Love in the shape of small things
(clockwise, from top left corner : chocolate macaron (a strawberry crumble tart hiding underneath), cannele, chocolate brownie, ginger ninja cookie, another cannele)
I was going to tell you about the glorious twice-bitten cannele I had sitting in front of me. Another two bites later however, and it’s suddenly all gone. Caramelised on the outside, custardy on the inside. The stuff deep sighs and satisfied smiles are made from. Today I tried to convince my Wednesday lunch buddy to make the trip to Newtown to visit Christopher The’s new shop, Black Star Pastry. She was reluctant to spend a portion of her precious lunch hour on a train, so we settled on sandwiches and coffee from Luneburger before I said goodbye to her and hello to Newtown and those canneles.
I read about his shop in Good Living yesterday (ah, so that’s what he’s been up to!), and what got me really excited was spotting the little canneles at the bottom right hand corner of the picture accompanying the blurb. In case you’re wondering what the fuss is all about, well, I can’t remember the last time I saw a cannele in a shop in Sydney. The last cannele I had was in Tokyo. We stumbled across a stall selling vanilla and chocolate versions, bought some even though we weren’t hungry, and later were filled with regret at not having bought more. So yes, you could attribute part of their appeal, to their elusiveness. I have never attempted making them myself, and perhaps it’s about time I did!
In the meantime, I think everyone should visit Black Star Pastry. It’s a small shop located on Australia Street, right next to Oscillate Wildly. It has a simple, rustic, pared back (budget friendly) set up that reminds me of sixsevenate in Chippendale, when George Sinclair and Lorraine Godsmark were running the place. I worked with them for about a year, and always longed for a similar sort of cafe/pastry shop in my own neighbourhood. The kind of place you could go to and be assured of decent coffee, a quality pastry or two, and friendly, personable service.
Black Star has the advantage of being in a good location (even if someone apparently told them that the shop was cursed), opposite the train station. Their pastries are reasonably priced and very reasonably sized as well. I like small bites with coffee, and am definitely going back next week to have something savoury, this time with my Wednesday lunch buddy in tow.
Black Star Pastry
277 Australia St
Newtown 2042.
Also inspired by my love of small things, I made these burnt orange and elderflower creams based on a dish by Dan Hunter, which appeared in the Sept/Oct 2008 edition of V.EAT. The pineapple and macadamia polvoron are his recipes, but I based the cream recipe on another one I’ve used before. The original intention was to make passionfruit flavoured creams. I recently ate a passionfruit brulee that was out of this world – and this is coming from someone who isn’t usually terribly fussed about brulees (or passionfruit, for that matter). But passionfruit brulees certainly work for me. Passionfruits were horribly expensive that day, so I used orange juice and elderflower cordial instead. Surprisingly, the end result was quite passionfruit-like!
This is a dish that could easily be converted into a dessert canape, especially if like me, you love the shape of small things. 🙂
Tags: brulee, flowers, macaron, plated dessert, Sydney
linda said,
November 12, 2008 @ 6:51 pm
Pity Sydney isn’t around the corner 😉 Never eaten canneles before but I’ve seen them a couple of times on blogs. Don’t think I could buy them over here, even macarons are difficult to come by (yes, I live in a first world country ;))
The ninja gingerbread cookie is very funny 😀
Exciting combination of tastes you used for the dessert!
Y said,
November 12, 2008 @ 7:22 pm
Linda, if you ever visit Sydney, I’ll hook you up with some pastry treats! 🙂
Lorraine E said,
November 12, 2008 @ 7:35 pm
I’ve had a pretty good Cannele (at Laduree) and a not so excellent one from the Ile St Louis. So either I haven’t had the best representation of one or I just don’t Canneles as much as everyone else. Must give Black Star a go!
The dessert looks lovely, I’m crazy for passionfruit in desserts!
Reemski said,
November 12, 2008 @ 7:38 pm
That looks great! I especially like the Ninja Ginger Biscuit! Yum…
cyn said,
November 12, 2008 @ 7:56 pm
omg, black star is so nearby. i might just take a trip down tomorrow!! thanks for the tip-off! 😀
celine said,
November 12, 2008 @ 9:21 pm
that’s it, I’m on my way. lovely pics, Y.
clumbsycookie said,
November 12, 2008 @ 9:57 pm
I love the ninga cookie, lol! Sounds like a good plan for a lunch break, althoug Australia is a bit far for me to go just to have pastries, I’m happy to read about them. Your little creams are so beautiful, I allways love your plating style!
Aran said,
November 12, 2008 @ 10:40 pm
i also have a love for all things small. lovely!
FFichiban said,
November 12, 2008 @ 11:27 pm
Ooohh I read about Black Star in the paper too and I added it on my to-visit list hee hee. I need to get to city more -_- but I agree the ginger ninja looks awesome! except he’s a bit chubby but thats better for us 😀 Your dessert also looks really good as well mmm ^^!
Duncan | Syrup&Tang said,
November 13, 2008 @ 12:21 am
MMMMMMM canneles! I’m tempted to make them my next baking project, but affording copper moulds is a bit of an issue. Still, they *are* delicious. And now I know what was happening on Australia St when I was up in Syd in August!
Eileen said,
November 13, 2008 @ 1:25 am
Wish Australia weren’t so far away. Don’t know if I’ll ever make it there. This pastry shop sounds wonderful!
Dana said,
November 13, 2008 @ 1:49 am
Sadly, that bakery is too far away for me to visit :(. I guess I’ll just have to drool over your photos instead!
Marysol said,
November 13, 2008 @ 2:27 am
Y, what a lovely offering!
I’m especially intrigued by the canneles. The closest I’ve ever come to a cannele is from a recipe in one of my cookbooks, which I haven’t attempted, yet.
In regards to small things, yes, there are times when even I prefer small things ;-), especially when it’s an abundant array of sinful desserts displayed on a huge platter. Your pictures look so satisfying to me, that if I were anywhere near that bakery, I’d order two of everything. One for me, one for my alter ego.
Eunice said,
November 13, 2008 @ 2:45 am
I LOVE the name of that store! And please don’t call me a sissy but I love the way you write. 😉
Those burnt creams sure look more appetising than their names! I’ll be blogmarking this 😉
cakebrain said,
November 13, 2008 @ 6:59 am
MMM! That shot has a few things I really love! It reminds me that I need to make canneles and macarons again!
I too love things in miniature. Perhaps this is so I can feel as if I’m having a greater variety. Less is more!
snookydoodle said,
November 13, 2008 @ 8:12 am
ohh its so so far away 🙁 all these look delicious. I v enever tried eating or making a canelle . You made me curious
Christie@fig&cherry said,
November 13, 2008 @ 8:56 am
I was in there Tuesday morning directly after reading good living!!! It’s 10 minutes walk from my house. I had the tarte tatin and D had the mini banana bread (friand looking thing).
Then we took home mushroom and lorraine quiches to eat later for lunch. Really, really good! Meet you there sometime?
Eva said,
November 13, 2008 @ 10:19 am
That sounds like a must-visit! Is there actually space to linger over breakfast or is it more like a normal shop?
I’d love to have one of your small bites right now..;-)
Y said,
November 13, 2008 @ 10:29 am
There’s a little space in front of the shop where you can sit. I think I saw a table or two outside as well.. but don’t quote me on that 🙂
chocolatesuze said,
November 13, 2008 @ 10:49 am
ginger ninja! heh heh it rhymes and what nuts were in the brownie?
Y said,
November 13, 2008 @ 10:53 am
I actually thought of you when I got the ginga ninja, because of your obsession with the gingerbread man from Shrek 🙂 Those were macadamias in the brownie. We had it and the ninja last night after dinner. Brownie was nice – could actually do with less macadamias, I thought!
belle said,
November 13, 2008 @ 12:00 pm
We can never have enough (good) cake shops, so a trip to Newtown is now on the agenda. And dessert canapes – what a great idea.
Amber said,
November 13, 2008 @ 3:19 pm
I am a lover of big things, men and desserts and bank accounts. But lots of small things is okay too. When I first started my blog I posted about I don’t share dessert, so that tells you a little about me. I don’t even know what a cannele is which is a little embarrassing but at least you have given me the desire to find them and try them.
Thank you for your comment, I love the words you used…mesmerizing and delightfully sugary. Too sweet.
The closest I get to Australia is a couple magazines that I have to search far and wide to find. You are lucky. Someday for me.
Be blessed
arfi said,
November 13, 2008 @ 3:32 pm
When coming to a party or a morning tea event, I always am tempted to try out all the sweets, yes I’m bad! Later afterwards, my face will always feel so hot, perhaps because of the sugar hehehe… First photo is the absolute temptation!
Zoë François said,
November 13, 2008 @ 4:26 pm
I just took my cannele molds out today and thought I needed to find a great new recipe for them, and here you are with one! Fabulous timing. They look fantastic!
Tartelette said,
November 13, 2008 @ 7:52 pm
I love small things “great things come in small packages” right?!! These are just splendid!!
Cakelaw said,
November 13, 2008 @ 10:01 pm
You’ve sold me – when I am next in Sydney, I have to go to this place.
grace said,
November 14, 2008 @ 12:17 am
ginger ninja? i love it. i’ll add this place to my long, ever-growing list of reasons to visit australia. 🙂
Mike said,
November 14, 2008 @ 8:51 am
That looks like such an elegant and tasty treat…and that got my stomach rumbling.
zita said,
November 14, 2008 @ 10:04 am
What a lunch! 🙂 Yes, small things are cute!
Sophie said,
November 14, 2008 @ 3:35 pm
These are so cute :). Elderflower, now there’s something I’ve never had! Passionfruit, that’s always so tasty, I have to agree with you there!
The little ninja is so cute, that bakery sounds so cool!
Oh, btw, rice milk tastes like sugar water 😛 (at least the vanilla flavored kind).
Vera said,
November 14, 2008 @ 3:35 pm
Beautiful dessert you made, Y!
Shari said,
November 15, 2008 @ 3:40 pm
I’m a passion fruit and custard fan, so these minis would be right up my alley! Orange juice and elderflower, however, would be an interesting combo. Looks amazing!
Lisa said,
November 16, 2008 @ 10:11 am
I’ve always wanted to try a cannele but haven’ ever seen them in Sydney before! And I think my boyfriend might wet his pants seeing the ginger ninja!! Thanks for the tip, I will definitely have to check that place out! I love the dessert you made too, I’m a sucker for anything bruleed!