No. 01Who is Billy Lush?+
Billy Lush is the baker and founder of Billy Bread. He is also a working actor (Generation Kill, The Chicago Code, For All Mankind, Low Winter Sun, The Black Donnellys) who began baking sourdough in 2012 between acting jobs. He turned the hobby into a bakery in September 2020.
No. 02Where is Billy Bread located?+
Billy Bread is a small-batch home bakery based in Newbury Park, California. Founder Billy Lush operates under a California Cottage Bakery License, baking out of his home kitchen and serving Newbury Park and the greater Conejo Valley. There's no walk-in storefront: pickup is at Billy's home kitchen in Newbury Park, and the pickup address comes with your order.
No. 03How do I order?+
Place your order through the shop right here on the website. Most loaves are baked to order, so order sourdough by Wednesday night to guarantee a loaf. Bread is baked fresh every Friday for pickup or local delivery in Newbury Park.
No. 04What are Billy Bread's hours?+
Billy Bread is open for pickup and delivery on Fridays, 8am to 6pm, and closed Saturday through Thursday. There's no walk-in storefront: everything is ordered ahead online and baked fresh that Friday. Order sourdough by Wednesday night to guarantee a loaf.
No. 05When do I know my order is ready?+
Billy texts (or emails) you directly the moment your order is baked and ready, to confirm it's ready and arrange your pickup or delivery. You never have to guess; you'll hear from Billy himself.
No. 06Do you deliver?+
Yes, Billy offers local delivery throughout Newbury Park and the greater Conejo Valley, with free pickup also available. Specific delivery timing is arranged directly with Billy. Out-of-area shipping isn't offered; the bread is too fresh to sit in a box for two days.
No. 07Is Billy Bread sourdough naturally leavened?+
Yes. Every sourdough loaf is fermented using a live wild-yeast culture that Billy has maintained since 2012. There are no commercial yeasts, dough conditioners, or preservatives in the sourdough lineup. The only preservative is salt.
No. 08How long does fresh sourdough stay good?+
Whole sourdough loaves stay at their best for three to four days at room temperature, cut-side down on a board or in a paper bag. After that, slice and freeze. Frozen slices toast directly from the freezer with no quality loss.
No. 09What is the Billy Bread milk bread class?+
A 3-hour hands-on class for up to eight bakers. You'll watch tangzhong and mixing, then shape and bake two loaves to take home: one classic milk bread and one filled with your choice of Cinnamon Swirl or Pumpkin Pie. A stand mixer with a dough hook is required to make the recipe at home. The first class is Sunday, October 25, 2026, 1:00 to 4:00pm, at an introductory $125.
No. 10What is the Billy Bread sourdough class?+
It's a 3-hour hands-on class for up to eight bakers at $175 per person. Each student leaves with a banneton, a bench scraper, a live sourdough starter, a printed recipe and starter-care guide, one baked loaf and two doughs to bake at home, and the muscle memory of what dough should actually feel like when it's ready.
No. 11What's the most popular Billy Bread item?+
The Coyote Sourdough, a darker, deeper-baked sourdough named after the Sycamore Canyon Coyotes, Billy's kids' school mascot. That, or whatever the current monthly special happens to be.
No. 12What areas does Billy Bread deliver to?+
Local delivery covers Newbury Park (91320, $3), Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village, and Lake Sherwood (91360/91361/91362, $5). Free pickup at the Newbury Park kitchen is open to everyone, and regulars drive in from Camarillo, Moorpark, Simi Valley, Calabasas, Agoura Hills, Oak Park, Ventura, Oxnard, and greater Los Angeles. Delivery is matched to your ZIP automatically at checkout.
No. 13How far ahead do I need to order?+
Sourdough takes three days to make, and Billy starts the dough on Wednesday, so order by Wednesday night to guarantee a loaf for Friday. There's no hard cutoff: Billy sometimes bakes a few extras, so a Friday morning order can get lucky. The milk breads have no cutoff, so you can order those later in the week. Bigger or custom orders are best placed a week or two out.
No. 14Can I place a custom or large order?+
Yes. Billy takes custom and large-batch orders: wedding focaccia, corporate gifts, holiday spreads, and big family pickups. For anything sizeable, text or email Billy directly so he can plan the bake.
No. 15Are Billy Bread products vegan or allergen-friendly?+
Many sourdoughs are vegan (flour, water, salt, starter), while milk bread, certain focaccias, butters, and cookies contain dairy, eggs, or honey. Everything is baked in a home kitchen that also handles wheat, dairy, eggs, and nuts, so it isn't suitable for severe allergies. Ask Billy about any specific ingredient before ordering.
No. 16How do I pay, and is pickup really free?+
You pay securely online at checkout when you order. Pickup at the Newbury Park kitchen is always free; local delivery adds a small flat fee ($3 in Newbury Park, $5 across the rest of the Conejo Valley zone).
No. 17Where can I taste Billy Bread in person?+
The easiest way is to order a loaf for Friday pickup or delivery. Billy Bread also pops up at local markets and events around the Conejo Valley now and then, so join the list and we'll let you know where Billy Bread will be next.
