Sweet Empire

As far as I'm concerned, no visit to Melbourne is complete without at least ONE pig-out at one of the fabulous Brunetti cafes. On this trip I swooned about their City Square establishment (above) lingering over one of my favourite cream-filled canneloni.

Canneloni though, are a mere drop in the ocean of Brunetti temptations; and what started as a tiny cake shop on Lygon Street in Carlton a few decades ago, is now showing signs of becoming an empire. Brunetti Cakes began trading at their current Faraday Street location (Carloton) in 1985. The Angele family bought the business in 1991 and it's been expanding ever since. In addition to the Carlton spot, they've opened this stylish new cafe in City Square and another in Camberwell; and, according to their website, they have plans to open in both Singapore and Dubai soon.

Giorgio Angele began his training in Rome when he was 10. In 1956, at the age of 23, he travelled to Australia with the Italian Olympic team as a pastry chef, and was given the opportunity to migrate there after the Olympics. He's been baking up a storm ever since and now the name Brunetti is synonymous with divine, sweet temptations. I love to visit their Pasticcerias as much to photograph the cakes as to eat them. It's a feast for the eyes and the stomach - and that charming Italian service? Unbeatable! To see shots taken previously in their Carlton outlet, click on the name Brunetti in the label line below. www.brunetti.com.au

Sweet Melbourne Moments

Melbourne 2008 Ajr

I'm normally thinking about heading off to Melbourne about now. I like to visit in October-November before it gets too hot; but sadly, this year I have had to delay my visit. So I'm pining a little - wishing I was wandering around the city with my camera, stopping here and there for coffee - mostly here...as in Brunetti's in Carlton. This place is the stuff legends are made of. And once you've had coffee and cake here you'll be a fan for life. The Brunetti family have been running this thriving enterprise for decades and they now have an inner city location as well as this one. I prefer this Carlton location. It has more history and far, FAR more cakes for me to swoon over, photograph and taste. http://www.brunetti.com.au/

From the Food Files

Many Good Reasons

To Forget the Diet

Brunetti's, Melbourne

www.brunetti.com.au

Nov.2008. Ajr

Sweet Tooth

Brunetti, Melbourne. Nov. 2008. Ajr

One of my favourite things about Melbourne - apart from the fact that it simply IS my favourite city - is the amazing array of cakes you find there. It must be said that the Italians certainly have a way with cakes and every time I visit Melbourne I head straight for the famous cake-makers extraordinaire - Brunettis, just off Lygon Street. When I visited Melbourne last November (my annual pilgrimage) I made quite the pig of myself at both their Carlton cafe and their inner city premises. In my own defence I should also mention that I like to PHOTOGRAPH cakes - probably more than I enjoy eating them; at least the act of photography, unlike the act of gorging, doesn't require weeks of penance in the gym after the event. I've written about Brunettis before - just click on their name in the index line below this post to see more edible goodies. www.brunetti.com.au

Cakes and Italians

Brunetti's, Carloton, Melbourne. Nov. 2008 Ajr

Every time I come to Melburne I make a bee-line for that institution of cakes and Italians - Brunetti's, just off Lygon Street, in Carlton. Their cakes are legendary - visual feasts, edible sculptures - amazing velvety folds of chocolate like fabric, berries glistening with glaze, fat little canneloni stuffed with ricotta. It's all too much to resist - so I never do! www.brunetti.com.au