We found the Coast's best macaroon.
We found the Coast's best macaroon.
What do you get when you combine an English teahouse with a Parisian patisserie? Passiontree Velvet of course, home of the Gold Coast’s best macaroon and more pretty, sugar-filled treats than you can poke a fork at.
In what could well be the most delightful combination of all time, Passiontree Velvet, found at Robina Town Centre, The Strand and now Pac Fair (with a brand new brunch menu), is inspired by the aforementioned teahouses and patisseries, bringing edible luxury and high end shopping centre brunch to the people (you).
As you might expect the new addition offer a decadent High Tea which, excitingly, is a first for the hungry hordes prone to roam around Pac Fair in need of post-shopping sustenance.
It’s the perfect place to take your Mum after a day of of mother-daughter bonding (read: spending).
There are two adult options and one for the kiddies (because babes are fancy these days guys) and all will do very nicely thank you very much.
The Devonshire Cream Tea comes with two English scones, strawberry jam and cream and a choice of tea or coffee.
The second (obvious) choice is the Duchess High Tea made up of assorted finger sandwiches, English scones with all the good stuff, a selection of treats from the patisserie and of course, tea or coffee.
There are 12 varieties of tea to choose from and, since it’s a teahouse, you should probably bust out that pinky finger and get sipping.
Now, let’s talk macaroons.
If you’ve never experienced an up-to-scratch macaroon, today is the day for that dream to come true. In flavours such as Earl Grey Milk Chocolate, Salted Peanut Butter and Coconut, Passiontree Velvet’s perfectly-crispy-on-the-outside and softly-delicate-on-the-inside macaroons are the real deal.
Said macaroons can also be incorporated into a custom-made cake for special occasions or, you know, a Tuesday afternoon. If there’s anything better in the world than custom macaroon cakes we’re yet to hear about it.
So grab your favourite lady, hit the shops and then settle in for a sophisticated afternoon at Passiontree Velvet, your inner Duchess will thank you.
LOCATION: Outside Myer (ground floor), 1 Hooker Blvd, Broadbeach
HOURS: 9am to 6pm daily.
Words and photos by Kirra Smith.
Thought you’d tried all the sugary goodness on the Gold Coast? You’re wrong. Enter Guilty Café, Currumbin Waters’ latest addition to the scene.
This unassuming little place on Galleon Way is set to take the Coast by storm and not for their delicious array of bagels and healthy breakfast goodies, though they do have those. Nope, it’s all about the milkshakes. That’s right, Guilty Café is about to bring milkshake mania down upon you. Buckle up.
Known as Crazy Guilty Milkshakes, owners Andre and Ray, a former PT and gym junkie, brought the idea back from the US and spent months designing their own versions. In fact, the entire cafes’ concept was built around these beautifully built, guilt-inducing shakes.
How different can a milkshake be we hear you ask? Feast your (reading) eyes on these.
The Sweet n’ Salty Caramel shake is served in a tall glass with a vanilla rim, decorated with caramel popcorn and topped with whipped cream, more caramel popcorn, salty pretzels, salted caramel Tim Tams and a caramel drizzle. It’s an architectural feat and you’ll want to gaze lovingly at it for as long as your willpower allows.
Then there’s the Ferrero Choc-a-Lot. It has a chocolate rim decorated with M&M’s, topped with whipped cream, Ferrero Rocher, crushed peanuts, chocolate wafer Tim Tam’s, an ice cream sandwhich and chocolate drizzle. A chocolate sensation that will leave every other chocolate milkshake in it’s wake.
If you haven’t already dropped your phone and run to the car to try them out we’d be surprised. There are two more tantalizing flavours to test so you can literally visit Guilty Café every weekend for a month and then start the rotation again.
Good luck ordering a beverage of any other kind once you’ve laid your eyes on those bad boys.
Prepare to get your guilt on.
LOCATION: 174 Galleon Way, Currumbin Waters
HOURS: 7am to 3pm Tuesday to Sunday
Words and photos by Kirra Smith.
What started off as a way to honour the women (also known as Dough Lassies) who volunteered in serving doughnuts to soldiers in World War I and to help raise funds for the needy, has now become a much celebrated yearly event – Doughnut Day! Not that we need an excuse, but who doesn’t love to over-indulge in doughnuts?
This Friday make your way over to Paddock Bakery in Burleigh’s Hibiscus Haven and choose between baby Nutella bots (tiny doughnuts filled with Nutella) or The ‘Milo Milkshake’ Doughnut – semi-sourdough doughnut, dipped in milk glaze with crunchy little milo pebbles.
20 Hibiscus Haven, Miami
The guys at Blackboard Coffee got behind the doughnut craze early on in the game and brought us the injectable doughnut, a syringe filled with a delicious salted caramel sauce stuck in a doughnut – yum! And the best thing about it? You get to inject the gooey caramel sauce yourself. But be warned, they usually sell out early in the day!
7/240 Varsity Parade, Varsity Lakes
I think we are in heaven! Doughnut Time is celebrating National Doughnut Day with three limited edition MEGA doughnuts, introducing D’oh Nut!, Big Poppa and Chris Hemsworthy. They’re said to feed up to four people and are available now for pre-order via the online store https://goo.gl/AyuOj5. Pick-up from Friday 2nd June to Thursday 8th June.
Shop 5, 2375 Gold Coast Highway, Mermaid Beach
Corner of Cavill Avenue & Surfers Paradise Blvd, Surfers Paradise
All Time Coffee Co. is a no fuss coffee shop focusing on the important things in live – coffee and (vegan) doughnuts. Some of our favourites: the Notella doughnut, a vegan alternative to Nutella, the Fairy bread doughnut or *drumroll* the MAPLE ‘BACON’ DONUT, filled with maple jelly, smothered in a creamy vanilla and maple flavoured frosting and topped with smokey maple coconut bacon!!
1/2478 Gold Coast Hwy, Mermaid Beach
Skull and Bones have won multiple awards for best coffee on the Coast, it might be time for them to win a doughnut award. Decide for yourself and try their take on the humble doughnut – bronut , a mix between a brioche and a doughnut. Those scrumptious treats are filled with a variety of different fillings like Nutella or caramel. Our recommendation, however, is the Bronut Sundae, a fluffy bronut filled with vanilla ice cream and topped with Nutella, a must try this Doughnut Day!!
2577 Gold Coast Hwy, Mermaid Beach
Minus 32’s doughnut creations are next level. It’s already hard enough to chose a doughnut from their selection, but it doesn’t end there. You can pimp your doughnut with chocolate drizzle, caramel sauce and ice cream, possibilities are endless. Find them at Miami Marketta every Friday and Saturday and at other pop up event’s around the Gold Coast and Brisbane.
23 Hillcrest Parade, Miami
It’s fairly safe to say that anyone who loves doughnuts had a Krispy Kreme before, after all, they are the top dogs amongst the doughnuts. To celebrate International Doughnut Day in style, Krispy Kreme Pacific fair is giving away one free original glazed doughnut to everyone who comes in store on the day! Yes, you heard right FREE Doughnuts! Do-nut be late, they’re only available until stocks last.
Pacific Fair Shopping Centre (near Coles), Hooker Blvd, Broadbeach
Spanish Doughnut a.k.a churros may look slightly different than the traditional doughnut but taste just as good (if not better!). All churros are made to order, using 100% Australian made products, proudly supporting local produce and suppliers. No preservatives, artificial colour or sweeteners are added. Fresh is best – viva! Spanish Doughnuts.
17 Cavill Ave, Surfers Paradise
The deli at Providore Marina Mirage is stocked with fresh pastries baked onsite daily including Nutella filled cronuts, a mix between a croissant and a doughnut, the original doughnut and twisted doughnuts. If you call yourself a true doughnut lover then celebrate Doughnut Day at Providore Marina Mirage this Friday open from 7am.
Marina Mirage Shopping Centre, 37 Seaworld Dr, Main Beach
This one’s for the die-hard doughnut fans. *Insert* Doughnutfuckwitdis Burger, a hand pressed wagyu beef patty, Nutella, smoked bacon, double jack cheese between a grilled Doughnut Time™ original glazed doughnut. And to not disappoint your sweet tooth, have a go at the “Oreogazm”, deep fried Oreos in doughnut batter w/ ice cream and liquid Nutella.
1/37 Connor St, Burleigh Heads
Adrian Grazioli is the face of The Pastry Emporium, a hidden gem tucked away in the backstreets of Bundall. One of his skills? Doughnuts! Adrian and his team make them with brioche of course, fresh every day. Nutella and Custard is a favourite flavour and highly recommended.
Offer: you get two for one this Friday!
Campbell St, Bundall
Located just five minutes west of Surfers Paradise is this European style bakery, baking up doughnuts for over 20 years. Our recommendation is the classic jam filled doughnut dusted with cinnamon icing sugar, or maybe you’re more into the Ferrero Rocher style doughnut? We do-nut judge.
Sorrento Shopping Village, 20 Bundall Rd, Bundall
Words by Louisa von Ingelheim
Changes are afoot at Vintage Espresso, Mermaid’s much-loved neighbourhood café.
Very soon you’ll be able to order everything on the menu from the comfort of your lounge room and then pop in to pick it up yourself.
That’s right, Vintage is getting the Gold Coast’s first foodie app.
All the rage in Sydney, apps for specific cafes allow orders to be prepped and picked up while they’re still hot rather than waiting for delivery. The Vintage Espresso app is perfect for ordering brekky on your way to work or if you’ve only got a limited lunch hour. From hotcakes to chicken burgers, there’s plenty to tickle your takeaway fancy.
Want more? In happy news for coffee connoisseurs (everyone), the early bird certainly gets the worm at Vintage. From 6 to 7am every day small takeaway coffees are only $2. So really the only question left to answer is, how many coffees can you consume in one hour?
Chantelle and the team are also encouraging customers to embrace eco-friendly cups and plastic free July so if you’ve got a reusable cup take it along and you’ll get yourself a 10% discount. That means small coffees are only $1.80 until 7am!
Besides all this excitement, owner Chantelle Fields is about to revamp the Alfred Street space, she’s poached a couple of Chefs from Melbourne’s most foodie-centric suburbs and the team have added a few tasty new menu items including homemade baked goodies that are literally flying out the door.
In our ever-changing local foodie landscape Vintage Espresso remains tried and true. Order your brekky, pop in for your coffee and that’s your day made.
LOCATION: 1/43 Alfred Street, Mermaid Beach
HOURS: 6am to 3pm every day.
Words and photos by Kirra Smith.
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