Review : Buppa's Bakehouse - CLOSED

**UPDATED ENTRY**

Visit Three (don't judge us!)

482 King Street
Newtown


Buppa's Bakehouse is now CLOSED.





Frankly, by this stage you should be well aware of the elicit affair Squeak and I are engaged in with Buppa's Bakehouse. This week we made it a Ménage à trois. with 'Cooty' (aka Squeak's mum). If you cannot figure out why we are trying to convert the world yet... just look at that picture! Peanut Butter Chocolate Pie. If anything can sum up these American baked delights, this would have to be it. Who knows what is in the base... Oreos??? All we know it is very, very good. The texture is like a light cheesecake, but it is chocolatey and peanutbuttery with chunks of peanut and chocolate flecks throughout. To top it off.... Hersheys Chocolate sauce.

I went for the Key Lime Pie. It is one of those things that we always hear about in American movies, so when I saw it on the menu, I had to go there. Once again... the base. I'll be up front right now. This is the second time I've had it. There - I've admitted it. The base, once again is delightful. It is very buttery, and delicious. It is slightly different this time however, as last time the base had this gorgeous spiced flavour that made me wonder if it had been made with ginger nut biscuits. So... this time it was different, but that really is testament to the fact that the goods at Buppa's evolve and are slightly different each time... that they are made fresh... not from a production line. So who can complain? It is like a lime cheesecake, and has a real lime tang to it which works well with the butteriness of the base.


So yes... we know. We have nobody but ourselves to blame for our girths... but you should be proud... Squeak did walk past last week without buying anything. We are trying to develop our own '12 step program' for Buppa's Bakehouse. Is it still a problem if we limit ourselves to once a fortnight?
Just one day at a time. Just one day at a time
Buggles




Visit Two

UPDATE: (sorry no pictures - it was a spontaneous visit)
After an 'out of the ordinary' morning movie, Squeak and I thought we'd pop back into Buppa's Bakehouse for a spot of cake and coffee.


This time, Squeak writhed and turned as she tried to make up her mind, but finally settled on the Black Bottomed Pecan Pie. I certainly can see why, it looked absolutely delicious! The fact there were only two slices left does always bode well also.
This pie was amazing. There is no other way to describe it. The pie crust was flaky and light, and didn't detract from the rich, caramelly/ custardy(?) filling, embracing the plump sultanas and topped by caramelised pecan nuts. There was also a bourbon infusion that really just set the whole thing off and made the whole tart cohesive. Squeak was in some sort of pecan heaven murmuring things about buying a whole tart (ostensibly to share the experience with others - but just quietly, I'm not too sure her plans are for sharing!) I tried a mouthful (or three) and can assure you that Squeak will have a fight on her hands to keep it to herself.


I opted for the Apple Spice Cake with (once again) that all important thick icing. It was just what the doctor ordered - well.... maybe not the cardiac doctor. The cake was moist and light, and the cream cheese icing was spiced with cinnamon. It was truly delicious... but to be honest I rarely concede that Squeak chooses the better dish... but today, I will admit to some pangs of dessert envy.


Unfortunately waistlines.... we will be back!
Buggles


(P.S - read on below to relive our first experience! Yes, I know... it was just a couple of weeks ago.)

Visit One
There are some things that I just know get Squeak excited. That's why, when I read about a bakery that opened dangerously close to us, that also specialised in North American baked goods.... I knew our waistlines might have some trouble in the near future. When Squeak suggested a trip to Buppa's Bakehouse was necessary to reward ourselves (in advance of the housework yet to do)... I grabbed the keys and off we went!


Buppa's Bakehouse sits at the southern end of King St (ie. towards St Peters), which means that it isn't too far to wander down from the station, and it also means the chances of getting parking nearby are slightly increased. When you enter the store, it is simply, but stylishly decked out, and everything draws you to the display stand. There wasn't a lot left when we got there, but in our 30 minute stay, Buppa already had a new batch of Monkey Muffins out of the oven and onto the display trays, and an Apple and Blueberry Pie was on its way also.


The main reason we were going is because of Squeak's penchant for all things lemon and all things with a chocolate and peanut butter combo. These are two things she believes the Americans do very well. Unfortunately, on our visit, these things weren't featured - apart from the Peanut Butter Choc Chip cookies ($3 each - pictured above).

I order the Blueberry Cheesecake ($6). It looked good, although I will admit to feeling intimidated by the size of the portion. Baked cheesecakes can be a bit too rich, or a bit too sickly sweet, so I fully expected to either leave half of it, or go home ill. I did neither. It is difficult to describe how something as heavy looking can manage to be quite 'light'.
Don't get me wrong, it still had that 'baked cheesecake' texture to it, but it escaped being too dense or cloying. The filling was deliciously creamy, and definitely not too sweet. The base was a triumph- and we all know how integral a base is to any cheesecake experience! (Note to Squeak who tried suggesting that she would make me a 'baseless' cheesecake one day...)
It was darker than most bases I've seen, and it was buttery and crumbly, but once again, not heavy. The blueberry glaze/jam that topped the cheesecake, was perfectly complemented by the fresh blueberries that topped it all off. They both added dimensions of sweetness and moisture that set the whole thing off perfectly. Often a cheesecake can leave you wishing you hadn't gone there.... (well, for me anyway), but this one didn't.

Squeak, despite missing out on all things peanut butter or lemon, was keen to try the cake called 'Rabbit Food' ($7). This gave the whole name an entirely new and pleasant connotation. There was nothing green, leafy or unappetising about this 'Rabbit Food'. It looked like everything a carrot cake should be - moist, and (let's face it - the most important bit of all) it had a nice thick layer of creamy icing. Upon arrival, and closer inspection, we could also see lots of nice chunks of fruit and real carrot!


This is one thing that Buppa will proudly let you know. There are no 'fake' anything's in her baked goods. No added preservatives - other than the alcohol in vanilla - and certainly no artificially dyed substances pretending to be carrot.


Squeak tucked in, and was really impressed by how moist the cake was. The flavour was spot on - with that all-important spicing. The icing was good - but Squeak felt was perhaps a bit too sweet, and I'm with her on this one. We love a good carrot cake icing - but it has to hit the right note of cream cheese, or lemon tang. This one had a hint of cream cheese, but was perhaps overwhelmed a bit by sweetness. The star here was the cake itself.


Watch out for the arrival of Ben and Jerry's ice cream in the next few weeks. Buppa's Bakehouse is one of the only stores around Sydney that will be selling it. We are certainly looking forward to it - although, once again, our waistlines may disagree.

We loved this little place. The service is very friendly and the cakes are great comfort food. There is something really warm and inviting about a place whose owner is so proud of her creations, and bakes everything in the kitchen just behind the counter. It's all fresh - and this all translates onto the plate.
We'll certainly be back - perhaps next time with our young niece Holly (who likes to whip up a baked good or two herself!)
Buggles