Melbournes' bakery tradition
Exploring four of the best bakeries around this food-lovers city
Melbourne is a city with a well earned reputation for great food. Restaurants, cocktail bars, produce markets, delicatessen and cafes all combine to create this renowned food culture. It is often cited as a reason (alongside sports events, theatre and gallery exhibitions) for visitors coming to Melbourne.
Another aspect of this great food city are the top quality bakeries from so many cultures. Italian, Vietnamese, French, Lebanese and Chinese to name just a few.
I have a soft spot for great baking and great bakeries and always enjoyed visiting them when I was co-author of The Foodies’ Guide To Melbourne. Loved the aromas, the tempting displays and trying to decide if I’ll have a fruit danish, lemon tart or a jam donut, all of which I’m very partial to when beautifully made with quality ingredients.
The following are a couple of my favourite bakeries (old and new) and the products I really enjoy there.
BAKER D. CHIRICO
Baker D. Chirico has been one of my all time favourite bakeries for years and never fails to deliver on quality, flavour and downright deliciousness. It’s situated in Faraday Street Carlton, the traditional heart of Melbourne’s Italian neighbourhood.
The only challenge here is deciding what to have, as it’s top class all the way. There are beautifully made fruit danishes, vanilla custard filled doughnuts (bombolone), fruit spiced buns, croissants and fruit-topped frangipane tarts.
Savoury options abound with filled ficelle, beef pies and sausage rolls. All made with outstanding pastry and quality meats. There are excellent bread options too, including my favourite, the dark fruit bread. Get Baker D. onto your must-visit list and enjoy one of the best bakeries in Melbourne. And let me know what you choose in the comments below!
Visit Baker D. Chirico online.
BLACK STAR PASTRY
There are some mighty fine sweet and savoury treats to be enjoyed at Black Star Pastry in St Kilda.
Pictured here is their famous strawberry watermelon cake with layers of almond meringue, rose scented cream and watermelon, with a top of strawberries, pistachios and dried rose petals. This is beautifully made and delicious, as long as you are a fan of rose scented cream.
The custard flan here is a total winner. Love the buttery puff pastry, filled with vanilla custard that has a caramelized top. Inspired by a Portuguese egg tart no doubt and very good indeed.
There is also an option for savoury food lovers with a gorgeous mushroom duxelles tart with spring vegetables and a little cheese. Love this pastry and the filling. 10/10! I’ll certainly be back to Black Star to try out more of their range.
Visit Black Star Pastry online.
FIREBRAND BAKERY
Firebrand is located in Ripponlea, and has been making true sourdough bread since 1986. It had been a while between visits for me, but that made my recent loaf of rye bread from Firebrand all the better.
As they mention on their website “Instead of using commercial yeast, all our bread and pastries utilise our 40+ year old sourdough leaven (wild bacteria made from flour and water) which is fed daily, fermenting for up to 24 hours.”
Few bakeries in Melbourne have a dedication and longevity to sourdough baking as they do at Firebrand. The spelt sourdough tin is a beauty (Monday only), ditto the casalinga baguette and spicy fruit loaves. Also a fan of the daily changing muffins and dark chocolate brownies.
Check out their website for the baking schedule as special loaves and pastries appear on specific days. Then get down to Ripponlea village and pick up some of Melbourne’s best breads. And sourdough doughnuts!
Visit Firebrand Bakery online here.
RYE AND DOUGH
St Kilda residents are lucky to have a number of excellent bakeries, including Rye and Dough. This site was originally the first Baker D. Chirico in Melbourne, so there is a tradition of great baking.
There’s a leaning towards French and Italian baking here with sweet treats like bombolone, I especially love the vanilla bean custard and the bombolone with raspberry jam. The chocolate brioche, escargot and croissants are also excellent.
Macaron are available too in raspberry, pistachio, chocolate and caramel flavours. Their mini orange cakes are also very good, as are the brownies.
Bread is also a feature here, especially their pagnotta sourdough (a top loaf to serve with cheese) and their olive loaf is a winner. Welcoming service tops off the deal here.