The scent of fresh bread drifting down the block has a way of slowing people down and pulling them toward the door without a second thought.
In California, that pull comes in many forms, from crackling sourdough born of foggy coastal mornings to butter-laminated pastries shaped by Old World technique and West Coast creativity.
Across the state, bakeries act as daily rituals and weekend destinations, where early risers line up for warm loaves and regulars return for the flavors that feel stitched into their routines…