Reviewed by Paul M. Clayton

Well, who would expect the little seaport and commercial center of Morehead City to have a bakery that would do any city from New York to New Orleans proud? And to make things even better, Alex & Brett is within a few blocks of all the downtown marinas.

I found Alex & Brett a few years ago, when Harrison and I spent a couple of days tied to the Sanitary Fish Market dock, waiting for a weather window to go out Beaufort Inlet. My first visit I bought some cookies, my second visit I bought eclairs and pastries, my third visit I bought a loaf of Anadama bread - you get the picture. All the baked goods made a fine addition to Harrison's gourmet cooking as we waited out the weather aboard Stella Maris. Since then, I never pass Alex & Brett without going in - except on Mondays, when they are closed.

One of my favorite reasons to visit is to buy a dozen assorted cookies - chocolate chip, peanut butter, oatmeal raisin of course, but also some of the more exotic varieties - magnolia blossoms, mommickes and oyster rocks - and take them back to the marina clubhouse. If I leave them on the bar, I can be certain they will all soon be eaten. Everyone likes them, especially Kiersten.

Alex & Brett offers a selection of pastries that include all the classics - eclairs, creme horns, danishes, lemon squares - along with my favorite, pain au chocolate.

If you can work your way past the cookies, pastries, cakes and pies, you will find a case filled with exceptional fresh-baked breads. My favorites are the Annadama and French loaves, but they are all fantastic. A loaf of French bread, a stick of butter, and a bottle of red wine - just add company and a table on the deck at the clubhouse for a perfect afternoon.

Alex has won many competitions with his spectacular Christmas gingerbread houses. A pleasant way to enjoy a pastry is to order a cup of coffee to go with it, sit at one of the comfortable tables in the back of the store and peruse the pictures of Alex's triumphs that are framed on the wall.