The Blacksmith - Belgrave

The Blacksmith

1698-1700 Burwood Highway, Belgrave.

Baked Good: Apple scroll with shaved almonds

Should you stay, or should you go?: Go. Make a day of it and go.

1. Presentation - 4

2. First bite - 4

3 Texture - 4

4. Flavour - 4

5. How'd it make me feel after - 4

(1 - Not so much. 5 - This is fricking awesome)

On the main drag settled amongst the numerous cafes and stores filled with treasures you can only find in Belgrave lies The Blacksmith Café. The café is one of those old school café's that in the 80s would have been where the locals met with a cigarette and a coffee for hours on end. It has that relaxed décor you can only find in a small little town far from the clinical white walls and stainless steel you find in café's around Melbourne's inner suburbia.  The numerous freshly baked bread on the racks with paper bags ready for you to pick. The endless choices of tarts, scrolls, slices and cakes. That's on top of the display cabinets of quiche, arancini balls, sandwiches and rolls. But all that wouldn't matter if it weren't for the constant friendly smiles of the staff that makes this café well worth a visit.

One of my favourite things to eat is an apple scroll topped with some sort of nut. So much so that as a leaving gift from my last job, I received an apple and walnut scroll as a parting gift. So when I found this sitting on a tray amongst the numerous pastries I was possible a little excited to have the opportunity to add this to the blog. Okay you've caught me out, I'm just excited to eat it blog or not. At first I just assumed it was an iced scroll with almond shavings on top. When the lovely server took my order and informed me it was an apple scroll, she giggled at how excited I was.

Now I like to make it fair when I review a baked item so as not to be too generous just because I like it. But there is one thing I like in particular with Apple Scrolls and that's then they are moist. And The Blacksmith hasn't let me down.

While it's hard to narrow down when this delight started gracing the lips of the people, it is known the cinnamon scroll or bun originated in Sweden in the middle ages according to ifoodtv. But when they started adding apple and making it as amazing as it is today is one for someone with a whole lot more time to investigate. 

The scroll was huge, more than I could handle, but I gave it a red hot go anyway. Covered in a thick sweet icing and coasted with shavings of almonds. Inside it was moist and thick with apple chunks all the way through. The pastry wasn't crunchy or stale which sometimes is the downside of this particular treat. But it wasn't so soft that it fell apart in your hand. It was a perfect blend between sweet icing and tasty apple and pastry. The crunch of the roasted almond slivers gave the soft and moist scroll a wonderful contrast as you bite down.

Overall this is an absolute gem of a find and well worth a little trip out of the city. There are heaps of walks and hikes and things to do up in the Dandenong area, so make it a day trip and have lunch or morning/afternoon tea at BlackSMiths Café. With friendly staff and a comfy relaxed atmosphere it's a perfect place to bring a book or the newspaper with you or a friend to have a good old chin wag with. The food speaks for itself and trust me when I say, it's possibly one of the best apple scrolls I've put in my mouth.

4 out of 5.

Panne e Pizzico - Essendon

Panne e Pizzico
Shop 7, 1142 Mt Alexander Road, Essendon.

Baked Good: Apricot tart
Should you stay, or should you go?: Don't go out of your way. But if you're in the area...

1. Presentation - 2
2. First bite - 3
3 Texture - 3
4. Flavour - 3
5. How'd it make me feel after - 3
(1 - Not so much. 5 - This is fricking awesome)

Sometimes you can feel the passion when you visit a bakery. The way the bakery is set up, the product and produce available and the service. Those three things could make even the worst tart taste amazing, thankfully that was far from the case here.

You'll find Panne e Pizzico nestled in the corner just across from Coles in Essendon. A cafeteria full of treats to eat on the spot and take home with you. A couple of seats inside and a couple of seats outside, it's the perfect little local cafe for a quick coffee and a great snack. They have fresh filled rolls and pizza, bread and pastries not to mention wonderful fresh coffee.

This visit I enjoyed an apricot tart. The tart itself originating back to the medieval times where bakers and chefs could showcase some artistic flair says Joe Pastry. The apricot is shrouded in mystery as Smart Kitchen note the apricot or otherwise known as the Armenian plum originates from Armenia due to it being the cousin of the plum. Introduced from Asia it was a favourite in Armenia long before the Romans founded it and gave it its popularity.

Because the tart is so small it's a perfect little addition to a wonderful cup of coffee. The pastry was sweet, buttery and held together just enough so it didn't crumble in your hands but soft enough it melted in your mouth. The apricot jam filling was sweet, but not overpowering. Together they worked hand in hand to bring a delicious compliment to the earthy flavours of a coffee.

Overall the wonderful little corner cafeteria is worth a visit if you're in the area. The streets are filled with more cafe's than you'll ever need. But if you do find yourself in the area, swing by. The friendly service and fantastic food options make this little gem a worthy contender.

3 out of 5.

Mill and Bakery - Central Pier Docklands

Mill and Bakery
Shed 9 161 Harbour Esplanade, Docklands.

Baked Good: Apple and pecan crumble
Should you stay, or should you go?: If the sun is shining, spend the afternoon there.

1. Presentation - 4
2. First bite - 4
3 Texture - 4
4. Flavour - 4
5. How'd it make me feel after - 4
(1 - Not so much. 5 - This is fricking awesome)

Being near the water on a sunny day in winter makes you almost forget how cold and miserable the next few months are going to be. But that's one of the great things about Australia, the sun's always going to rise the next day. And with that, maybe just maybe Melbourne will have a sunny day. Or at least for a few hours. Because what better way to spend those few hours sipping coffee and munching on some fresh baked goods.

Away from all the tourists and hustle and bustle of the business district of Docklands lies Central Pier. And if you walk half way down you will find Shed 9 otherwise known as Mill and Bakery. With a comfy outdoor seating area overlooking the water to the warm smell of bread being baked inside. Grab a chair and watch as they bake all those little things that make you feel happy inside. The walls adorned with heritage prints and the odd maritime memorabilia here and there. Mill and Bakery is the perfect escape for a really good cup of coffee and an Apple and Pecan Crumble.

The crumble itself dates back to the Second World War when things like pastry and flour weren't a luxury. So left over breadcrumbs and oatmeal were used as a topping to what would have otherwise been a pie made with pastry. I guess something good came out of something bad.

The Apple and Pecan Crumble looked amazing, being served on a gold disk. A small chunk of apple stuck to the top with a glazed pecan for decoration. The crumble was sweet and almost melted in your mouth. The body of the crumble was soft and moist and complimented the perfect cup of coffee. It was over before I even had the chance to really think about how much I was enjoying it.

Overall the location is lovely especially when the sun is out. The cafe itself was welcoming and open and bright. The staff were happy and pleasant. The food all looked amazing and there was more than enough to pick from. This is one of those cafe's you wish you worked next door to, but glad you don't. For your waist's sake.

4 out of 5.

Apollo Bay Bakery - Apollo Bay

Apollo Bay Bakery
125 Great Ocean Road, Apollo Bay VIC.

Baked Good: White Chocolate and Macadamia Nut Cookie.
Should you stay, or should you go?: Kidnap your mates, pack the car and drive.

1. Presentation - 3
2. First bite - 3
3 Texture - 2
4. Flavour - 3
5. How'd it make me feel after - 3
(1 - Not so much. 5 - This is fricking awesome)

There is something about being on holiday and eating what you want without feeling guilty. Not that that's stopped me from eating baked goods before. But being on holiday let's you over indulge on the things that make you go mmm. So when I took to the Great Ocean Road with friends to check in on Apollo Bay, not only did I eat more than I should have I also

had to try something from the local bakery.

Across the blue ocean and over the grassy park sits a bakery famous for its scallop pie, the Apollo Bay Bakery. And with a name like that, you'd be silly to go anywhere else really. It's just along the main strip as you drive through, so even if you don't end up staying in Apollo Bay, you should most definitely make a stop.

The bakery is full of just about anything you can think of: bread and rolls, cakes, cookies, tarts and eclairs, pies, sausage rolls and fresh

filled rolls. If you can't find something in there to fill you up or calm the sweetest of teeth, they've probably already sold out. It's wall to wall with all things bakery. And on those walls is green, not just any green, it's the kind of green you'd find on Kermit the Frog which helps noticing the sign easier. There's plenty of chairs inside to enjoy your goods otherwise get it in a paper bag and head over the road to the park or the beach to enjoy.

I didn't leave a crumb of the White Chocolate and Macadamia Nut Cookie I munched on as I walked down the street playing tourist. Cookies by Design note that the cookie its self goes back to the 7th Century AD in Persia, the macadamia is rather young in comparison. Local to Australia the Macadamia has been a part of Indigenous Australians diet for centuries, but not until 1820 was it discovered by the Europeans. Skip ahead to the 1930s and it's mass produced and shipped all around the world. And here's something you probably never put any thought into. White Chocolate isn't actually chocolate as it has no coca solids in it. It was first introduced by non other than Nestle in the 1930s and by the 1960s

The Milky Bar Kid brought it into just about everyone's home.

Everyone has a preference for a cookie they like, hard and crumbly, soft and gooey or ones that melt in your mouth. This cookie was hard, but not break your tooth hard, just enough to give you a good crunch as you bit into it. There were big chunks of macadamia nuts and white chocolate so you're more than likely going to get a bit of each in your mouth at any one time. It was sweet, you could taste the sugar with every bite you could even see the granules, the white

chocolate would have been enough.

Overall the cookie was delicious and well worth a trip to Apollo Bay. The bakery was full of just about everything so you'd easily be able to get a whole lunch there while you just chill out on the beach to eat it all. But remember don't swim 20 minutes after eating. The staff were awesome, friendly and happy to help you make your mind up as there's just so much to pick from. And like I said before, even if you aren't stopping in Apollo Bay do yourself a favour and stop for a cookie on your way through, it'll be worth it.

3 out of 5.

Phillippa's Bakery - Brighton

Phillippa's Bakery - Brighton
608 Hampton Street, Brighton

Baked Good: Dundee Cake
Should you stay or should you go?: Wake me up before you Go Go.

1. Presentation - 3
2. First bite - 4
3 Texture - 4
4. Flavour - 4
5. How'd it make me feel after - 4
(1 - Not so much. 5 - This is fricking awesome)

There is something homely about a fruit cake. It's simple, yet it if it's made without a little TLC, it could be horrible. It's the sweetness of the fruit, the simple sponge. Like you are eating something healthy yet it's far from. This was the first cake my Mum taught me to make. The first cake I ever bought from Woolworths. Simple in every way, but perfect in every other way.

On the busy Hampton Street in Brighton you'll find Phillippa's just as busy inside. Blokes getting a pie, kids getting something sweet with their Nan, or Mum's picking up the bread for the day. The bakery is full of everything you can think of that can be baked: bead, cakes, pastries, rolls, pies and pasties and just about anything else you could think to bake.

While there is nowhere to sit the cafe its a great option to grab something and drive down to the beach and enjoy it.

I enjoyed a slice of a Dundee Cake which has nothing to do with the Crocodile Hunter as it turns out. The Dundee cake in fact is from Dundee in Scotland. Walkers (famous for their shortbread) shares the history of the Dundee cake which was first commercially available in the 1800s though it dates back some 350 years earlier. Made for Mary Queen of Scotts in the 16th Century, as she wasn't a fan of the cherries in the traditional fruit cake. And so the we find the almond covered raisin sponge cake I enjoyed today.

The raisins were plump and juicy which gave the sponge the perfect moistness. The generous slice of the Dundee Cake was sweet but not too sweet. It was hard not to rush into the second bite as it was deliciously tasty
with every bite.

Overall the bakery was welcoming as were the staff. The range of product on offer was maybe overwhelming but exciting to decide. Phillippa's has three permanent sites to visit around Melbourne. But I'd make it an event and get something from their Brighton store and head to the beach to enjoy it.

4 out of 5.