Adriano Zumbo Café Chocolat – Balmain, Sydney (6)
(Photo from Masterchef website)
OH MY look at that sexy Zumbo… oh the cake looks tasty too!
Anonymous foodblogger: “I want his babies!”
I am very sure that EVERYBODY saw the episode of Masterchef (Remember to join Chocolatesuze, A Table for Two, Grab Your Fork and many others on MC Chat for the last 2 eps!) with Adriano Zumbo yesterday so I felt obliged to do my long overdue post about the latest Zumbo collection – 40 Days and Nights in Paris. This post is actually a combination of visits as each visit results in trying the new gateaux that I have not yet tried as they only have a few of the collection available each visit. This collection is his most adventurous one in my opinion and it has wins and some bordering on the too artsy for me but all in all these are all creations of beauty and a taste to match!
Here Comes the Food
Charlie!
Me walking into the store: “One of everything my good man!”
Charlie: “That’s what I’ve been telling everyone to do!”
I guess great minds think alike hee hee
OOOOh these boxes bring so much joy…
Visit #1
X – Pine nut guanduja mousse, dark chocolate creme, pate leulletage caramelise, sacher sponge
This millefeuille was simple (well maybe not after properly reading the description…) but totally delish and ranked as one of the higher ones in the collection. The flaky pastry contrasted beautifully against the creamy layers and the top have a sweet and delicate caramelized layer. The spongy layer had a hint of bitterness from the cocoa that also mixed well in the whole construction of the gateaux.
P (aka Youranuse) – Mandarin mousse, tonka bean brulee, pain d’epice, sour cream jelly, almond ginger crunch disc
This UFO look-alike appeared to be a very sweet one with it’s glistening coat but ended up to be just right with the gingerbready taste exposing itself with the first bite. The chocolate(?) sticks were quite interesting and added to the extra-terrestial look but the new version does not have them 
The shiny coat of mandarin mousse has the wonderful mixture of citrus and vanilla and along with the crunchy almond pieces this was also one of my favorable ones. I think the gingerbread really got me mmmm.
Z – Olive oil biscuit, olive oil ganache, vanill candied Kalamata olives, lemon & olive oil creme, vanilla lemon creme legere, jumbo gumbo jelly
This one was very interesting indeed! Never thought olive oil and olives could be so sweet but it only works when all the layers are eaten together otherwise the jelly (although has a cool name) can be very bitter. However after a few bites it does get quite oily so not as popular as the others.
W – Chocolate pop rock & popcorn disc, vanilla almond chantilly, dulce de leche, flourless chocoalte sponge, almond feulletine
This one was another favourite as it tantalized the ears and nose as well as the mouth with a buttery, chocolatey, popcorny aroma and a mind-blasting crack as you bring the knife down on the chocolate layers. The salty popcorn bursts really work well with the chocolate and the addition of dulce is pure genius and so is the popping candy! Now who doesn’t love popping candy?! This is something I want a huge bucketful to take to the cinemas XD
Just 2 fingers Tiger! – Corn, saffron & vanilla custard, vanilla brulee, chocolate custard, Yuzu creme, sable crunch terrain
This was Pupu’s favourite one so we ended up getting it on both visits 1 & 2. The name was a bit puzzling and had me curious about the source *raise eyebrow*. There is a brilliant contrast between the creamy fillings and the crunchy base which is similar to a cheesecake base but with rice krispies. Another more safer option and not too adventurous but tasty in more than 2 ways 
Visit #2
Red Chicken Curry Pie
I totally agree with Pupu that Zumbo does one of the best pies in Sydney. The chunky delicate morsels of chicken is mixed with many tasty vegetables (beans, potatoes and mushrooms) to form a creamy and mild curry. The sesame seeds also add a nice flavour and texture to the pie. Mmmmmmmmm PIE XD!
Beef & Vegetable Pie
Chunky beef and vegetables clothed in a flaky pastry robe of deliciousness mmmm!
Amanda made the cut 6/11/81 – Milk passion caramel mousse, lime creme, passionfruit marshmallow, coconut crunch & brownie
This gataeux was an array of textures from the gooey marshmallow to the denser brownie base and another softer mousse layer. The flavours did pack a slightly sour passionfruit but mixed beautifully with the sweetness of the other layers.
Shisha – Smoked rice orange brulee, violet curd, pate sable with mandarin & ruby grapefruit segments
I found this one to have an asian twist to it because of the rice haha which provided with a good texture along with the creamy custard. The crunchy base was solid while the sourish segments of mandarin and grapefruit created a harmony with the sweet custard. The violet is pretty and a good decoration but I saw on later visits that they were missing?
Upside Down Cloud – Baked meringue, creme citron & sable sand
I had pretty high hopes for this one but it did not fully deliver but it still had a great combination of flavours and textures. The scattered pepper in the meringue gave little spicy bursts which enhanced the sweetness of the meringue. The outer baked shell was not as good as the inner gooey meringue in my opinion and the citron is a bit too much for me. I love lemon meringues but usually only if there is 20x the amount of meringue to lemon hee hee.
Visit #3
The sweet and salty macaron has a oozy creamy center and crunchy but soft sandwiching pastries and after eating this I totally understand why this happened.
Ed Rock the Cradle – Milk coffee cheesecake with chocolate cheesecake base, coffee scented caramel creme, Italian meringue
See some rocking action here! For this gateaux really does rock with the right amount of prompting. Tastewise it is also very nice with a lovely but not overpowering coffee flavour in each bite. The milk bottle is a cute addition although a bit too much of a sugar load especially with the rest of the gateaux. The meringue would have to be my favourite part of this one hee hee.
Escape from a Columbian Rainforest
Hee hee hee Coke! I ggeeett it ^^! This has turned out to be one of my favourties of the collection although the sourness of the citric acid on the chocolate layers can be a bit too much. The cherry cola liquid centre is absolutely amazing and with the chocolate mouse and cakey base it is heavenly! Cherry coke was/is my favourite version of coke and this took back in time.
Visit #4
Sorry no photos this time, but we did try the truffle creme brulee which is another winnah! The others we tried were the ‘Tube’ and the ‘Squeeze’ but they will have to be reported on another time hee hee
Sooooo another trip to Zumbo? YAYY!
Other close encounters of the Zumbo kind:
Adriano Zumbo Café Chocolat – Balmain, Sydney (5)
Adriano Zumbo Café Chocolat – Balmain, Sydney (4)
Adriano Zumbo Café Chocolat – Balmain, Sydney (3)
Adriano Zumbo Café Chocolat – Balmain, Sydney (2)
Adriano Zumbo Café Chocolat – Balmain, Sydney
Adriano Zumbo Café Chocolat
308 Darling St
Balmain, Sydney
Monday – Friday 8am – 4pm
Saturday and Sunday 8am – 5pm
FFichiban
July 17th, 2009 at 3:12 am
OMG, beautiful !! That’s the only word that I can say after seeing those pics. *while drooling all over my laptop*
July 17th, 2009 at 9:26 am
gorgeous cakes
spewin i missed out on the cafe meet up!
July 17th, 2009 at 11:54 am
Oh noo that would be so wrong if they served that tart without the violets on it!It’s so gorgeous. The X was one of my favs too and sigh at the macarons. This makes me want to go back right now! It must be extra insanely busy there now after all the masterchef exposure.
July 17th, 2009 at 11:55 am
Hehe great stuff! That Amanda one looks so good (I haven’t tried that one). I really should go back to the cafe too. Do they have any new items there?
July 17th, 2009 at 1:05 pm
Teehee!! What an appropriate timing for a Zumbo post
Love it, love it, love it!
July 18th, 2009 at 12:51 pm
aahhh i still haven’t been to try the new range of cakes!!
They look amazing! Hey, i’m passing on the Kreativ Blogger Award to you 
Check out my blog for details!
July 19th, 2009 at 4:15 am
I have been to his shop 4 times, and I haven’t yet to see X left!
July 20th, 2009 at 12:01 am
Leony – Thx so much ^^!
but we can always organize another one hee hee
Betty – Haha yeah I missed it too
Steph – Yeah true that! Everyone would be asking for the cake and croquembouche hee hee
Lorraine – Oohh I haven’t been back in a while but I read about the latest Wheelie on Belles blogs and the Sexy Legs
Ellie – Thx so much ^^! Hee hee
Betty – Ooohh Thhxx ^^! Go try try try!
Yas – Ahh keep trying man