Annual caffeination (and sugarisation) at the Aroma Festival

We do this every year, virtually carbon copy of the year before, but how can you blame us? Clear blue sky, crisp winter's day with warm sunshine on our backs, carnival atmosphere, lovely lovely company, that was what we had at this year's Aroma Festival.

The usual deal - start early, beat the crowds, get our caffeine dose before midday if we could, then kick back and watch the rest of the crowd queue for their coffee because they didn't get up early enough.

Mandatory stop - La Renaissance - where the best macarons in Sydney are made. Big claim? I think not, with every person I introduce these delectable little goodies to, even skeptics (like myself before tasting La Renaissance's macs) are converted at an instant. My research tells me, macarons should be fragile, slightly crispy on the outside, melt in the mouth. Furthermore, the shells should not be sickeningly sweet that overpowers the flavour of the filling. La Renaissance's macs are all that - and never fail to please! Love. My future boy had better propose with a box of macs disguising the carat rock ....

Where was I  ... Ah yes, La Renaissance. Other goodies - Almond croissant, brioche, palmier, apple custard slice, mille feuille, chocolate caramel tart, creme brulee, and gorgeous petit fours - cheese cake, mixed berry mousse and coffee and chocolate mousse. And of course, salted caramel, and choc-passionfruit macarons.

Favourite? For me, the berry mousse, the macs, mille feuille. Cheese cake was excellent, gorgeous classic baked cheese cake. Almond croissant - always lovely (but I miss the choc-almond croissant in Paris... love...). Chocolate tart was rich. Creme brulee was perfect and classic. Apple custard slice was like an apple pie with light and flaky pastry. Palmier was good (but maybe still not as good as La Gerber d'Or). Could not fault any of their dessert, except maybe the size, they're just too small. :p

Time for a stroll. So many goodies, so many people, and so many people enjoying the many goodies everywhere. Again we are most fortunate with the weather, everyone was out and about, taking it in. And this year's coffee art - We've had Mona Lisa, Marilyn Monroe, who would it be this year? Our very own, Dame Edna!

Once the sun left us, it got cold. The lovely deceptive blue sky was only kind to us when the sun was out. By mid afternoon it was rather unbearable in the shade ... so we took our leave and left the long queues to the patient people needing their mid afternoon caffeine fix. Aroma festival, I'll see you next year!!

CS

[KT: Welcome to first time DDDs Ada, Woody, Yujin, Amy & Kelly! What happened to the "sweet" potato chips, CS? hehe]