Mister Nice Guys Bake Shop - Ascot Vale

Mister Nice Guys Bake Shop
151 Union Road, Ascot Vale

Baked Good: Cinnamon Bun
Should you stay or should you go?: You should have already been there!


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)


The cinnamon bun may just be that, a cinnamon bun. But in this case it was a whole lotta memories as well. The taste, smell and full belly afterwards was a memory of a time I went to America and my Mum and I devoured a Cinnobun.

Cinnobun is one of those chains across America you'd find at a mall or airport. They have coffee and milkshakes and of course cinnamon buns. Mum and I maybe overindulged a few times on our travels that warm sweet creamy icing pastry.

And i guess that's what food should be. An indulgence not only in the food, but the memories and feelings it brings with it. And in this case, warm fuzzy family feels is exactly what I ate into.

Mister Nice Guys Bakehouse is possibly the coolest cafe I've been into in a long time. And it's got the rep' to go with it. When ever I mention to friends where I went they got excited just to talk about it.

First up it's this cool rocker style diner that has things in it you'd probably find at your Nan's house. From the old school fridges to the tins for your flour, sugar and tea. This place blends that rocker diner feel with your local coffee and cake shop.

Outside you'll find a couple of chairs and tables to watch the world go by. Inside you'll find a couple more spots to park up for an overindulge.

The counter is glass so you can see all the happy goodies sitting inside. The coffee machine in the corner working away making some delicious caffine to compliment your pastry. Or their milkshakes sounded and looked pretty darn tasty if that's more your style.

**edit** In addition to being awesome not only visually but for the tasty treats as well, they are: 100% egg-free, dairy-free, lactose-free, cochineal & gelatine-free. And their website also says they have a large selection that's: certified Kosher, with soy-free, gluten-free, wheat-free, corn-free, Fructose free & low gi options.

I chose the cinnamon bun with a long black coffee.

The history of the Cinnamon Roll website is loaded with custom and history. The Swedish were the ones to put bread, cinnamon and sugar together on October 4th now known as National Cinnamon Bun Day. The bun has had its fair share of names over time: Sticky bun or sticky roll. The Swedish call it "kanelbulle".

The bun itself was lightly crispy in the outside and soft and moist on the inside. The moistness was a combination of runny sweet cinnamon and tasty icing both swirling around to the outside of the bun which has a thin and sweet but not overpowering icing.

Overall the visit to the bakery was perfect. It was a chilled out happy cafe that was super welcoming to everyone. The cinnamon bun was delicious and worked perfectly in harmony with the cinnamon sugar ratio. This bakery will for sure be on my list to revisit.

4 out of 5.

Brioche by Philip - Prahran

Brioche by Philip
280 Commercial Road, Prahran.

Baked Good: Apricot Brioche
Should you stay or should you go?: You should totes go, it was yum yum in my tum. (yeah I just said that).

I love apricot jam. I love a lot of things in life to be honest, but that sweet apricot jam just gives me such joy. I remember being given a jar of apricot jam when I was younger by some friends who had stayed with us. That's how much I love it and people know. So when I got to pick something at Brioche in Prahran, I knew exactly what would satisfy me.

Brioche by Philip is a chain of bakeries around Melbourne. When you're onto something good, just work it. Philip brought his skills as a French Baker to Melbourne many years back and added a Japanese style when he opened up Brioche.

The bakery its self is simple with glass cabinets filled with danishes and pastries. A selection of filled rolls and along the back wall and in the shop window all the different breads of the world for you to pick.

There's no where to sit, so it's a perfect chance for you to quickly grab something naughty and escape to the comforts of you home to indulge.

I had the Apricot Brioche for reasons I've already stated. And even though I knew that's what I wanted, it was a hard choice as it all looked so darn tasty.

Brioche originated from France first being mentioned in written text as far back as 1404 as per the Bakerpedia website. What makes a Brioche that little bit more exciting than bread, it has a high egg and butter content, giving it a more smooth and finer crumb.

Originally it would be full of fruit and eaten at breakfast, but time has evolved the Brioche to its many styles today.

There is confusion over the Apricot's history. The Nursery at Ty Ty says it is to either originate from 3000 BC in India, or Armenia. But the good old English settlers brought the Apricot with them to the United States in the 17th Century.

The Apricot Brioche was delicious. I couldn't wait for the next bite. If only it were that little bit bigger. Thankfully it wasn't because I already eat more baked goods than I should.

The pastry was dry, but that didn't matter as the topping worked in harmony to give each bite a perfect blend.

The apricot jam or sauce, what ever you would like to call it, was sweet. Both in it's taste and in it's awesomeness. And in between the awesomeness was a thick and creamy custard swirling around.

Overall the cafe itself is nothing special. To the point of being bland, boring and in need of a makeover. But what it lacks in appearance it makes up for in delicious baked goods. Most worthy of a sneaky cheat snack.

CBD Bakery - Melbourne CBD

CBD Bakery
480 Bourke Street, Melbourne.

Baked Good: Long John
Should you stay or should you go?: Swing by if you're in the area, but don't go out of your way.

I have this memory of my Grandma coming to visit us when we lived in the country. I was doing some fundraising in the town centre and my Gran happened to walk past on the way to getting some bread from the bakery. On the way back she handed me a jam and cream doughnut. She knew it was one of my all time favourites.

CBD Bakery is conveniently just off the main drag. Perfect to sneak away from the hustle and bustle and the constant stream of tourists. But while you escape the hustle and bustle of the tourists, you gain with suits.

A little bakery with just about everything you could ever want. Glass cabinets filled with everything you can think of: pies and sausage rolls keeping warm in the pie warmer. Cakes, tarts, slices and doughnuts in all its glory, begging you to pick them. And a little section down the back where you can get a freshly baked roll and fill it with all the trimmings of your choice.

The cafe doesn't have all the bells and whistles a modern day cafe uses to entice you through their doors. White walls, standard tables and chairs and a big window to watch the world go by. But what the cafe lacks in personality it most certainly gains with a super friendly and happy team. Not to mention the pretty decent food.

I indulged in a Long John and until this very day I had called it a Jam Cream doughnut not knowing it had any other name. As it turns out not only is the Long John its more common name, traditionally it would be referred to as an eclair. However the eclair is commonly known as a chocolate covered cream filled long doughnut.

Food Time Line says the eclair in its original form dates back to the turn of the 19th Century. The French translation is "lightning", and assumed that's because of either the cream strip or the glistening of the chocolate. The more modern mention of the eclair possibly in the jam form was in 1861 in Vanity Fair. Possibly around the time when the Long John was adapted.

The Long John was delicious and so fresh. I possibly ate it a little too quick as it was super tasty. The dough was soft and fluffy. The cream was fresh and not overflowing. And the strip of jam was sweet and tasty. All together making it a perfectly sweet treat. And sweet it is, so if you aren't looking for a sugar overload, I'd suggest going for something a little more low key on the sugar front.

Overall the Long John was tasty and I'd have easily had seconds as I ate it so quickly. As for the venue, it's not the kind of cafe you would sit at and enjoy the cosiness of it as you read a book. It's one of those places you grab what you want and move on, or sit and eat it and not linger.