Inside the LA French bakery that just smashed into the top 14 US rankings

A beloved Los Angeles bakery and its decorated chef-owner has taken home yet another award to add to its growing list of accolades.Republique — the La Brea Avenue bakery/cafe/restaurant owned and operated by Chefs Walter and Margarita Manzke — was named one of Tasting Table‘s 14 best French bakeries in the United States.Making it one of two California bakeries on the list, joined by Arsicault Bakery in San Francisco, and the latest of many awards for the eatery.The spot has been mentioned in the Michelin Guide back in October, with Chef Margarita also winning a James Beard Award for Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker in 2023.The restaurant opened in November 2013, and it has frequently mentioned on The Los Angeles Times’ Best 101 list, and it is one of the paper’s restaurant critic Bill Addison’s favorite restaurants in town.Margarita was born and raised in the Philippines, before starting her culinary education in London.“I went to school at the Cordon Bleu in London for both the culinary side and pastry program as well, and then after that, I went to CIA in Hyde Park, and I just did the culinary program over there,” she told The Post.California's top news, sports and entertainment delivered to your inbox every day.

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Never miss a story She would go on to cut her culinary teeth at high-end Los Angeles restaurants like Patina, Spago, and Mélisse, before relocating to Carmel with husband Walter.There they opened Bouchée, Cantinetta Luca and l’Auberge Carmel, where Margarita perfected her French baguette.The couple returned to Los Angeles, where they ultimately opened Republique, in a building that has a lot of Hollywood history.The building at 624 S.La Brea Avenue was originally built in 1928, serving as the original offices for Hollywood legend Charlie Chaplin.It was turned into a restaurant back in 19...