Cuisine Scene: Bread

We may not live by bread alone, but it certainly lends more flavor to life. Long Beach is recognized as a haven for those practicing that most ancient and fundamental of food operations: baking bread. Here’s a few spots where loaves rise to the level of art.

COLOSSUS BREAD

Colossus Bread (4716 E. 2nd St.) is a chef-driven bakery that sells hot loaves along with pastries using sustainably sourced and seasonal herbs, fruit, vegetables and grains. Created by owner and Long Beach native Kristin Colazas Rodriguez, specialties include sourdough bread and classic French and Italian pastries, which are served with coffee roasted by her husband, Nick Rodriguez. They also serve gorgeous gourmet pizzas and sandwiches.

GUSTO BREAD

With artisanal loaves that are delicately patterned inside and out, Gusto Bread (2710 E. 4th St.) on Long Beach’s Retro Row got its start as a hobby with a backyard wood-fired oven and some fermented wild yeast and grew into a business fueled by passion for bread making. Owner Arturo Enciso and his partner Ana Belén Salatino take inspiration from Latin ingredients and recipes, and their approach has earned their panadería a nomination as a 2024 James Beard Award finalist.

NONNA MERCATO

Much renowned Nonna Mercato (3722 Atlantic Ave) does everything well–breakfast, pastries, dinner–but it’s instructive to remember that it all started with bread. Chef Cameron Slaugh’s artisan bakery is suffused by French and Italian roots, utilizing the class techniques of those country’s baking traditions. That starts with sourcing the finest grains–organic and sustainable–then hand shaping their bread–sourdoughs to brioche to olive loaves–and baking them right before serving.

DAILY BREAD BAKERY

Daily Bread Bakery (6084 Atlantic Ave.) is known for its freshly-baked breads, made daily with high quality ingredients and baked to exacting specifications. A particular favorite at this unpretentious, ultra-clean bakery is their bolillo, a savory bread that is a sort of Mexican variation on the baguette, though shorter in length. Daily Bread is also known for its delicious Mexican sweet breads, which come in a variety of flavors.

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About the Author

Steve Lowery

Steve Lowery is a longtime local. Over the years he has written for the Los Angeles Times, ESPN, and others. If you're looking for the hidden gems of Long Beach, Steve is your go-to.