Destination: Yellow Dog Bread Company

Fresh bread and pastries. I'd live on the stuff if I didn't have some passing concern about my waist line.

One of my few complaints about this area is that we don't have more great bakeries. There are plenty of places to find cupcakes and cakes around here, for sure. But I'm talking about businesses that focus on breads, pastries, cookies and other treats that don't require buttercream or some other kind of icing.

Along the counter on Thursday were scones, including a variety with chocolate chips and another with maple and bacon, croissants and giant sticky buns. There were stuffed breads, focaccia and all sorts of cookies.

On the wall hung fresh breads of all kinds, including a tantalizing baguette that went home with me. It took nearly all of my being to not rip into that thing on the way home. Once I did, it was light and airy on the inside and perfectly chewy on the outside, just like the other baguettes that I've gotten here.

I can also recommend the scones, the chocolate croissants, the muffins, and the cookies. They all are moist when they need to be or crispy when they should be. In other words, I can recommend everything I've tried in the last year. Those sticky buns are on my list next!

Why do I write about Yellow Dog here? It's a perfect place for a casual breakfast out with the family, especially when the weather is gorgeous and you can sit at one of their outside tables. There are a few tables inside too. 

You can head on from there to downtown destinations like the state history and natural science museums or Marbles Kids Museum. Or you can take your goodies to go and have a picnic at nearby Mordecai Historic Park or Lions Park.

The prices are affordable. Most items were $3 or under (including that baguette). They also serve up drip coffee and espresso drinks.

It's open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., weekdays, and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturdays. Closed Sundays. Find it at 219 E. Franklin St., Raleigh.