

This Week’s Crumb

I want to kick things off by shouting out Botera Union, where I tested my very first batch of Toasty Bites. Their support has been incredible, and it’s proof that this journey is all about collaboration and community.

Thanks for being here, for caring about this idea, and for believing in what Toasty Polvo can be.

Let’s make 2025 delicious.

Stay Toasty,

MJ 💕 
Founder, Toasty Polvo