The Great Cocktail Bun Challenge Continues…
In the name of research, I have also sampled cocktail buns from the Box Hill bakeries. The round one on the left is from Cakeworld and the skinny one on the right from the Carrington Cake shop.
As you can see, the Cakeworld one resembles the Montague Bleue in shape and size but with a little more glaze and sesame seeds. The taste however is almost exactly like the Maxim offering - not too rich but lots of dessicated coconut. I felt that the Maxim version was probably a little softer and fluffier though.
The Carrington cocktail bun is preferred by Thanh however they must have been having an off day. The bread is quite dark and the taste leans towards being slightly burnt. The bun itself is quite dry and almost stale tasting however the filling itself is pretty decent. It reminds me of the Montague Bleue filling as it was quite buttery, however it did not taste salty at all.
What’s the verdict?
Personally, I would still go with Maxims in Melbourne or Montague Bleue in Sydney. Of course, someone else may like to weigh in on this as well…
February 18th, 2007 at 10:34 pm
Cindy, I must clear a few things up from my last comments. The overly buttery one was not from Carrington cake shop. I can’t remember where that one was from but it was quite salty and tasted like they put too much salted butter or something.
The Carrington one you have in the picture does look a bit burnt. I know that if you go early and get the ones just out of the oven on a weekend, its light and fluffy. Usually its much lighter in colour and not overly dry. Lately I have been eating the Bread Top cocktail buns because of convenience (I can buy it from Springvale where I live rather than have to go to Box Hill). I’ve found that the Bread Top ones are very good as well. The bread is nice but the coconut mixture is not quite as good as Carrington’s. I must try the Maxim’s one since you recommend it, but I think Maxims is in Bourke street in the city right, near the lions gates? That’s quite far to travel just for a bun, but the next time I go past, I will buy one.
February 19th, 2007 at 8:00 am
Yes, I figured that Carrington’s cocktail buns weren’t always like this! Disappointing that they would still sell these under-par ones.
Box Hill is a bit of hike for me and it was a bonus to have been able to get there that day, so I know what you mean about getting into the city. Maxims is near the corner of Lt Bourke & Russell and there aren’t really any other bakeries to compete against it - other than the Bread Top chain. Are there many bakeries in Springvale & which ones are worth trying?
Interestingly, the city Bread Top stores don’t seem to have the cocktail bun…or maybe it was just on the day I looked???
You should definitely try the Montague Bleue one if you’re in Sydney as I think you would like it.
February 19th, 2007 at 6:30 pm
The Carrington ones are generally quite good, but yes, they shouldn’t sell bad ones if they want to maintain their customer loyalty and reputation.
There are quite a few bread shops in Springvale but none really make cocktail buns. I do like the durian profiteroles that most of them sell. I also like the Durian moon cake type things from this cake shop on Windsor Avenue. I can’t remember the name of the shop but its under the King Whale restaurant on Windsor between St Johns Avenue and Buckingham Avenue.
I know my regular Bread Top run out of buns so quickly each day, so possibly the city ones just ran out.
If I do go to Sydney, I will definitely try the Montague Bleue ones.
February 19th, 2007 at 8:16 pm
Mmmm, durian profiteroles sound good! Haven’t seen these mooncake thingys though. I should take a wander through Springvale some time. I haven’t been there since I was a kid and had to accompany mum shopping.
Thanks for the recommendations