Five Faves: Best bakery

When it comes to the best bakeries in the Triangle area, there are four that easily take the cake. Each has its own niche offerings and specialties, but there’s one thing they have in common: They're delicious. Whether fresh from the oven or bagged and taken home, the goods won't disappoint.

If you’ve eaten a sufficient number of sandwiches in a sufficient number of Durham restaurants, chances are you’re already familiar with Guglhupf’s delicious bread. But it’s well worth visiting the German-style bakery itself, whether you stop in after brunch at the café or just enjoy a cup of coffee and the most luscious cream puff the Triangle, and probably North Carolina, and probably even the world, has to offer. Two flaky, slightly crispy and not overly sweet pastries sandwich thick, dense cream whipped to perfectly stiff peaks. It’s like eating the clouds straight from heaven. I’m not exaggerating. See and taste for yourself. You’ll thank me.

Sugarland is just full of sweet things. The cupcakes are a beautiful treat for your eyes as well as your tastebuds. The gelato is just what the doctor ordered on a sunny summer day and the cannoli could rival an Italian grandmother's best family recipe. Because it’s open late, Sugarland can accommodate your sugar cravings almost anytime, even if your sweet tooth only comes out at night.

The best thing about Weaver Street Market is that its fully stocked and freshly baked bakery case is a convenient addition to your typical grocery trip. You can pick up a sweet or savory treat while you’re simply stopping in for milk or you can add artisan, handcrafted bread to a cart full of the staples. No additional stop is required to get a hearty, delicious loaf of bread to get you through the week.

Where can you get delicious pastries that go beyond the European bakery staples, healthy and fresh Middle Eastern food and a variety of breads to take home with you? Neomonde, with two locations in Raleigh and one in Morrisville. I admit I’m a sucker for vegetables, grilled meat and a tangy garlicky tahini sauce stuffed into a freshly baked pita pocket, but Neomonde’s selection of cold and warm deli offerings accompanied with a few pita wedges or a crunchy baguette hunk is how I’d gladly eat breakfast, lunch and dinner, seven days a week. Another bonus: It's surprisingly cheap. Lunch for two plus a sampling of baklava only cost me $12.

Leave us a comment. Where can you get the very best buttery, flaky croissant, hearty loaf of bread or decadent sweet treat in the Triangle?