Though you’d think “bread” and “California” would be two words that would never coexist, whether in a sentence or conversation, given the mostly chic L.A. crowd’s insistence on avoiding carbs, yet the artisanal bread scene in SoCal has been catching up with that of our venerable Bay Area neighbors. Despite what seems like an uphill battle against the carb-phobic, gluten-intolerant Angelino stereotype – which, from our experience, is only half-true – the Woodland Hills area offers a number of fantastic bakeries in which to find the most delicious loaves.
After getting many of our staff in on some blind taste-testing and running through more butter than any heart-conscious group of humans should ever consume, we rounded up Woodland Hills’ crème de la crumb of bakeries where the “upper crust” of bread lovers can indulge to their heart’s content.
Lodge Bread, located at 20929 Ventura Boulevard Unit 22, started as a simple “I dare you to do it” between Or Amsalam and Alexander Phaneuf, quickly becoming their life’s work without even knowing what hit them. The brick-and-mortar bakery opened in 2015 and is currently focused on whole-grain sourdough bread-making and milling flour, the owner-operated-and-team-focused business inviting each customer to take away from Lodge Bread every ounce that’s poured in. Bread selections include Country (with dough made from Cairnsprings T85), Seeded Country (a blend of pepitas, sunflower, white and black sesame, nigella and poppy seeds), Olive with Herbs and Citrus (made with Kalamata and castelvetrano olives seasoned with ground coriander and lemon zest), Stone-Ground Whole Grain (made from 100-percent Cairnsprings Hard Red Spring Wheat), Baguette (blended from Cairnsprings T-85 and Whole Grain Hard Red Spring Wheat) and Broche Challah (sold on Fridays only, made from Cairnsprings T65 and enriched with organic butter, eggs and sugar).
Moonlight Bread, located at 8400 Melrose Place in West Hollywood, is focused on making the best bread possible with the best ingredients from California, with all of those ingredients being as local as possible – a business model that has made Moonlight Bread’s inspiration as diverse as it comes. Founded by Max Agabon with some help from his wife Anna, Moonlight Bread offers a range of specialties, from Brioche (made with the very best pasture-raised eggs, European-style butter, 100-percent grass-fed milk and local raw honey) and Shokupan (a Japanese white bread characterized by its soft, fluffy texture and mild flavor) to delicious Pandesal (rolls from the Philippines originally made with flour, yeast and a touch of salt but which are now enriched with milk, butter and eggs). Believe us when we say this is more than just bread.
The Baker Restaurant – Bakery & Café, located at 21600 Ventura Boulevard, offers just about anything a bread or sweet coinesseur could ask for, including cookies, crepes, danishes, chocolates, pastries and more. Among some of the shop’s most talked-about baked items are the Nutella Dream Crepes (with fresh strawberries and bananas, topped with Nutella and whipped cream), Strawberry Field Danish, Chocolate Croissant, Cinnamon Roll Danish, Almond Croissant, Cream Puff, Éclair, Napoleon, Ponchik, Chocolate Cheese Cake, Fruit Tart and a whole host of truffle boxes. Open daily from 8 am to 8 pm.
House of Bread Bakery & Cafe, located at 20507 Devonshire Street in Chatsworth, specializes in fresh-made breads and pastries, and remains dedicated to providing your family with the most nutritious and best-tasting products available. Whether it be the chemical-free sustainably-grown wheat flower sourced from Montana, the use of honey as a natural preservative or the avoidance of adding extra wheat gluten, House of Bread only bakes using the finest ingredients while keeping the concern for all customers’ health at front of mind. The pastries here make the perfect treat, and you’ll immediately taste the difference because House of Bread uses real butter, high-quality flours and fresh fruits. Open Monday through Friday from 7 am to 6 pm and Saturday from 8 am to 4 pm; temporarily closed on Sundays.
Paris Baguette, located at 17136 Ventura Boulevard in Encino, was born from a love of bread and a passion for quality in 1988, and continues to specialize in French-inspired goods in addition to chef-driven cakes, pastries, sandwiches, salads and signature coffee and tea. Offering a unique experience to thousands of guests daily, Paris Baguette boasts over 4,000 locations worldwide, satisfying cravings and taste buds of all ages and backgrounds – whether those cravings and taste buds are hankering for delicious pastries, warm breads, stunning cakes or expertly-brewed drinks. Perhaps the company’s business motto sums it up perfectly: “To bring expertly-crafted baked and brewed goods to our guests through a warm and welcoming bakery café experience that delivers joy to everyone.” Open Sunday through Thursday from 6 am to 9 pm and Friday/Saturday from 6 am to 10 pm.
Bread Bros, located at 6900 Reseda Boulevard Unit F in Reseda, is the brainchild of a family that has been in the international baking business since 2001, the shop immediately overwhelming patrons when they walk in with the delicious aroma of freshly-baked Persian, Turkish and European bread that no one can resist. Stop by for some authentic Taftoon, Barbari, Garlic Barbari, Shirmal, Simit and more – this neighborhood bakery will quickly become your home away from home, especially if your family shares some European ancestry. Open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 8 am to 7 pm and Tuesday from 8 am to 5 pm; closed on Sundays.
The Los Angeles bread world has changed drastically since Nancy Silverton launched one of the first modern bakeries in the city back in 1989, La Brea, with other bakeries and bakers being inspired, eventually influencing a new generation. The aforementioned Woodland Hills-based businesses simultaneously utilize modern traditions while paying homage to the past by employing time-tested techniques and incorporating ancient grains that impact flavor, texture and even nutrition.
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