

"Locals hoped to keep it a secret, but the word got out," says Eloise Wilson of Elk Grove, California. Or order some of the huge scones, almond-chocolate biscotti, hearty cheese fougasse, or monstrous sticky buns." Leonard's Bakery, Honolulu, Hawaii

"You can sample 10 or more kinds of loaves.

"When you walk into Wild Flour Bread, the scent of handmade organic bread just out of the wood oven is intoxicating," says Phillip Novak of Pleasant Hill, California. " This treasure bakes up a fantastically rich array of cakes, cookies, and pastries," says Cheryl Conner of Sunnyvale, California. "It's a favorite stop on weekends, when we sit out with our delicious treats on the little terrace soaking up the sun." Wild Flour Bread, Freestone, California "And try the pigs, which are sweet breads shaped like-what else?-little pigs." "The dulce de leche cake and empanadas filled with pumpkin, pineapple, or custard are always worth a stop at La Panaderia Mexican Bakery," says Suzanne Perez of Modesto. " Gayle's has every bread you might desire, rich pastries and cakes, and even delectable gourmet meals to go." La Panaderia Mexican Bakery, Modesto, California "The hands-down favorite of locals and out-of-towners," writes Nancy Cummings of Eugene, Oregon. We eat our fill and take more home for friends." Gayle's Bakery & Rosticceria, Capitola, California " Erick Schat's Bakkery is a compulsory stop in the eastern Sierra," says Geeta Subramonian of Cupertino, Califrnia. "The sheepherder and olive breads, pound cakes, and eclairs are just out of this world. "If you have a fondness for European-style cakes and pastries, you'll be in heaven at Copenhagen Bakery," promises Zorica Gojkovic of Mill Valley, California. "Marzipan-filled vanilla-chocolate Mozarts, marzipan-topped triangles, black Russian rye, Dutch crunch loaf-even chocolate chip cookies." Erick Schat's Bakkery, Bishop, California "Offerings at Lu Lu's include traditional kettle-boiled bagels baked on a stone hearth and pastries made daily with real butter, cream, gourmet chocolate, and fruit in season," writes Stanley Guth of Mill Valley, California. "In winter, expect to wait behind a line of mushers and sled dogs." Copenhagen Bakery & Cafe, Burlingame, California "Once you've visited, it will always call you back." Lu Lu's Breads and Bagels Bakery, Fairbanks, Alaska " This great bakery on scenic Turnagain Arm is the home of sweet rolls so big and delicious that one will last you a whole day," writes Janet Gill of Anchorage.
