"A few weeks into dating, on the day after Valentine’s Day service, Alex Henderson and Maricsa Trejo drove to New Orleans for Mardi Gras. "It was my first trip with a boy outside of the state," Trejo says. She got sick and spent the evening curled up in pain; the next morning Henderson handed her "an oat milk latte, candy, and tampons." "I didn’t know what to get you, so I bought you all these…I just want you to feel okay," he told her, which floored Trejo and prompted her to ask, "Why are you being so nice to me?" Eight years and a bakery, event venue, and coffee shop later they returned to New Orleans, where Henderson presented a grocery bag: "I got you this: Gatorade and orange juice. And I also got you this. Then he just got down on one knee," Trejo says. They aren’t big on Valentine’s Day itself; instead they are hosting an Anti-Valentine’s Day dinner at a Half-Price Books location on February 14: "A tasting menu — mainly desserts with every course you get a piece of this relationship that like falls apart," says Henderson. Their favorite holiday is "Halloween," Trejo says, smiling." - Didi Paterno
"Don’t just reheat store rolls — get all your Thanksgiving breads fresh from La Casita. It’s got orders open for dinner rolls, baguettes, cinnamon raison loaves, multigrain loaves, sourdough loaves, and white bread loaves. It’s also got desserts covered with brown butter and apple pie, pecan pie, and pumpkin pie, plus loads of holiday pastries for breakfast. We’re loving the look of the pumpkin-shaped sourdough with traditional stuffing spice. Order online, and pre-orders close on November 23. Pickup is November 27." - Courtney E. Smith
"The team at this James Beard-recognized bakery are know for being big Halloween people. The baked goods here during spooky season are incredible, under the leadership of head pastry chef Maricsa Trejo. Look for murder cruffins, witches fingers, and the Oogie Boogie — brown butter chocolate chip cookie butter, hazelnut praline, dark chocolate ganache, chocolate tart shell, Oreo crumb, and a green oogie boogie meringue." - Courtney E. Smith
"A Dallas‑Fort Worth bakery is running a pop‑up in a hotel cafe through August 31, offering items such as dulce de leche honey cakes, strawberry‑guava‑cheese quesitos, and saffron cardamom knots from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, with partial proceeds benefiting the hotel’s carbon‑offset nonprofit." - Nadia Chaudhury
"A little bakery with immense creativity, and a whole lot of recognition from the James Beard Awards, is tucked inside a strip mall in Richardson. La Casita has created a fiercely loyal fan base of lovers of their themed baked pastries, bread and sweets, such as Gansito-flavored cruffins, strawberry concha sandwiches, and savory jalapeño popper croissants." - Rachel Pinn