The Grounds of Alexandria

I’m going to cheat and post twice about this place. As a self-confessed plant lady, The Grounds of Alexandria was a special kind of happy place. Exposed brick, fairy lights, a veggie patch, magnolias and fiddle leaf figs, the frame of a glasshouse, a pig named Kevin Bacon and food?! Mind. Blown. If it was possible to get even more excited about visiting here, it happened when I discovered the bakery section. Wow. I wanted pretty much everything. Having just eaten lunch, that wasn’t possible. But, one cake was. Only one. I chose strategically. Having never tried a pistachio cake before, or seen one offered anywhere else, I took a deep breath and ordered. Oh my. What a choice! The pistachio was crunchy and delicious, but the real secret delight of this cake was the oozy strawberry syrup in the middle, which turned what could have been a dry cake into a mouthful of bliss. Definitely a good choice. Now, to find a way to go back and eat everything else!

The Grounds of Alexandria: Building 7A/2 Huntley Street, Alexandria NSW http://groundsroasters.com/

Bourke St Bakery

On a recent sojourn to Sydney, I was told that Bourke St Bakery was a must visit, and who am I to argue when there’s cake involved? In a long held tradition, Dad and I went out to lunch with our chiropractor/old family friend in Neutral Bay, and when I realised this was an option it was decided! The entrance is heralded by a sandwich board and cute bicycle leaned against the wall. This boded well. I was a bit dismayed at the high savoury-to-sweet ratio, but that was foolish – I thoroughly devoured my cauliflour and celeriac soup, served with a chunk of the best seed bread I’ve ever had. Nutritional balance satisfied, it was finally cake time. After much deliberation, I went for the strawberry meringue tart, which was absolutely a winner. If you think the strawberries on top are it, get ready for awesomeness, as underneath the meringue was more strawberry goodness. If #cometocanberra is a thing for restaurants, let’s bombard Bourke St Bakery with it. Please.

Bourke St Bakery: Shop 7/19-25 Grosvenor Street, Neutral Bay, NSW http://bourkestreetbakery.com.au/project/neutral-bay/

Macaron fixation

I’m going through a macaron stage. Ok, to be honest, I’ve been going through it for a while, and now that I have a mixmaster I can make them until my heart’s content! But I’ve taken to photographing the macarons that I buy, and finally found a mini album to house these pictures. So out comes Photoshop Elements and here are the photos:

Laudrée

Paris Plans

I am beginning to think more about what I want to do in each of the cities that I am going to visit, and today a memory from Japan has inspired a plan for Paris.

On one of my visits to Ginza, I decided to go into the exclusive Laudrée cafe and try their famous macaroons. The store window is on the corner of a major intersection, and towards the end of my trip I figured I could justify it. I went up, and was told by a rather snobby lady that unless I had a reservation, I would need to join the huge line of locals waiting to buy from the take-away menu. Needless to say, I was quite put off, gave up, and ended up eating a Starbucks macaroon instead the next time that I had a craving for one.

But… I’m going to Paris, which is where Laudrée is based, and I think this time I will stick to my guns, especially after devouring the amazing menu on their website: http://www.laduree.fr/index_en.htm

So this post is more of a “note-to-self” so I don’t forget to go when I have the chance!

35 days to go.