3 CA Bakeries Make NYT Best In USA List

CALIFORNIA — Whether you're looking for tangy sourdough bread, seasonal pastries, or fruit-filled Danishes made with nondairy butter, California's bakeries deliver exceptional delights.

The New York Times recently published "22 of the Best Bakeries Across the U.S. Right Now."
According to the piece, the nation is seeing "a bakery renaissance is underway, fueled by a convergence of economics, post-Covid restaurant changes, diners’ tastes and the marketing power of social media."

Brian Gallagher for the Times said the baked goods gold rush is led by "former fine-dining pastry chefs and entrepreneurial hobbyists-turned-professionals alike."

Among the bakeries making waves in the food scene are these three California treasures.

Bakers Bench, Los Angeles

This vegan bakery is known for using nondairy butter. "The croissants at Bakers Bench are excellent," according to the Times, "and once you start going for those, it’s hard to stay away from the cookies, muffins and Danishes filled with fruit from the Santa Monica Farmers’ Market."

Find Bakers Bench at 1021 Alpine Street, Building A, in Los Angeles.

Gusto Bread, Long Beach

The Times calls Gusto Bread a "neighborhood panadería with an expressive, unconventional and highly delicious approach that extends to conchas, multigrain breads and all kinds of seasonal pastries that make the bakery a destination."

Find Gusto Bread at 2710 East 4th Street, Long Beach.

Quail and Condor, Healdsburg

The Times noted, "the Bay Area possesses an embarrassment of riches when it comes to exceptional bakeries." Still, they settled on just one bakery, Quail and Condor, where offerings "run the gamut with luscious chocolate Champagne cakes, sourdough smacked with tang and pastries with lamination close to translucent."

Find Quail and Condor at 149 Healdsburg Avenue, Healdsburg.

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