The Dutchess Bakery Café

As a baker and bakery-obsessed person, I could hardly contain my excitement when I heard that one of my favorite bakers in LA, Zoe Nathan (of Huckleberry/Rustic Canyon fame) was partnering on this all-day café in Ojai to take over Azu's old space. It's since become my favorite place to meet friends for coffee, tea, pastries, cake, or lunch during the day. The bakery is run by Kelsey Brito (ex-Tartine) who makes the most exquisite seasonal cakes and baked goods, and the kitchen is helmed by Burmese-born chef Saw Naing, so the food menu is a mix of California and Burmese-Indian dishes. I love the congé and tea leaf salad. But one of the things that keeps me coming back is the space itself. It's enormous and somehow also cozy. Locals camp out here with their laptops, so it is a real community hub during the week. There are so many nooks to choose from, whether you want to be in the front next to the tantalizing pastry case, the middle dining section with wooden benches, or the bright patio outside. Btw, they do also serve dinner and have a full bar. And Brito makes the most beautiful cakes for birthdays and celebrations.