Reserved! And an audible sigh of relief…Do you like my bag on the right? 
For those of us, and there are many, who look forward every 6 months for Adriano Zumbo’s new “Please sir can I Have Some More!” cake collection, today is the culmination of many ruminations, conversations and pontifications on what he may come up with next. Today, to add a bit of chaos to the whole collection, Reem and I thought we should do a food blogger’s meet. Reem organised it all and so we thought 7 of us would be seated in the Cafe, having bought our cakes and delicate morsels from the shop nearby. For those of you who haven’t heard of Adriano Zumbo, the man is the Australia’s answer to Pierre Hermè.
Craigie bam: chocolate dacquoise, chocolate sabayon with salted caramel debris, chocolate caramel cremeaux, caramel mousse $7.50
On the Lounge with Zumbo: Mango financier, rapsberry and liquorice jelly, fresh mango slices, liquorice mousse, mango caramel glacage $7.50
Miss Marple Cheesecale: Orange Cheesecake with orange strawberry compote, cream chese crème legere with crepe and maple glaze $7.50
And then 20 or so of us showed up. Thankfully Adriano had reserved the alcove area for us which I am thankful for as walking towards the cafe, we see that every table is full. We make our way to the shop and make our selection, I pick up 3 cakes, Reem 5 (some to take home, I should add) and we ponder the new collection. Even at 11am, many of the cakes have sold out or only have 1 or 2 left in the display so calling ahead to reserve is definitely recommended.
Charles, after whom the Charles du Jour is named
Cassius: Chocolate biscuit macaron, blackcurrant chocolate cremeaux, chocolate plates with sea salt, dark chocolate chantilly $7.80
Have a chat Kai! Coconut dacquoise, lychee jelly, coconut mousse, coconut crunch, fresh strawberries and lychees $7.80
Charles, the counter guy, after whom the Charles du Jour is named after, is organised and friendly, and ensures that we get a good selection of cakes that others haven’t ordered before. There are 23 new gateaux in total and 5 tarts with 3 being new and 11 of them being gluten free. The idea is to get cakes that others haven’t had so that we can try more of the range. In the store there is another couple, also Zumbo fans and it turns out the girl is from the Zumbo cooking class that I attended earlier this year. And I notice one of the waitresses from the cafe was also at the class.
Framboise Millefeuille: Raspberry coulis, biscuit jacdone, raspberry crème mascarpone and caramelised puff pastry $7.50
Zumbo the kid: Vegemite bavaroise (yes Vegemite!), peanut butter crème legere, raspberry jelly, chocolate peanut glacage, peanut feullitine, flourless chocolate biscuit $7.50
Macaron selection-the pink coconut one is the “finger bun” flavour!
Serendipitously, there’s a new bunch of cake arrivals delivered by Adriano into the store. UZC and Wheely Wildy Wendy make their way into my cakebox.
UZC: Biscuit macaron, sweet corn jelly, saffron bavaroise, vanilla brulee $7.80
Wheely Wildy Wendy: Fresh roasted peach in a tonka bean crème legere and sandwiched between two almond dacquoise disks and rolled in almond crumble $7.60
Woohoo: Pate sable, raspberry coulis, pistachio ganache, pistachio nougatine $6.20
Going back to the cafe, we see that everyone has started (arrrgh, this means we don’t get any food pornish closeups-bad blogger etiquette!). By now the table is so crowded there is no room for Reem and I to even set down a cake so we take over a nearby table.
The CT (Camel toe)
We stop by the chocolate counter and the wildly popular and (in)famous CT or Cameltoe is sold out again but Rachel, the keeper of all of the goodness, finds us some to try. It’s beautifully red winey with a liquid centre. Thanks Rachel!
Wheely Wildy Wendy $7.60
My favourite Zumbo cake is one that he remakes every season with a different flavour combination. Originally the Wheelie Good, it was also the Wheelie Good Berrylicious and now it’s the Wheely Wildy Wendy with fresh roasted peach in a tonka bean legere and sandwiched between two almond dacquoise disks and rolled in almond crumble. Actually this is the sort of thing that probably deserves some breaking down into parts for explanation. From consulting the Oracle i.e. google, Tonka Beans are used in a similar way to vanilla bean and are said to have a vanilla, almond, cinnamon and clove scent. The crème legere is a combination of crème patisserie, custard and whipped cream. The trick of course is to get a bit of the creme filling, fruit, dacquoise and almond crunch. The crème legere has a milder taste than the creme patisserie by itself. It’s good and I love the difference in textures but the original Wheelie Good still wins my heart apricots, pistachios.
Zumbo the Kid $7.50
The Zumbo the Kid had to be bought, mainly as it contains a Vegemite bavarois which is paired with peanut butter crème legere, raspberry jelly, chocolate peanut glacage, peanut feullitine, flourless chocolate biscuit. For those trepidatious, never fear, he’s not mad, so the Vegemite taste is mild, giving it a saltiness rather than the actual Vegemite taste. When I taste it the first thing I think of is an upmarket Picnic bar with the peanuts and chocolate. Well that is if a Picnic bar bred with a supermodel of course.
Past Jobs $7.50
Past Jobs, a dessert in the glass is interesting. It’s a kaffir lime and ginger pannacotta, black sticky rice pudding, exotic fruit jelly, palm sugar mascarpone. I can really taste the kaffir lime in the pannacotta and the black sticky rice is a little on the crunchy side but all together it’s delicious. I need to give it a few goes to reach the pannacotta in the bottom (haha no hardship, sorry Reem!). Like a trip to Asia in a cup although I wonder what past jobs he might be referring to?
Rice Puddding Eclair $5.20
I try some Rice Pudding Eclair: pate a choux, rice pudding creme patisserie, cinnamon dusted fondant. It’s delicious, the rice pudding giving the creamy custard it an unusual but interesting texture and of course the sweet cinnamon dusted icing seals the marriage of the rice pudding and eclair.
Where’s tthe f*%#@^ cheese? $7.60
The Where’s tthe f*%#@^ cheese? is an intriguing one, one that divides us. I love a mild creamy Danish blue on a cheese plate but loathe strong blue cheeses. This is a mild, creamy blue cheese mousse on the outside, filled with fig, raisin and pear creameaux, pear & Vanilla bavaroise and walnut biscuit. I’m in heaven, this is fantastic from beginning to end. To me, it’s like eating a delicious cheese platter. Like a good cheese platter, it’s paired with dried figs, raisins and pears which go so well with a creamy blue. I like the hint of blue cheese but it’s so creamy and delicious you wouldn’t think “Good lord is that blue cheese?”. The walnut biscuit is snappy, biscuity perfection to give the whole cake a textural shift.
And like Michael Jackson emerging from the balcony in Germany, Adriano appears and excitement ensues, the normally shy guy having been coaxed out to see us by Rachel (we heart you Rachel!). Our presence certainly caused a bit of commotion in the cafe so perhaps he was scared (I don’t blame him). We all crowd and take pictures of him, even his mum, the très elegant Mrs Zumbo is there. We talk for a bit as he needs to be on his way and he sees my selection which he remarks is 3 of the best of the collection. He asks me if I have tried the Charles Du Jour, I lament I hadn’t gotten a photo of it and that I probably won’t as there was only one left in the shop so he disappears and comes back with a box containing the Charles Du Jour, the Sunny Cloud and Framboise Millefeuille. Awww, yes this is why we adore him. And the exciting news is that he is working on a cookbook. Yes, that’s right, a Zumbo cookbook! Tailored for home cooks who may not have the fancier things like cone moulds, we can become Mini Zumbo chefs 
Dr Apple $7.70
Dr Apple Pistachio dacquoise, lychee jelly, coconut mousse, coconut crunch, fresh strawberries and lychees. After seeing this on Belle’s blog (being a lucky Balmain resident she gets first look at everything), I knew I had to have it. You see I have a complete, unwavering devotion for Elphaba from Wicked, the not so Wicked but rather misunderstood Wicked Witch of the West. So to me, this was a tribute to her, green and in a pointy witch hat shape.
Inside the Elphaba …ahem I mean Dr Apple
The apple flavour dominates through the delicious apple cider jelly and green apple mousse which makes me happy to no end alongside the sweetened vanilla whipped cream. There’s even tiny pieces of greener than green apple peel inside. For an apple dessert lover like me, heavenly and luscious.
Charles du Jour $7.60
The Charles du Jour is a tart pate sucree, vanilla ganache, vanilla crème chantilly, vanilla water bursts and vanilla glacage (glaze). It’s one for the vanilla lover in your life, the outer reminiscent of soft beaten meringue and yes you read correctly, with vanilla water bursts which are two chocolate balls on the top which I’ll warn you to pop into your mouth whole and then chomp down or risk a sartorial nightmare with a spurt of unsweetened vanilla water all over your clothes.
This is my husband’s and parent’s favourite, the sweet and headily vanilla’ed tart with vanilla in every layer pleasuring the senses of taste and smell. The pieces of strawberry provide a slight tartness to cut through the thick vanilla and I’ve always thought that there is nothing better than strawberries and cream.
Framboise Millefeuille $7.50
Framboise Millefeuille is Raspberry coulis, biscuit jaconde, raspberry creme mascarpone and caramelised puff pastry. Just from looking at the deliciously multi layered and thick caramelised pastry top (so much thicker an crispier than a regular Mille Feuille), I know this is going to be gloriously crunchy and crisp. It reminds me of the 2000 Feuilles that I had at Pierre Hermè which relieves me that I can get this sort of fantastic pastry here. The raspberry coulis and creme mascarpone is strong and sweet. I love the crunch paired with the soft centre-music to my ears.
UZC$8.95
The one that had me lusting after it was the UZC but then if you top a cake with a macaron I’m sure I’ll soon be waving a fork in your direction. It’s a biscuit macaron, sweet corn jelly, saffron bavaroise and vanilla brulee. If there’s one thing I urge everyone to try, it’s sweet corn in desserts-I’ve even made a sweet corn ice cream. The saffron’s honey taste is strong if not in the colouring of the bavaroise, and the combination of these flavours is so complete and honeyed in taste, my mother is anguished about her soon forgotten diet.
Inside the UZC
The Yuzu is one of my favourite dessert flavours, the Japanese citrus fruit is mild and sweet, and paired with the sweet macaron it’s a perfect match.
Sunny Cloud $7
The Sunny Cloud is a variation on a tart that he had made before, previously it was the breathtakingly beautiful Storm Cloud (that blue powder, divine!). This season it’s pate sable, lime jelly, yoghurt creme fraiche, lime curd and italian meringue. It’s the prettiest key lime pie you’ll find and for fans of tangy lime curd.
On the Lounge with Zumbo: Mango Financier, raspberry & liquorice jelly, fresh mango slices, liquorice mousse, mango caramel glacage $7.50
PARIS: La Vie En Rose: Rose Creme Brulee, Raspberry sorbet balls, fresh lychees, petit rose macarons and coconut strawberry tapioca shake $13.50
The desserts from the cafe themselves are delicious sounding and Yien orders the Paris, the one I was lusting after. It’s the clear winner in the beauty pageant stakes with Rachel bringing it over and us accosting her and jostling like papparazzi trying to get the very first baby picture of Sunday Rose Kidman Urban.
Ffichiban’s The It’s a Macaron and Not a Hamburger: Dulce de leche gelato filled macaron with banana caramel rice pudding and chocolate salt $13.50
Some of us have to dash but some of us stay behind and believe it or not, we talk about things other than food. Thing such as New York, the Playboy Mansion and Hugh Hefner’s sex life. You could never accuse us of being one dimensional. Crazy about Zumbo yes but not one dimensional.
Adriano Zumbo Patissier
296 Darling St, Balmain
Open 7 days
Current collection above available from Saturday 22nd of November 2008 to Friday 22nd of May, 2009.
Adriano Zumbo Cafe Chocolat
308 Darling St, Balmain (inside Balmain Mall)
Open 7 days from 7am-6pm (times may vary as the cafe settles in)
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44 Comments | Add your own
As always the cakes look like pieces of art that definitely deserve a photo or two before diving headfirst into their sweet goodness
Whoa. The moral of this post is to get out of the kitchen from time to time and travel more (even if it requires a trip across the ocean)!
Loving the pics. Great to meet you Lorraine, what a fantastic and might I add decadent morning:)
Look forward to the next catch up:)
From one Zumbo post to another! He just keeps getting more fabulous by the minute, doesn’t he?
I love the Miss Marple cheesecake. How could I not, as a massive Agatha Christie fan? And the Dr Apple is so cute! I am tempted to try recreating it at home. Or at least, the flavours. I’m not sure I could manage a pointy jelly hat!
Unfortunately, all these decadent photos have left me pawing at the screen, like a plaintive puppy. I may have to go and have a second dessert…
How am I supposed to work this week? I’m going to be dreaming about all these cakes!
Adriano is GOD! The hardest thing for me is-living in Balmain- trying to avoid the temptation on a daily basis….
Have come up with a rule to only splurge on some Zumbo goodness when we have visitors. I can’t go past his macaroons but the PAris looks divine. will certainly have to gather the girls for an avo tea.
Words fail me. I want all of them – even Zumbo the Kid and I don’t like Vegemite.
I definitely go try Where’s tthe f*%#@^ cheese?, Charles du Jour and Miss Marple cheesecake… actaully wanna try all..haha… now in the cafe got so many new menu..
PS. I do love ur bag, very cute ! ^ ^
I am so going here whenever I make it up to Sydney next. Although I might eat everything and become very fat… it would be worth it!
PS. love your handbag!!
I still think it’s not fair that I can’t down there to try all those amazing, tantalizing morsels. I can’t stop drooling over the piccies & your descriptions. Definitely on my list to go there when I next go to Sydney.
A great wrap-up of the day
I can only imagine the spectacle we must have made for passersby!
I can’t wait to see the cookbook. How exciting!
I am in heaven!! I would have wanted to buy the whole shop out. And both Charles and Adriano are pretty cute. Beautiful food and cute guys – what more could a girl want?
Ooh I did notice your handbag when we were leaving! So cute!
I loved it when there were a few of us left in the end – it actually gave us a chance to talk and have a few laughs (I don’t think I can watch Girls of the Playboy Mansion in the same way again!).
And noticed how many of us girls swooned over Zumbo?
Ah, perfect gorgeousness! What a fab day!
Glad to see you got the CT. And I didn’t know Elphaba had a name. Makes it seem a bit more ok that she is a green witch. And Charles mentioned today that he had his photo taken – he seemed embarassed but secretly pleased!
Bummed I missed this! But from the sounds of it I wouldn’t have fit in the cafe (and think I would be bouncing off the walls with that many calories!) Glad you all had a good time – hopefully I can make it to the next one!
Ahhh good timmess but too bad I had to run
I missed out on trying so many of the desserts *cry* but that means I need to go back haha
Great to see you again briefly haha
Great write up and pics as usual. Was good to have a laugh after about Playboy Mansion, so funny!
S
I’m def putting this place on my “Where to go list when in Sydney”. I’ve got a thing for French macaroons since having them in Paris.
It’s official: Melbourne sucks, purely because Adriano Zumbo is not here!!
Hi sandra-definitely works of art-it almost hurts to cut into them!
Hi Sandie-A trip to Sydney isn’t complete without an afternoon trip to Balmain!
Hi Miss Honey-Good to meet you too finally! And great choice of the Paris too-excellent breakfast food
Hi Angela-He does indeed. I would love to recreate all of these at home-or at least attempt to
Thankfully the cookbook should help in that endeavour-no plaintive, longing looks at the computer anymore!
Hi Cappucino-I suggest a trip to Balmain, pronto!
Hi Miss Sweets-Lucky you living in Balmain! It’s always a bit of a schlep for me being on the lower North Shore
Good idea, Paris is just made for an afternoon tea with the girls 
Hi SydneyGal-I want them all again
Does that count?
Hi Bean Sprout-Yes I’m still looking longingly at the ones I haven’t tried! *sigh*
Thankyou so much! I can’t believe it survived the plane trip back to Australia
Hi Iron Chef Shellie-yes and tell them at the shop that you want a shop in Melbourne too!
Thankyou so much 
Hi Jules-It’s definitely worth a prize spot on your Sydney itinerary
Hi Helen-A couple of times I looked up between taking photos and saw these bemused, amused and confused faces
I can’t wait to see it either!
Hi Cakelaw-I know and they’re both shy of the camera apparently! Little do they know there are women swooning over them and the cakes which they hold
Hi Karen-Thankyou so much!
As much as it was nice to have a big crowd, a smaller group is much easier to have a chat with. That was fun and try not to think of our discussion when Playboy Mansion is on tonight! 
Hi Reemski-It was indeed, thanks for organising!
Hi belle-I’m ignoring her real name and calling her Elphaba. It’s denial I know but I don’t know any Dr Apple
Haha Charles should have a look, it’s a rather handsome photo! Who knows, maybe the girls will come to see Charles too? 
Hi Annie-I know, what a pity you couldn’t make it
It would have been lovely to meet you!
Hi FFichiban-I know, you came and went so quickly! Such a busy guy hey?
Great to see you again, next time you should stay longer!
Hi Simon-Haha definitely, think about Holly and the girls when it’s on tonight
Or maybe try not to! 
Hi Vanessa-Oooh well you’ve hit jackpot, his macarons are really good
So many flavours and so many interesting ones too!
Hi Nic-Awww I’d send you some but they’d melt on the way to you!
How does Mr Zumbo stay so skinny!? Maybe he isn’t greedy like me
Thank you for such a fabulous blog. The photos are magnificent
awesome post dude and was good to see ya again!
Nice to finally meet you Lorraine
The desserts were SO yummy… Wish I had some right now!
okay, i havent seen the desserts in enough days now that your pictures made me crave them again!
Great post – it’s 6:45 in the morning and all I want is cake….
what fun and decadent and hilariously-named treats! and yes, i do like your bag, but it would be a disaster for me–things falling out all over the place.
Wow, all those cakes and desserts look fantastic, it would be so hard to choose!
I’ll have to make sure I make a trip out there to try some of his masterpieces.
Thanks for all the great photos and great post!
That Charles du Jour one looks incredibly elegant.
Oh, and I love your bag!
How much are the macaroons? Anyone kind enough to do a CP for me if that is possible or would they not survive the flight to Victoria? I want one
…or two….or three. These are the macaroons we had in Paris: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=48319&l=9c94b&id=1563259199 (Well we had to share 4 macaroons between 4 people!)
Hi Maria-Good question!
It’s amazing he’s not overweight with all of that goodness surrounding him!
Hi chocolatesuze-Thanks, it was good to see you again!
Hi Teresa-It was great to finally meet you too! I know, I felt so sad when my last cake disappeared
Hi amanda-Just thinking about them makes me crave them again!
Hi Suzie-It’s terrible isn’t it
It’s 10pm and all I want is more cake!
Hi grace-They are great names aren’t they
oh don’t worry there is a bag inside the bag that holds things together. Otherwise things would definitely fall out! 
Hi Anita-A trip will be well rewarded, I enjoy my pilgrimage every time
You’re welcome, let us know what you think!
Hi Y-Yes if I were Charles I’d be rather chuffed! I think he seemed quite proud of it, as one would! Thanks! I heart my little weird bag
Hi Vanessa-I think they’re either $1.80 or $1.95 each but I don’t think they’d survive the trip and Australia Post or the courier who would probably just want to eat them anyway
That is so cute! I like how you’ve made up a whole new macaron 
i’m so jealous!!! where was my invitation and WOW . . . that’s a whole lot of cake.
i know where i’m going this weekend
Hi Anna-Not sure where you invite was as I didn’t organise it but in Reem’s defence I think she just copied and pasted a circ list from an old email. But next time I’ll make sure you’re on it!
Hello!
Are the cakes available in his cafe @ balmain, the variety seems to have increased from the post you made about his cafe previously…
Hi L-The cakes aren’t available from the cafe, but what you can do is buy the cakes from the shop (which is just down the road) and they’ll plate them for you so you can eat them at the cafe.
Hi NQN. I went there today. At last!
Bought 2 cakes plus several macarons and madeleine. Charles, the staff, seem puzzled and asked me if I really going to eat these all. No way, he eh… my friends is happily ask me to buy some.
I almost blurted out Charles’ name then decided no, so he would not be freaked out. Next time then.
For your reader info: I went there with bus 442 from Stand A on QVB York Street, the bus stopped at front of the shop, hop off on 2nd bus stop, just after the bus turned to Darling Street.
I thought I was typed 5 cakes, not 2. Typo.
Hi Lilia-Ahh ok 5 makes sense. I didn’t think he’d ask if you only bought 2! Haha I think he knows that he’s now famous and his picture is on the internet as the face of the Charles Du Jour. What did you think of the cakes and macarons?
I shared it this afternoon with my friends. One who is a pastry chef in traineeship told me that Cassius was using a high quality chocolates (unlike these cakes in Coles and WOolworths) and she was able to guess some ingredients. Other friend said that Cassius was a strange flavour at first then she licked everything on spoon ans said that it was best chocolate. Other was happy to devour half of the “Where is the Cheese” alone. I was happy with the Sunny Cloud and “Where is the Cheese”. These cakes were all rich and delicious with right combined flavours. The price are not expensive compared to what Adriano dares to put efforts and expensive ingredients in these cakes. All of them said that Adriano is talented, dare to play with flavours, and has lots of creativity. My friends planned to travel there someday, they all said that pity there is no branch in the city for them to buy these easily almost everyday
Hi Lilia-I can imagine that the ingredients that he uses are world’s apart from what Coles and Woolworths use. Glad to hear that you and your friends enjoyed the cakes. So we another Zumbo addict?
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