Welcome to our new website. Wander a bit. Stay awhile. We're happy to have you. 

Chef Brian Wood

Owner & Pastry Chef, Starter Bakery

Brian Wood is the founder, Head Baker, and CEO of Starter Bakery, and the author of Advanced Bread and Pastry: A Professional Approach. Trained internationally, he opened Starter Bakery in 2010 and has since expanded to multiple locations.

Brian Wood, Head Baker and CEO, aged 48, has literally written the book on bread and pastry: Advanced Bread and Pastry: A Professional Approach. After college he soon realized his heart was in baking. He earned a certificate in baking and pastry and has continued to enhance and develop his skills in chocolate, French bread and pastry, studying in Seattle, France and Canada.

He has been a restaurant pastry chef, a chocolate production manager, an instructor at the San Francisco Baking Institute, a wholesale bakery product developer and a consultant before opening Starter Bakery in 2010. Wood opened a College Avenue retail bakery cafe in March 2023 and a Solano Avenue retail bakery cafe in October 2025. www.starterbakery.com.  

Join Our Newsletter

Stay up-to-date with new product releases, Guittard updates and receive 15% OFF on your first order. No Spam, I promise.