SoCal Restaurant Show May 9, 2026 Hour 2

“Master Baker Chef Alex Peña preserves generations of Mexican Pan Dulce techniques in the groundbreaking cookbook, The Mexican Bakery. "Some of the best conversations of my life happened over the bakery bench," says Master Baker Chef Alex Peña, recalling the rhythm of work at his family's Cypress Park bakery, La Morenita. "It was a harmony of hands and hearts, built around old-world dough.For generations, the techniques behind authentic Mexican pan dulce have been passed down at those benches, with closely guarded regional recipes perfected by bakers who traveled north from Central America, gathering knowledge at bakeries throughout Mexico. These itinerant bakers became deeply polished in their craft, but their expertise remained unwritten, preserved only through demonstration and years of apprenticeship. Until now. In The Mexican Bakery, Chef Alex has created the industry's first comprehensive guide to Mexican pan dulce and its evolution in North America. This 333-page cookbook captures over 50 traditional recipes spanning the five categories of pan dulce that have been the backbone of Mexican bakeries.” Chef Alex puts down his whisk to join us.