After a good part of a lifetime bumming rides from people and trying to avoid both public transport and exorbitant cab bills I have finally become a driver myself. And the role of a driver entails, kind of like karma for all lifts gleaned, is that I pick up people. Not strangers mind you, but visitors from overseas like Catty who is visiting our sunny shores from London.
And I figured where better to head on a Sydney summer’s day than the new Adriano Zumbo shop in Manly? Unfortunately the weather didn’t quite get the memo on our intentions and cast us an overcast day. But no matter, we were heading to a beach to eat Zumbo goodies so it can’t have been all bad right?
When people have said that the store is small they weren’t kidding. You could drive straight past it without even knowing it was there. Just one little sign pokes out from the grey painted building and a dug out portion of the shop reveals boy’s toys. Not adult boy’s toys but children toy’s under glass underfoot. It is small and on the left there is a selection of pastries both savoury and sweet. In the centre are the cakes and to the right are the macarons.
Some of the cakes haven’t yet arrived for their daily delivery and I have to admit that I am really looking forward to trying the cakes that were featured on the SBS show Zumbo. There was the the wasabi eclair and the Milo chocolate milk which proved most vexing in terms of construction. But first things first, we need brunch or more specifically we need savouries. Despite the number of times I’ve been here I’ve never tried a savoury item. As Catty is Australian she tells me that she misses sausage rolls so we figure there’s no better time to reacquaint oneself with the quintessential Australian tuckshop treat? There are three varieties to choose from: pork & fennel; beef bacon and chilli and African spiced lamb.
Pork and fennel on left and beef, bacon and chilli sausage roll on right $4
We took the sausage rolls outside onto the esplanade and sat down to eat them. Not a bad view huh? We could tell that the pastry was good when we cut these in half. There were buttery shards of pastry covering both of us and whipping around in the wind. The pork and fennel has two layers-one of pork and a herby layer with fennel. We both found that a little too herbal. The beef, bacon and chilli sausage however is divine-like an old school sausage roll but butter with the right balance and combination of flavours. And you know how some foods never quite taste quite as good as when you ate them as a child? Well it helps if you have a pastry chef making said food. Then it’s as good or even better.
Cob and co $9
Savouries consumed, we head back to the cafe where they tell us that the second cake delivery will arrive shortly. The Cob and Co is described as a case of corn meringue with a centre of mango lime gel, corn cream and corn mousse and popcorn crunch. We had to eat this in the store as the shop clerk was worried about transporting this home. It has spiky meringue drops on the outside stuck into a marshmallow outer and inside was layers of mango lime gel (which weren’t particularly distinct but gave some tanginess to offset the sweet outer), corn cream and corn mousse. And despite all of this the whole cake isn’t too sweet, just nicely balanced. A jarring note is the popcorn crunch layer at the bottom which has a burnt taste to it, like caramel that has been taken just a bit too far. It isn’t really necessary for taste although we suppose it is necessary for construction.
Wheely $9
The wheelies are my favourite cakes-I love crunchy and soft textures together and it seems every season he redoes this into a new flavour. This season it is hazelnut. The outer discs are delicate, in fact many have suffered a loss of a side on the trip over the bridge but they’re buttery and crunchy, like a toffeed brandy snap. The layers of crunchy dacquoise are combined with a caramel mascarpone mousse, caramel maison (a gelatin set caramel based cream), salted caramel plates, caramel cream, dark chocolate rolled in caramel. Phew imagine saying that all in one breath! And yep that’s my favourite again…I just can’t get past that lovely crunch and oozy cream centre.
Was are be you me $9
I bought this for Mr NQN as he is a wasabi addict. Me, well I’m not as smitten with the flavour, only when there’s the briefest kiss of wasabi so I try this with a little reservation. It is an eclair which he made on the episode with wasabi balls, pistachio crème Patissier, grapefruit confit and wasabi pea crunch. The wasabi is light and not at all sinus clearing which is a relief and it is creamy and nutty with the pistachio creme patissier. I didn’t get any wasabi pea crunch as it had not survived the trip home intact. It’s unusual enough but not too crazy.
My low in life $10
One of the items on the show that proved to be the most difficult to engineer was the Milo dessert which Zumbo wanted to have actual Milo milk in. It is all a matter of airtight layers and if you take a sip through the straw you actually taste Milo milk. It is a cremeux with a malt mousse and Milo milk, Milo chantilly cream, Milo domes and chocolate disks. Milo Milo Milo! This too didn’t make it home in one piece although I did steal a sip of the Milo milk before it went kaput and it was…well Milo milk in a cake in glass form. It is also, not surprisingly very chocolatey and for chocolate lovers.
It tastes sweeter $9
And here are a couple that we didn’t try but they were too cute not to photograph…
Raspberry cloud $9
One thing of course is to eat the cakes while you are there. They still haven’t mastered the art of packing these and I will refrain from showing you the disaster that befell when I opened the box up at home. It was as though a hyperactive squirrel had gotten into the box and tipped everything over and then dived headfirst into the centre of each cake. Milo and wasabi peas and bits of wheely were everywhere. So eat it there and if you are taking them to someone’s house, bring your own box and cooler!
So tell me Dear Reader, what was your favourite tuckshop or cafeteria order growing up?
Adriano Zumbo
Shop 1a/40 The East Esplanade, Manly (entrance on Wentworth Avenue)
Opening Hours:
Monday to Friday
7:00am till 7:00pm
Saturday & Sunday
7:00am till 5:50pm
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77 Comments | Add your own
Such beautiful delicacies they have at Adriano Zumbo
I have been loving the zumbo show, its exciting to see the desserts here. I didn’t even know there was a shop in manly!
And yes i was a sausage roll girl
This place took me ages to find! But at least the shop is bigger than the one in Balmain! Love the new range but really want to try the My Low In Life. Mmmm.
I still haven’t been to this place! Great selection of dishes
Tuckshop lunch was a rarity for me in primary school since my Mum didn’t really approve of tuckshop food…she only ever gave me enough money for an occasional finger bun. And then I would look on enviously at the other kids who got sausage rolls or meat pies. Once I got a job in high school, BAM! I think I was eating tuckshop food nearly every day.
The desserts at Adriano Zumbo’s always looks like edible pieces of artwork. I really want to try the wasabi eclair. The green sable almost looks like a strip of nori if you squint.
Wonderful to hear that the Manly Zumbo lives up to expectations! I love his quiches (the Lorraine, if you wanted to know, is one of the best examples I have ever had) but have never had a sausage roll – I adore them (particularly the ones from Bourke Street) so we might have to do a taste and compare!
Cute names for such lovely desserts!
MUST_get_to_Sydney!!!
My fave Zumboism is the wasabi macaroon – think Mr NQN would be a fan to by the sounds.I would like to say proudly that I’ve enjoyed a few Zumbo moments in the Inner West without ever having to queue.
Great photos, the sausage rolls make me want to fly home via oz. This Zumbo guy seems to have found a good balance of creativity and classics.
i want somEE!!!! when is adriano gonna open one up in MELB??~!!?
Great looking sausage rolls! It’s great when you can have something as an adult that matches up to how you remember it as a child (even though it was probably crap when you ate it as a child). We had to make our own Neopolitan icecream to make it match what both of us remembered eating as children..
Well, as you’d have realized: the ‘Zumbo World’ and I don’t quite meet – that said, wouldn’t mind trying the wasabi eclair and the very appetizing wheelie!
I arrived in Oz when school tuckshop menus were totally Anglo-Saxon – did not have money for that and parents didn’t quite approve. But I heard many, many ‘yuk”s from schoolfriends when out came my salami, herring, liverwurst, smoked eel etc sandwiches with a side of pickled cucumbers, on black bread at that!!
OMG you had me at salted caramel.
I so want to try it, but alas here in the middle of nowhere it is not available and I am too lazy to make it myself…
At school my favourite treat was hot donuts in winter and sunny boys in summer.
I love the Wheely too. It was my first dessert at Zumbo when he was still an unknown. I wonder why he doesn’t call it ‘Wheely good’ like he used to when he first opened?
Oh YUMMMMMMMM!! Don’t you mean Adriano Yumbo?
I love Manly anyway and this is another reason to make the trek over from Melbourne! Thanks for these pics enabling us sad souls who don’t live nearby to catch a glimpse of Zumbo scrummyness!
Caramel Crackerjack and Malibu Malt – they were ice creams on sticks.
Is there NOTHING with desserts he cannot do?
As ALL seem TOTALLY mouth watering too!
Is there a special secret on how you do eat, all you do?
This is coming from someone whose nickname is FANG and am thin and slender too!
WHOO HOO!
Haven’t been here yet! The trouble is finding someone who will come with me all the way to Manly. But I love the Balmain store
I used to save up my coins and at the end of the week buy those Killer Pythons and Red Skins… Then in high school it was all about the lasagna and Zombie Chews.
Ohhhh I want you to pick me up and take me here. I am in love with the picture of the Raspberry Cloud and the Wheely sounds totally divine.
I was expecting to pop over and see a panna cotta picture here, but I suppose you have done it well so many times before it is no challenge and this post was so much sweeter.
Zumbo. Seriously envious. I have to make a trip to Sydney soon just to try some of his creations. Having said that, I am presently more than addicted to Breadtop and just had all kinds of Breadtop bean paste treats for breakfast
This was a great read NQN and I am still chuckling about the hyperactive squirrel – definitely paints a picture!
What? I didn’t realise Zumbo had opened in Manly. How exciting, I’m only a couple of suburbs away, which means I can definitely get to this store more often than his Balmain one. You’ve just made my Sunday Lorraine!
These pastries look divine. I usually brought my lunch from home but in winter I was sometimes given money to get a sausage roll or a meat pie. And a finger bun or a cream bun was always a nice treat too.
All of those treats look amazing, but alas, I live in Perth!!! Admiration is as far as it will go…..for now!
My favourite canteen item? Those gleaming trays of donuts for (gulp, showing my age) 5c each. All different colours with all different sprinkles. They never taste like that anymore!!
why would someone pay $9 for a tiny pastry? Because this guy has been on TV? pleeeease. What a rip off. A whole lot of hoopla gets created around someone and then they start charging ridiculous money for fairly ordinary foods that people in Europe enjoy at any ordinary patisserie for a third of our prices… I vote NO on Zumbo.
I used to love something called a Big Biscuit. It was 25 cents and was just a really big round plain biscuit with sugar on top. Have never had them anywhere but my primary school tuck shop.
I’ve driven past so many times and still haven’t seen it… must try those savouries, they look gorgeous.
Cream buns for sure and meringues that were shaped like eclairs, multi colured and had
spikes on top. Looking back I think they probably tasted like chalk but I loved them.
I popped into the Manly shop for a peak, very crowded and not a lot on display,maybe next time….
My favourite canteen item was a hot pineapple donut. The pineapple flavour used to go almost to the middle of the donut. MMMMMM. These days all you get is a whiff of flavour.
I adore that the sausage rolls, fancy and gourmet as they are, still come with squeezy tubs of tomato sauce
But really, all I care about are the sweets. The sweeeeets! The Wheelie sounds amazing, but I think I’d love the corn one. I’m a huge fan of wasabi and pistachio but not so much grapefruit, so am unsure about the eclair! And last but not least, that Milo creation looks so much better than the instant milo oatmeal I bought at Woolies…
Ooh…. I miss Zumbo’s delights!! And he has a show now too??
How delicious, everything looks so inventive!
I want Cob and co and Raspberry cloud right now !
What a delicious trip to Manly. When I was in Sydney last June I did visit his store in Balmain. Pretty sensational.
Didn’t really do tuckshop at school – was a homemade packed lunch girl myself. But if I did manage to come across a little spare change, I ordered a finger bun or something simple like that. Always ate it the same way, too. Loved eating the bottom layer first and then savouring a more concentrated flavour of pink coconut icing from the top layer!
Not a terribly exciting choice but there wasn’t an extensive selection back there in the 70s/80s like I’m sure there is now.
Sausage rolls at school in Winton in western Qld when I taught there. The bakery managed to get the pastry just perfectly crispy. Haven’t ever tasted one as good. From my own childhood,fantastic minced corn beef with tomato sauce mixed through on white bread. Yummo!!
OMG! I live 5 mins away and never knew this place existed! Well I know where I’m heading this afternoon!
I’m not sure I’m adventurous enough to try some of his creations just yet but the sausage rolls and milo cake looked right up my alley.
I was a classic tuckshop order. Sausage roll no sauce and in my older years a vegemite roll. Oh so boring but I still love both today.
So I went this morning thanks to this blog.
I was after the macaroons.. there were 8 flavours on offer:
- vanilla, great;
- smarties, great;
- peach tea, great;
- ginger beer, (got this for my dad as i’m not a huge giner fan.. he said it was okay and tasted like lemon);
- eucalyptus, fresh but i couldn’t have the whole thing as it was a bit too eucalyptusy;
- rosemary and apricot -couldn’t really taste the apricot, weird as i usually have rosemary on my roasted vegies… couldn’t have the whole thing;
- raspberry and licorice (one of 2 flavours I didn’t try as I don’t do aniseed);
- banana (don’t do banana, except for paddlepops and bread and cake).
And I had to get the Milo drink/dessert…. was tops! Had this awesome ball in the middle about the size of a ferrero and it had milo powder filled inside… ymmmm Adriano ….
and my favourite tuckshop thing was:
primary school – the T.S lady’s chocolate cake; cheese melts.
high school – the T.S lady’s banana bread; a plain bread roll (sometimes buttered was good) and a satchet of french vinigarette to put on it.
I’ve never even been to his place in Balmain though I rather fancy sitting near the water chomping of Zumbo food more. Loved this post
I always got a pie or sausage roll if I was allowed to go to canteen. So uninspiring.
Looking at Adriano’s offerings I really really really really wanted to eat The Wheely off the screen until I saw the Raspberry Cloud. Be still my beating heart..
Yummo Zumbo! I can hardly wait to try his macarons, they’re probably the only things in the shop I can eat!
We used to take our own lunches to school, but my daughter loves to buy yoghurt pops from her school tuckshop.
Zumbo is a bona fide genius with all those glorious confections of his! (I do wish he’d finally expand overseas, though!)
When I was a kid, I was mad for the fudgy chocolate cakes served at the school cafeteria for afternoon tea.
Do you get commission? The lady in the shop told me that half the people in there today had mentioned your blog! Not a huge amount left by 4.30 but we picked up a selection of macaroons and a couple of (yet to be eaten) desserts!
ha! I don’t get commission but I’ll take it in the form of cakes!
Actually best not if i want to fit into my clothes 
What time were you there that the sweeties hadn’t yet arrived?
All of the food looks so lovely, but it’s not surprising that they don’t travel well…they look so delicate.
I used to love freshly cut pineapple that my school tuckshop sold, or the tubs of grapes. Weird I know.
Fun post! I have been watching the series on SBS – I am keen to try the licquorice one he made on telly and the Hubba Bubba one.
Yumbo!
(Sorry couldn’t help myself!)
OH the sausage rolls and pies of my youth! Alas, I can’t eat them anymore (well at least not completely)as the grease factor is too much!
I am a massive Milo fan (i.e. I eat Milo with a spoon, much to the horror of my mum), and am absolutely loving how Zumbo has incorporated it into such a pretty dessert. Wish he’d open a branch in London!
I’m ready to start charging people for lifts! Those who don’t drive and get by because people forever give them lifts that is. Cars are too damn expensive.
The label on everything seems tacky to me, but I am one of the few not on the Zumbo bandwagon.
Hello, catty! I know what she means about sausage rolls… it’s difficult to find good ones here! (I mean, not difficult, but you have to go out of your way to find one!)
I’ve never had a sausage roll and after reading this post I’m even more determined now to try them! They look really incredible…and so does that Wheely!!!
*sigh*
So sad!!
I was in Sydney over the weekend and I ran out of time and couldn’t visit the new (or the other) store
One day……
Thanks for the great reviews, your fantastic description was mouth watering even for someone that dislikes sweets.
Red skins, sunny boys, caramel paddle pop and of course finger buns. Now I know why I dont eat sweets now.
I love Zumbo. I watched his show online during the weekend and loved it. The man is a genius and his staff are fantastic. It’s sad to say but I never really got anything from the tuck shop as a kid.
That wheelie looks so divine!
Still do.
I used to get a plain buttered roll from my high school canteen every day – about 6 months in the canteen ladies called me over and asked “It’s killing us! Every day we discuss whether you bring anything to put on that roll??” I told them I just really like fresh buttered rolls
I’m lucky to live close to the original Zumbo store in Balmain, and I’ve had some hits and misses from there, but more hits.
I’ve blogged about Zumbo’s macaron recipe and it’s even inspired me to take a class in it!
(I’ve tried amateur html linking – my apologies if it doesn’t work and looks like gobbledygook!)
The Raspberry cloud is delish… I disliked the wasabi pea eclair though. Didn’t even finish, which is unheard of from me!
The only discouragement is the huge hill to climb on the way back home!
This Manly store is a dangerous, dangerous addition, as I live within walking distance and am tempted to visit it a little too frequently
Also, made the passionfruit and basil macarons, and a salted caramel batch as well this weekend & took them to my Bday picnic – huge success! Thanks for the detailed notes on the recipe
My all-time favourite tuck shop food was Vegetable pasties with tomato sauce, Mmmmmmmmm can still ‘taste’ them now , decades later.
Loving Zumbo’s show, especially the great insight into his ‘Lab’ and how the staff work like clockwork.
I totally agree that his cakes do not travel well but I didn’t end up with a ‘squirrel mess’ like you Lorraine lol. Hopefully he’ll come up with foolproof packaging soon or maybe he thinks why bother ? when most customers will eat his cakes as soon as they buy them.
Me want the Raspberry Cloud
Ooooo Zumbo….I think I have a small crush on you! His desserts always get my heart racing LOL! Major craving for his Milo one now
It was interesting watching him create the milo creation on his SBS series.
My friends went to the Manly Zumbo store on Saturday. I was invited, but I couldn’t make it. I really want to try his cakes & macarons! Oh well…maybe one day soon.
Sometimes when we didn’t want gravy, we’d do a sauce mix (sometimes tomato & BBQ, sometimes our “cheeseburger” mix – tomato sauce & mustard).
We only got a ‘tuckshop’ at school when I was in high school. My friends & I would always get chips & gravy. Even though I’m not a big gravy fan, there was something about the canteen’s gravy that was slightly addictive!
Must try a pork and fennel roll! Admittedly, I do make my own version so I’m not sure if Zumbo’s will even come close to standing up next to mine
And my fav tuckshop item was always the CHICKEN BURGER! (only available on Wednesday). My mum was the canteen manager so I got spoilt.. Most popular kid in school!
What do you mean mr zumbo makes sausage rolls too!? Now there is something I haven’t noticed at all in the Balmain shop – to distracted by the colours!
The wheely was my favorite, but we’ll see after a serve of the sausage roll!
I love Zumbo’s sausage rolls – and loving the looks/sounds of Cob and Co – sweet sweet marshmallow…
I am going to admit very “guiltyly” a passion for potato crisp buttered rolls from our school canteen! you would buy a small packet of crisps, then stuff them into a canteen bought buttered bread roll and they were awesome! Just what you needed for morning tea !
everything is so unique! i’ve never seen anything quite like a wheely, but they must be amazing! nice little spot.
The sausage roll looks absolutely tempting!!
oh my! Look at those sausage rolls…gourmet goodness. I want one now! I loved the chicken salad rolls, with cheese. They were so good, not sure what our tuckshop ladies did to them. Sunnyboys were great too!
Heidi xo
I might be late in the party but… Congratulations on getting your licence!!
A fav was probably the potato pie with sauce! Or the honey nougat log that I ripped out one whole side of my braces in science class trying to sneak in a snack behind my pencil case, and managed to tear my entire mouth open from pulling out the wires!! Ouch!
You think the Manly store is small? You should see the Balmain one! Every weekend the line is out the door and down the street. So work it though…I go for anything with custard…mmm
wow..look at those desserts!!! the milo milk one takes my fancy
“It was as though a hyperactive squirrel had gotten into the box and tipped everything over and then dived headfirst into the centre of each cake.”
Thanks for giving me a big belly laugh with that description!
Oh oh my!!! This will be my first stop should I ever visit. Everything looks soo good! That wheeler. WOW!
I am sooo looking forward to Zumbo visiting Brisbane in May. Mothers Day High Tea at the Marriot with Adriano himself – I’ll take that – and a few macarons.
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