Five to try: Festive treats on Sydney Road
Here are five unique and delicious treats to eat during the festive season – and they’re all on Sydney Road Brunswick!
What makes Sydney Road so unique and so treasured is its small businesses, each led by passionate and talented makers who work tirelessly to hone their art, to bring you the highest quality products.
From hand-crafted, single origin chocolates to award-winning pastries made with heirloom recipes to limited-edition products only available during the festive season, there is a gift for every foodie on Sydney Road.
Pulcinella’s sweet and savoury bakes are made in house daily, using traditional recipes direct from Naples. During the festive season, Pulcinella offers their limited-edition range including pandoro and panettone. Whole bakes are available for pre-order. Selected bakes are available if you drop in, including by the slice.
I highly recommend sampling Pulcinella’s house made panettone. Pulcinella was the 2024 winner of the Panettone World Cup selection in Australia for their traditional panettone. They went on to represent Australia alongside the world’s best bakers at the Coppa del Mondo del Panettone in Milan.
I asked Alessandro, head pastry chef, what makes Pulcinella’s panettone the best. Humbly, he replied, ‘I don’t know… freshness?’. Overhearing the conversation, a patron suggested, ‘It’s their golden hands’.
The original panettone is absolutely delicious. Beautifully golden, with a rich but light crumb, studded with plump sultanas and tender candied citrus. It is perfect eaten alongside a coffee.
Sweet Nata specialises in Pasteis de Nata or Portuguese custard tarts. Scott, owner and baker, honed his art in Lisbon: the home of the Portuguese tart.
Scott, formerly a sommelier, knows a thing or two about flavour. Sweet Nata offers a diverse, flavourful range, including traditional, lemon curd, wild sour cherry and pistachio. There is also a vegan option that uses an oat milk base, topped with fruit and crumble.
Scott makes every item by hand, including the lemon curd. The wild sour cherry jam is the only exception, as this is sourced directly from Italy. You can see the heart and soul that goes in every tart. And you can taste it too.
It is such a treat to have a little piece of Portugal on Sydney Road. Best of all Sweet Nata is open on Christmas morning. I know where I’ll be.
Mediterranean Wholesalers is a Sydney Road icon. The continental supermarket was founded in the 1960s and has been at its current premises since the late 70s. Mediterranean Wholesalers is family owned and operated, stocking products handpicked direct from Italy.
During the festive season, this includes pandoro. Pan d’oro means “golden bread”, getting its name from a dough rich in butter and eggs. Unlike Panettone, Pandoro does not have any fruit. It is baked in a star shape and generously dusted with vanilla icing sugar to look like a snow capped mountain.
You may ask, what is the best way to eat Pandoro? Traditionally it is eaten as is, alongside coffee. Some slice pandoro horizontally, so that it keeps a perfect star shape. When it is stacked, it looks like a Christmas tree. Others slice pandoro vertically, so that everyone gets an equal slice containing both the head and ‘bum’ of the pandoro. For the team at Mediterranean Wholesalers, opinions are split. But, I am told the ‘bum’ makes for great eating.
Choukette has been a feature of Sydney Road since 2008. Over more than 15 years, Nans and his team have cultivated a delicious range of house made pastries, cakes and savoury dishes including sandwiches, pies and quiches. Choukette’s traditional bakes, charming interior and dedicated staff will transport you to France.
During the festive season, Choukette releases their limited-edition festive yule log or Bûche De Noël. Their classic Bûche features a light sponge topped with French buttercream flavoured with chocolate or praline. Their pistachio and cherry Bûche features a madelaine base with a pistachio cremeux and cherry mousse.
Their Bûche is available in three sizes. Grab an individual portion with a coffee, or preorder a large Bûche, enough to feed 10-12 people. As I am savouring my treat, a staff member notices my order and remarks, ‘Bûche, my favourite.’
For the most elegant of sweet treats, head to Ratio Cocoa Roasters. Owner and maker Debb hand crafts her chocolates from scratch using traditional techniques, and ethically sourced cacao beans from across the globe.
Ratio Cocoa Roasters produces a diverse range of small batch chocolates. Drop by the Chocolate shop for festive-themed treats such as chocolate studded with gingerbread. Many products on offer are vegan and allergen friendly.
You cannot drop by Ratio Cocoa Roasters without also visiting the café, which offers a range of house made pastries and sweets including chocolate brownies, marshmallows and ice cream.
I highly recommend their hot chocolate, made with real chocolate shavings. It is not too sweet and pairs perfectly with their spicy gingerbread. It is such a good hot chocolate. So good in fact that you will want to grab a pack to take home.
The post Five to try: Festive treats, with Ilona Nicola appeared first on Discover Sydney Road, Brunswick.