"Gusto Bread, a Long Beach panadería specializing in breads and pastries prepared with wild fermented sourdough culture and fresh corn masa, is in the running for a James Beard Award this year. Add to that the city's affinity for high-end dining and culinary creativity, and you get a good idea of LA's diverse baking scene. Food & Wine named Hanna Ziskin a 2023 Best New Chef on the merits of her "slabs" served at Quarter Sheet in the back of a pizza restaurant. They're her brick-shaped cake slices layered with jam, cream, seasonal fruits, cookie crumbles, and whatever else strikes her fancy, and they've earned the ex-Chez Panisse and Tartine baker a rep as a pastry pro to be reckoned with." - Dobrina Zhekova