Broadsheet Melbourne’s podcast Around Town has spotlighted beloved bakeries across the city, recording pillowy treats, red velvet croissants and lasagne-packed pies. Here are some of their favourite baked goods you could try this weekend:
- Piña Colada Croissants at Black Star Pastry
Famous for what’s called ‘Australia’s most Instagramed cake’, the Black Star Pastry empire has just opened its third and most central outpost yet.
The shop in the CBD features new exclusive menu items, including three irresistible croissant flavours: piña colada, pistachio sprinkled strawberry chocolate and hazelnut ganache with chocolate stars.
“That focus on creating little works of art has definitely stayed at Black Star Pastry,” says the podcast’s host Katya Wachtel.
2. Prahran’s perfectly engineered Spanish pastries
La Colmena is a one-woman-show pastry shop at Prahran Market, run by a former mechanical engineer who grew up in different regions around Spain.
Broadsheet writer Ruby Harris spoke on episode , “these pastries are unlike anything I’ve ever had before, they’re all from very specific regions around Spain.”
The authentic menu includes piononos, a rolled syrup-soaked sponge cake, Roscon de Reyes, a cake with layers of sourdough and whipped cream, and doblegat, a crispy and chocolate-filled puff pastry.
3. Flaky dulce de leche pastries at To Be Frank
One of Broadsheet’s favourite bakeries is To Be Frank. A back-street Collingwood gem with a bread-lined wall and pastry-filled counter.
Local top-picks are the flaky dulce de leche pastries, Ted Lasso-inspired shortbread biscuits and the kouign-amanns.
To Be Frank doesn’t use sourdough, but a modern french technique using wholegrain, slow-fermented bread and pastry.
Their wholegrain chocolate smiles are another popular choice, and “almost like a healthy chocolate croissant,” says Broadsheet writer Ruby Harris.
4. Falco’s pie named after the famous Rockwell burger.
Falco is one of the great Melbourne bakeries that people love for a fresh loaf of bread, legendary sandwiches, and peanut butter miso cookies.
But it’s their specialty pie flavours that stand out, including tarragon and creamed corn, smoked chicken and buttered leek, pork and fennel sausage roll, and of course, the Rockwell.
The Rockwell cheeseburger pie was made in tribute to executive chef Casey Wall’s famous double patty smash burger and comes with Falco’s take on Big Mac sauce.
5. Baked four times a day at Penny for Pound.
Penny for Pound started with a couple making pastries in their living room, and now bakes croissants four times a day, every day.
You might opt for a red velvet croissant, marzipan-glazed pecan croissant, or passionfruit and cacao nib doughnut.
It’s not just sweets, the savoury options include pork fennel and apple sausage rolls, boeuf bourguignon pies and a vegetarian counterpart with chipotle beans and Monterey jack cheese.
Join Broadsheet Editorial Director Katya Wachtel as she chats with some of Melbourne’s best culture reporters about the latest in food, drink, art, fashion and more. Subscribe on the LiSTNR app to be the first to hear new episodes as they drop Monday, Wednesday and Friday.