Black Star Bakery, Newtown and their Epic Ginger Ninjas.

First off, Happy Long Weekend. Personally, I don't know exactly what the Public Holiday on Monday is for - but thank you New South Wales. Its been a long week for both Demos and I - the work days are just getting longer and longer! We plan to have as much fun as we can for the next 3 days and we hope you guys do too! I don't think I have been excited for a long weekend in Sydney for a while. This is actually the first break we have had in the last year where we haven't spontaneously decided to jump on a plane. Thinking back, this exact time in 2009 we were in Hong Kong, Macau and China. In the last 12 months we travelled to New York, LA and Vegas, I went to Amsterdam and recently we visited Japan and Singapore. All these travels involved food of course, and these next few days will be no exception. Okay, back to earth Gianna, stop rambling and lets get to these Black Star Ninjas.

So dear friends, If you are out and about this weekend and happen to be in the vicinity of Newtown, please drop in to Black Star Bakery because it is EPIC. Here, let me show and tell you why..

 

As soon as you walk in you can just smell the coffee and the pastries - if your not hungry to start off with then you definitely will be after the first 1.5 minutes. There are tarts, pies, cakes..sweet or savoury you'll find something that will tempt you. One mistake that we always make when we come here is getting in too late. By 3pm, the good stuff can sometimes be gone - one day I will get there early enough to try the lamb shank and red wine pie! Its a tiny place but full of old school mis-matched charm. We always sit outside on the footpath in hopes of snagging the coveted Gnome table, but alas, it is always taken. 

On our first visit I spot the ninja's displayed on the counter. "That's you" I say to Demos. How can you resist a gingerbread man kitted as a ninja? The plan was to buy them all and build a ginger army, but we had to be practical. (Demos note : Domo would get jealous and eat them silly.)

The coffee here is 10/10. Even the macchiato tasted very creamy, with the perfect amount of punch. The barista's are super friendly and work non stop - you can tell that most of the patrons come here for a daily coffee hit.

In this particular visit, we are joined by our lovely friends Lu and Emannuel. This was the day before my birthday and Luisa had just got back from her Euro summer holiday, I stole bites from her pistachio macaroon as she told me about the all the amazing food in Paris. Well I bet they did not have gnome tables and ginger ninja's there.

 

Black Star Chocolate Eclairs

 Black Star Blue Cheese and Fig Jam Brioche

Demos and I share the quiche lorraine, as previously mentioned we missed out on our Pies and Sandwiches. What a delicious afternoon snack! The pastry is perfectly flakey and so buttery in flavour - it cured weekend 3.30-itis.. when your a bit peckish after lunch and you don't want to spoil dinner.

Blackstar Pastry is a bit tricky to find, its located in one of the back streets across from the Newtown train station. Its a small cafe, not as small as Bourke St Bakery, but seating is prime and there might be a short wait to get a spot. It sure is worth it though. The cafe itself is across the road from the Courthouse, off King Street. Big Love to my awesome amigos who spoilt me rotten for my birthday! Nothing like roaming the streets of Newtown because you forgot where you parked your car!! 

  

So friends, what are you upto this long weekend? As I rush to finish this post, Demos is waiting on the couch. I woke him up bright and early to head to the Growers Market today in Pyrmont, and then off to Signorelli Gastronomia for some Brunch. Today, I also nabbed the last spot for a food photography course at the Australian Center of Photography. Phew! Thats the plan until mid-day and its close to 9am! This is all part of the Crave Sydney Food Festival - I already love October! Have fun everyone!

Black Star Pastry 277 Australia St Newtown 02 9557 8656