Black Star Pastry

On Sunday I headed down to the Dendy in Newtown to catch the Banksy doco, “Exit Through the Gift Shop”

If you haven’t seen it yet, go go go! It’s been out for a few weeks now, but you should still be able to catch it at the Dendy or Chauvel. Even if you’re not a fan of street art, or even art itself – it’s a great movie. As I should have expected, Banksy definitely keeps you guessing. It definitely didn’t end up being what I thought it would be. Being marketed as the Banksy Movie… I expected it to be a movie about Banksy! Such folly, I know. But I can definitely verify that it’s as funny as hell.

For those of you who’ve seen it (everyone else shield your eyes):
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DO YOU THINK IT’S REAL? Are Banksy and Shepard Fairey in cahoots and pulling a giant prank on us all?

I am so conflicted! The way it plays out is so incredibly perfect, and with such bitingly hilarious irony that I just have to doubt the veracity. It’s just too perfect! Or would that lessen the hilarity of it all? In some ways I guess I don’t want to know for sure! It’d ruin it maybe.

Oh Banksy. Youuuu.

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So after the movie, we definitely needed somewhere comfy to park our butts and discuss. Preferably with cake!

Espresso machine loves Benny

So we headed down to Black Star Pastry, which I’d heard a lot of great things about, but had never visited. It’s a really cute place, with little Starck Gnome stools out the front, and nice wooden interiors. It looks neat and friendly. The people behind the counters smile and chat to familiar locals as they pop in for baguettes for tonight’s dinners, and cups of coffee.

I know what I’m here for though. The Watermelon, Strawberry and Rose cake, and my head gets a little giddy when I spot 2 slices left in the cabinet.

Watermelon, Strawberry and Rose dacquoise cake

I love rosepetal as a flavour. My mother would beg to differ. She thinks it reminds her too much of soap. I kind of get that, but I just love the fragrance of it. (My favourite Passionflower icecream flavour is definitely Lychee and Rosepetal.)

The rose flavour in this cake is lovely and subtle. And it just tastes so so fresh and light! There’s a slice of fresh watermelon in the centre, surrounded by rose cream and layers of almond dacquoise (nut meringue) which gives it such a nice crunchy texture (I love crunch!). And on top – fresh strawberries.

I may have found one of my favourite cakes. I DUNO. It may be up there with Adriano Zumbo’s Passionfruit tart. It is definitely one of the prettiest I’ve eaten!

Chai Brulée

My friend orders the Chai Brulée from the glass cabinet – which promptly gets sprinkled with sugar and set alight in front of our eyes. Woohoo! I’m sad I didn’t get a photo though. It tasted amazing though! And served in a shallow dish like a great brulée should be! (more sugar topping woo!)

5 minutes later, the dish is scraped clean.

Chocolate and Hazelnut torte

Now this is intense. So intense your spoon will barely make a dent in it. It had to be knocked on its side before it could be conquered and devoured. DELICIOUS! Definitely for chocoholics.

To go with this, I’ve got a Rooibos Blood Orange tea which comes in a nifty steeping/drinking device.

Rooibos Blood Orange tea.

Pretty flat white heart

Awesomely satisfying Sunday.

Exit Through the Gift Shop is showing at Dendy Newtown and Paddington Chauvel.

Black Star Pastry
277 Australia St,
Newtown NSW 2042
Ph: (02) 9557 8656‎
Open Tues-Sun: 7am – 5pm