When I published my blogpost on the Vietnamese rolls, I didn't realise that a few doors down from VeeVee was a cake shop that specialised in Greek sweets and has been doing so, at various locations around Sydney, since 1955. I love Greek yogurt, Greek cheese and the Greek Almond biscuits so I figure I ought to give these cakes a try-all in the name of research you see.
This is apparently their newest store and it certainly looks that way. What has caught my eye are the cylindrical cakes, in a myriad of colours and flavours. I'm buying cake for 4 people for dessert so I figure one cake per person plus some biscuits will do and resist their seemingly over the top suggestion of 2 cakes per person as well as biscuits. I select the Continental (layers of vanilla sponge with layers of vanilla fresh cream and chocolate fresh cream finished with a fine layer of Belgian chocolate); Praline (layers of vanilla sponge layered with caramelised flaked almonds fresh cream); Mango and Coconut Fresh Cream (layers of vanilla sponge together with layers of mango and coconut fresh cream finished with a mango glaze) all $3.90 each plus a Chocolate Mud Cake $2.90 (layers of chocolate mud cake layered with ganache chocolate and finished with a spread of fine chocolate). Alongside these I choose a strawberry and lemon melting moment dipped in icing and some pistachio biscuits, some melomakaronas (traditional almond honey biscuit) and of course my favourite greek almond shortbreads liberally sprinkled with icing sugar (all $19 a kilo, my box of 8 cookies was $8.27).
Uncovering these at our destination, we discover that they have transported well as they fit snugly in the box. We are eager to taste and dig in. The first one tried is one of my favourite flavours: Praline. I love the taste of the roughly splintered toffee and nuts and this is as faithful as they come. Most of the cakes are of the same base (vanilla sponge, fresh cream) but the flavours are sprinkled on an inside layer of cream.
Mango and Coconut Fresh Cream (layers of vanilla sponge together with layers of mango and coconut fresh cream finished with a mango glaze) $3.90
The mango and coconut is next and the mango is sweet and lovely when contrasted with the cream but I am not tasting much coconut in it. Perhaps its just flavouring in the cream but its fairly indistinct and masked by the mango.
Continental (layers of vanilla sponge with layers of vanilla fresh cream and chocolate fresh cream finished with a fine layer of Belgian chocolate) $3.90
The Continental is next. Its a bit of a disappointment as it lacks a really distinct flavour. Its much like tiramisu but without the coffee or alcohol. Not bad by any means, but not as exciting as the others.
Chocolate Mud Cake (Two layers of chocolate mud cake layered with ganache chocolate and finished with a spread of fine chocolate) $2.90
Its onto the Mud Cake next and we've warmed it for the 20 seconds in the microwave as recommended by the girl in the shop. Its lovely and moist, not quite as dense as some mud cakes can get but that's not necessarily a bad thing. The melting chocolate is rich and ever so good and the centre of ganache makes this more interesting than your average chocolate mud cake. A definite winner and it looks like this baby is everyone's favourite.
We manage to squeeze in the biscuits and by now, we are full of sponge and cream. The pistachio biscuit is covered with sesame seeds and studded thickly with roughly chopped pistachios. It resembles Italian biscotti but softer and would be superb dipped in coffee.
The lemon and strawberry melting moments are, as the name suggests melt in the mouth shortbread fused together with filling and one end dipped in icing. Being an icing freak, of course I like the end that is dipped in icing, leaving behind the non icing part.
The melomakarona are next, they're sweet with honey syrup and sprinkled with walnuts and heady with orange peel and spice. They're very sweet and a little goes a long way.
Last is the almond shortbread biscuits. Surprisingly, I like these the least of the lot, the almond and nutty flavour less strong than others that I've had. I'm disappointed as I saved these for last as they're usually a favourite.
Feeling like a big ball of cream and sponge I am thankful that I ignored their suggestion of 2 cakes per person. One cake and biscuits is definitely enough for a mere mortal!
Christopher's Cake Shop
1213 Botany Road, Mascot
Ph: +61 (02) 9667-0300
409 Bourke, Surry Hills
Ph: +61 (02) 9360-4878
8 Regent Street, Kogarah
Ph: +61 (02) 9587-0222
Open Monday-Saturday 7.30am-6pm
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