Loafing around: A look at five of Monterey County's best breads.

An excellent bread is a complete sensory experience. The Weekly visited five bakeries and tried their signature loaf, each filling a different carb need: Some make great sandwiches, while others are best suited for dipping in olive oil. Each is good enough to stand alone too.

Caraway Sourdough Bread at Pavel’s Backerei

This loaf ($4.95) is densely packed with caraway seeds, imparting a classic rye bread flavor, but unlike a dense, crumbly rye bread it’s a pleasantly doughy creation that pulls apart easily. This bakery, also known for its sweets, closes when they sell out each day, so it’s advisable to arrive early.

7am-early afternoon Tue-Sat, 219 Forest Ave., Pacific Grove, (831) 643-2636,

www.facebook.com/PavelsBackerei

Country Loaf at Lafayette Bakery & Cafe

The country loaf ($3.85/small, $3.50/baguette, $7.50/large) is a remarkably hearty bread, made with 15-percent rye flour blended with 20-percent sourdough, just barely bitter enough to bring out an old-timey rustic flavor. Great for a sandwich or French toast.

7am-6pm Mon-Sat, 7am-4pm Sun, 3672 The Barnyard, Suite E22, Carmel, (831) 915-6286, www.lafayettebakery.com

Ciabatta Bread at Palermo Bakery

The is a wholesale operation that allows customers to walk up to the loading dock and buy whatever’s left after filling wholesale orders. The ciabatta ($1.70) is a light, airy, slightly buttery bread, dusted with flour and great for dipping in olive oil.

4-11am daily, 160 Fremont Blvd., Seaside, (831) 394-8212, www.palermobakeryco.com

Nine-Grain Bread at Big Sur Bakery

This restaurant bakery rotates their bread daily (there’s sourdough Wednesdays, oat-and-honey Tuesdays), and Thursdays are nine-grain gold ($7/half, $14/whole). It’s a sourdough bread blended with whole wheat flour milled in San Juan Bautista, and a little bit of rye. Sunflower, flax and sesame seeds provide nutty tones.

8am-2:30pm Tues-Sun, 47540 Highway 1, Big Sur, (831) 667-0520, www.bigsurbakery.com

Whole Wheat Bread at The Bakery Station

You need to place your order a day in advance to get a whole loaf ($5), but it’s worth it for sandwich-making on a slightly sweet wheat bread that’s mild enough to avoid distracting from whatever you layer on. Alternatively, you can spontaneously order sandwiches on-site without having to order a whole bread in advance.

6am-4pm Mon-Fri, 7am-2pm Sat, 202 Monterey St., Salinas, (831) 783-1140, www.facebook.com/TheBakeryStation