For 3 years our beloved DDT CEO extraordinaire KT led our monthly dessert expeditions. However the wind had changed - KT made the incredible decision to follow her heart alllll the way to Buenos Aires!!! To wish her a bon voyage - one last indulgence, as the dessert scene in BA is no where near the sophistication of Sydney - where better than a final fling with KT's wishlist-fiancé Adriano?
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| The kitchen behind the cafe |
Adriano's success was well known to all. Prior to his rise to (national) fame, the Balmain locals plus those in the know (ahem, like us DDDs) flocked to their local secret gem. Now that every second person and their pets in Australia had heard about him, there was no way his little cafe, which was a block away from the patisserie, could cope. We have long heard that he was expanding and opening a new cafe at Rozelle, so now that it has happened, we DDDs must show our presence!
A couple of us turned up at the patisserie and made our selections - as the cafe had a different selection to that of the patisserie - THEN we arrived at the cafe, which was a hole in the wall - it had two benches each seating 5 stools. And there was not a lot of space to cope with the endless stream of customers. Oh how were we to cope with the expected 20+ people?! Lucky KT was organized and found Bridgewater Park, just minutes walk from the cafe, so the string of DDDs bought and brought their goodies and devoured them at the park. Two tables under cover on a hot summer's day - Perfect!
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| Divving up the goodies! |
A few old favourites included almond croissant, pepito (pastry bread with chocolate and hazelnut filling, excellent breakfast), chocolate croissant, palmier, berry brioche, passionfruit tart and a selection of macarons; a few other interesting new items - yuzu, kalamansi and lime tart, mandarin tart - both beautifully citrusy and tasty, but our favourite was still the passionfruit tart; "was are be you me" - wasabi peas, pistachio creme patissiere, grapefruit confit, wasabi balls - I had reservations but it wasn't overpowering with the heat and sting but that lovely wasabi flavour. Light and fluffy pastry, tasty smooth pastry... better than the mustard profiterole "Allesa I like big buns" 12 months ago.
Interesting selection of macarons - including wasabi (VERY nice - see description on the was are be you me); Go-chu-jang Korean chilli (some liked it, I didn't - personal preference); toasted marshmallow (basically sugar filling in sweet macaron shells... sugar on sugar); peach tea (like just like a Lipton peach tea only crunchy!); Other flavours from the main patisserie - rosemary and apricot earned unanimous frown and "hmmm.... interesting!" - not a popular flavour, I'd say.
Old favourite salted caramel was sold out at 10am - we were lucky to have the last two! A new 'favourite' - lime pineapple, tastes like a splice ice cream (only crunchy!), hope they keep that flavour as a regular. Unfortunately due to the warm weather the macaron fillings were suffering, however I must say that these macarons have improved from how I remembered it - they used to have a hard outer shell and an air pocket (gasp!!) between the outer shell and the macaron body, and at times a bit chewy. This time, every single one we cracked open had a fragile shell that just gave in at the slightest pressure, no air pocket, and virtually melts in your mouth! Thank you Adriano - perfect macarons, amazing flavours.
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| The last 2 salted caramel macs! |
We love the Adriano creativity, daring and imaginative flavour mix and match, putting them together into an artistic architecture, a feast for the taste and sight. One thing we all found disappointing was the size of the cafe "expansion" - if it was to allow more patrons, what's the idea of the tiny cafe? The original cafe could at least seat 20, and its menu included some delectable sweets to die for ("Paris" la vie en rose - romantic rose and berry dessert; and chocolate hamburger made with chocolate macaron and chocolate ice cream etc). If only we were able to sit in relative comfort enjoying some of his signature desserts....
With that, we say BON VOYAGE to our dearly beloved KT... Hope you are happy in your journey and we will think of you when we indulge next!!
CS
KT: I had enough Adriano to last me the year... welcome our first time DDDs, Colleen, Scarlett, Shelley, Neil, Lesley and Caroline!
A couple of us turned up at the patisserie and made our selections - as the cafe had a different selection to that of the patisserie - THEN we arrived at the cafe, which was a hole in the wall - it had two benches each seating 5 stools. And there was not a lot of space to cope with the endless stream of customers. Oh how were we to cope with the expected 20+ people?! Lucky KT was organized and found Bridgewater Park, just minutes walk from the cafe, so the string of DDDs bought and brought their goodies and devoured them at the park. Two tables under cover on a hot summer's day - Perfect!
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