Breakfast roundup #3 – Babka bakery cafe
As you might have noticed this is one of several occasions where I have ventured out on breakfast excursions solo. It is strange to say, quite relaxing and facilitating for my food-photography practices.
Today (*ahem, I mean in November) I head down to this little café-bakery on Brunswick St, long since etched in the heart of Melbourne diners.
The crowded space with brunch’ers and waiters, doesn’t leave much room to sprawl out on a lazy morning. But who says one comes here for the space? People flock here for the bakery items and café brunch. I for one came to try the infamous lemon tart.
Soy latte – more often than not most cafes make terrible soy coffees, either using poor quality soy or in the process of brewing they create a clumpy, unpleasant one. Babka fits into a separate category, one among my personal favourites for soy renditions in Melbourne. The brew is smooth, with a mellow aroma of soy milk with a good balance of coffee astringency.
What is this you may ask? Definitely not a lemon tart! It is a plate of artery clogging but ever so satisfying French Toast. A little bit crispy, a light dust of sugar, soft pillowy insides and a whole of a lot of butter, and oh my gluttony…
Now I present to you the Lemon tart. From the bottom up: moreish short pastry base, velvety lemon custard with a distinct citrus acidity, brittle crackle of brulee, sprinkle of white fairy dust aka sugar. The first few bites leave a wonderfully lasting impression on the palate, but it is no doubt sugar-coma inducing and not for the faint hearted.
Pear and custard tart – this would arguably have to be my preferred tart of the two, despite its comparably mellow aromas. The juicy wedges of poached pear – with its slight crunch – together with a cloud of heavenly custard are absolutely plate-licking-worthy.
Rating: Yummy+1. Great soy coffee, and unforgettable tarts!
[Babka]
Where: 358 Brunswick St, Fitzroy
Contact: 03 9416 0091
Warning: come early and in small groups. Please do not attempt the above 3 course degustation, you might die of a very high-sugar death.
You might also like other breakfast roundups >>> DeClieu, Replete Providore.
LOVE LOVE LOVE babka. Go there every time I’m down in Melbourne. I would have chosen the custard tart also over the others mmm
Man, I’m banned from this stuff. Thanks to the resumption of my TCM therapy.
surely you can have an “exception” day
I love that you have lemon tart in your breakfast round up. Surely a breakfast item with all that fruit?
yes indeed…. a very sweet one =P
Mmmmmm, we are definitely going to have to start heading into the inner ‘burbs for weekend brunches …
Lol @ (*ahem, I mean in November). I find it difficult to brunch by myself still, have tried it a couple of times, but it’s really difficult to fish out my cam when I’m alone. Strange…
Did you have THREE desserts in one sitting? :O
do it a few more times, and you’ll get used to it.
over a staggered sitting throughout the day =P.
Every time I go to this place, it’s always PACKED >_<
That French toast looks BOSS though.
Put me down for a lemon tart, and when just out of the oven an apple danish!
what about the fab bread! Also the danishes there are pretty damn good