Imagine our surprise, when after walking up The Parade after an event, we suddenly came upon this funny, strangely angled little place with a display case (at viewing level) full of wonderful macarons!
Situated right next door to the well-known Cafe Buongiorno where, if I remember rightly, a hairdresser used to be, the Bakinaire on The Parade, has arrived. I believe from our Weekend Notes Macaron forum, that there is in fact a
Bakinaire in Chinatown, in the city, too.
Well, we did get excited. These wonderful little bursts of marvellous have been appearing extensively across the city, gradually, over the last months, a lot of cafes now do carry them, and if they don't already, I think they'll (most of them) carry them sooner or later, as they are just the best little sweet thing to have with a coffee (especially an espresso or a macchiato, long black, short black, Americano or ristretto)
There is such a variety available now too. Cafe Primo on The Parade also now has a good selection and you can buy the little gift boxes there as gifts, too. Argo on The Parade has them, you can get them at Burnside Village, in the food court underneath David Jones (where you can also purchase those Byron Bay cookies!) BUT this place is just about macarons really, oh and specialty teas too.
Oh the delight of being able to match your macaron with your tea (they will suggest/recommend too if you're not sure). The tea comes in little Japanese style tea pots and although the price on the menu board suggests a pot for two, it really isn't enough for two if you're used to the old 'cuppa' amount, or are just a plain old tea aficionado, so I do suggest in this instance, that you order two pots if there are two of you wanting tea.
That first visit, I had a tea with lemongrass in it, matched I believe with an orange something or other tart, with a passionfruit macaron (this came with the tart) - oh my lord, yes, passionfruit macarons are wild. The tart was really really nice, but I think I'll just be sticking with the macarons now, as it's worth concentrating on their flavours, alone; it was a bit full on having the tart (of which they have a number), with the additional macaron, but as I said, the macaron does come with the tart, I was not just being greedy!
The tea, being served in the little Japanese teapot, which, being both into tea, was not quite enough for my tea partner and I, however, we were both rapt when the cups were the little Japanese style, round ones (there is a correct name for them, however, it eludes me now). This and the desserts/ macarons are all served on a small, white ceramic tray. Lovely is what came to mind.
They do not have coffee, as this place specialises in teas, so next visit, although I had intended a coffee, I was recommended a warming winter tea they have, which had ginger and honey in it, I'm pretty sure.
This time, we had a pot of tea each and just a macaron each with it. I had the coffee (missed out on a cup of it, so why not?), macaron partners had the lavender and red bean varieties, we also took away: pistachio, popcorn, cheesecake and blueberry. They are all very good. Popcorn, cheesecake, red bean and lavender are just such surprise delights. The lavender is apparently made with lavender tea contained. It's weird, but the macaron itself, doesn't smell like lavender, as you'd expect, but bite into the cream and it's distinctive lavender taste, and it's not even evoked by the smell, as it's missing, so it's kind of a weird sensation, to know what lavender tastes like, without there being any accompanying well known lavender smell. Maybe it's just me.
The lavender is just divine; the popcorn, really tastes like popcorn, so I'm told. I didn't get to taste it. The red bean, I'm told, didn't have much flavour, but you've kind of gotta like red bean, to like this one, in the first place. I do like red bean desserts: pancakes, icecream etc, so I'll have to try it next time round. The passionfruit, amazing; raspberry was recommended; pistachio and passionfruit were touted as the best macarons ever! While my coffee macaron was a tasty, sweet, worthy substitute for not having had my cup of coffee. Yum.
lavendar macaron
popcorn macaron
red bean and pistachio macarons
The place is going to be popular with the tweens (macarons are affordable treats at $2,50 here) as a couple of groups of 14yr olds came and went while we were there. Couples and small families will also enjoy eating in here, for an after dinner treat or afternoon tea or 3pm munchies or whatever.
There are a couple of tables round the back, with bench seats; it's kind of zen or Japanese in style, the tables being black and the bench seats, orange; white walls, with only a couple of posters with macarons in them. There are wall inserts with various macaron paraphernalia in them ie. paraphernalia for making your own macarons eg. stand, cook books, silicone baking sheets and piping do dads.
They will do a macaron stand for celebrations, for you and this was around $136, with $20 being refunded upon return of the stand. The stand holds over 50 macarons (53 I think) and would be pretty speccy for a celebration of standing.
This place is kind of a cheaper 'dessert bar', as it's prices are far more approachable than those of others. It's opening times are far more approachable, too. I'd be happy for my child to go and have macarons here, with friends, as it's not just open at night, but in the afternoon, as well.
Everyone likes dessert. Macarons are yummy. And I do like the ambience here - it's approachable. I'm all for good, well-priced fun for everyone; dessert is for everyone (kids too) and I think Bakinaire on The Parade, Norwood, has it.
Fun, approachable sweets bar.
