At Visit to Adriano Zumbo Patissier- Manly

The sun finally broke through after many dismal days of rain, so it was time to get out the convertible, put the top down, and take a ride to the beach!!!  Madame T, The Cake Woman Extraordinaire, Precious and I set off for a girls day out at Manly to visit the latest jewel in the Zumbo crown.

Adriano has recently opened a Patissier on The East Esplanade in Manly, with a Cafe currently taking place next door.  We arrived a little too early, and the delivery from the factory had not arrived yet.  There was a small selection of cakes on display, but no macarons!!!  What were we to do?  What any sensible person would do of course - eat one of his delectable sausage rolls!!  There were three flavours to chose from Pork and Fennel, African Lamb, and Beef, Bacon and Chilli.  At $4.00 each these were really good value - quite large, and oh so flakingly good!  Even though I had saved all my stomach space by not having breakfast, we all decided that we were feeling decidedly full, and needed a walk to ensure more available stomach space be available for cakes/macarons when the truck arrived!!

Word certainly seems to have spread, and those in the know knew exactly when to anticipate said truck's arrival.  Once the delectable little morsels had been delivered it was like watching seagulls circling hot chips on the beach. The tiny little shop soon became full.  Mind you - once there was more than the four of us in the shop it became a little claustrophobic!

Today there were five choices in Macarons - Pancake and Maple Syrup, Vanilla, Rose, Blueberry Mud and Raspberry Liquorice.  All were delicious!!

We were having a hard time making our minds up about what cakes to get, but the macarons were going fast!  Must make decision quickly, or else miss out on the macarons!

My problem was that I had studied the website for days trying to decide what I would buy - only to arrive there and find that none of those choices were available!!!  If you have been watching the SBS series, you may have seen the episode where he asked his staff to come up with some new items for the next collection - if you haven't seen any of the Adriano Zumbo Series click and catch up!!  All of his staff collection is on sale at the moment,  here is what we chose.....

I am sorry I am not a great food blogger - I can't remember all the names - too in awe with the beauty of these items, and trying to get may hands on them!!

This one I think was called Ranger's Vine Ripened.  It was a White Chocolate casing,  inside there were several layers, each one with flavours resembling bruschetta - so there was the tomato flavour, the basil flavour, and a little crunch factor as well.  Very different - can't say it was fantastic, but also can't say that it was bad.

Now this little beauty was the best in my opinion -  tarte aux fruits de la passion!!  Oh to die for - wonderful passionfruit tang, creamy filling, and wonderful pastry - must buy again!

I can't remember this little beauty's name - but it had a lovely cake base, with a filling of white chocolate and raspberry cream, and then topped with this gorgeous red jelly top!

This one was .... something ....  Saturn??  Chocolate, caramel, and almonds, with a surprise pineapple centre!  Yum!!!

This little gem was made by Adriano's youngest apprentice  She is 16!!  It was called Chai my Raspberry.  If she is turning out cakes like this at 16 - then the world is her oyster!  Is was lovely.  I, unlike The Cake Woman Extraordinaire, did not dissect this layer by layer - but let me just tell you by eating all layers together, you could discern that there was a pastry layer, a raspberry jelly layer, and a chai tea layer - they all worked beautifully together!  On top was the "whiter than white" cream that we saw last year in the V8 cake!  Absolute perfection!

So if you find yourself at a loss for something to do - head on over to Manly and check out the new collection - you will end up with a stomach ache I can guarantee it - but you will be oh so happy!!!

1a/40 East Esplanade Manly

I've Been tagged!!

Gosh Thanks Julie.  This should be interesting - I have never really gone in for this sort of thing before - so I hope my answers are OK!!

My hardest thing is going to be thinking who to get involved in the game next, and what questions to ask them!!

Here goes with my answers -

1. List five foods you could you never bring yourself to eat?

Kidneys

Tripe

Liver

Brains

Blood Sausage

2. Share your happiest food memory.

A candlelight dinner on the beach in Sri Lanka with Mr CCC.  It was our first holiday away without the children – it was bliss!!

3. What would be your most embarrassing fashion moment?

Gosh, how to choose – any 80’s outfit has to be in there!!  Though there was one that comes to mind – sort of a Madonna’esq outfit – short white boots, frilly ankle socks, skirt with braces – and of course the big hair!!!

4. Finish this sentence, “It drives me mental when….” The kids come in from school and throw their crap everywhere – shoes, crumbs, bags, clothes – you name it – you would never know that I had spent the day cleaning up the house!

5. Finish this sentence, “There is nothing better in life than…” ICE CREAM

6. You find a magic lantern and are granted one wish from the Genie of the lamp, what would your wish be?

A holiday to Italy without the kids next year for my 50^th birthday!

7. If you had one hour of invisibility what would you do?

Find somewhere quiet and read a book (they wouldn’t be able to find me!!!!)

8. What made you decide to share your life with the world via a blog?

If I have to be completely truthful I think a little part of me wanted to be discovered – kind of like Julie in Julie and Julia!!!

So who to include???  I nominate -

Jo from A Dash of Flavour
Peggy from My Fiance Likes it so it must be good!
Susan from My Food Obsession
Melba Toast from The Adventures of Miss Piggy

..... and the questions are:

What would be your most defining culinary achievement?

If you could change your profession to something using your culinary skills what would you do?

What is the worst thing you have cooked - and why?

Finish this sentence "In my next life I want to come back as......."

If you could visit anywhere in the world where would you go and why?

What is your favourite dessert?

Are you a summer or a winter person?  And is it because of food?

Can't wait to hear your answers!!!!!