On my walk home from Saint Frank’s one morning, still holding the last of an iced latte, I noticed a sign taped to a post: Active Dough Bakery. There was a QR code, a name I hadn’t heard before, and something about it made me stop. Just for fun, I ordered a loaf.

What I got was the best sourdough I’ve ever had.

Mathias, the baker, makes some loaves to order, and you can taste it. The crust is that perfect level of crisp—crackly, golden, no effort needed to tear in. Inside, the crumb is sticky in the best way: tender, chewy, complex. It’s the kind of bread you don’t need anything on. My boyfriend and I routinely finish a whole loaf in a day, which feels less like indulgence and more like inevitability.

So far, we've tried the regular, cinnamon raisin, and rosemary. All excellent, but honestly? My favorite is always whatever’s just come out of the oven. If you see the sign, order the loaf. No branding, no storefront, just incredible bread from someone who clearly knows what he’s doing. Seriously, it is the best sourdough you will ever buy.

Sincerely,

Shaye Story