Adriano Zumbo 2010 Summer Launch - Cake-walk time!

My head is still spinning, as I write this, from a major sugar rush….an Adriano Zumbo dessert sugar rush! There is a reason for not having sweets before bedtime, so consider this post and tonights fuelled by pastries.

It started when Mrs Fridgemagnet invited me to be her plus one at the launch of Adriano Zumbo's 2010 Summer Collection at Rosebud Bar & Restaurant in Balmain The show was supposed to start at 7:30pm, so I rushed down straight from work. Knowing loyal Zumbo fans we were expecting a queue What's more, the event would be filmed for an upcoming doco about Zumbo on SBS. The wait was worth it, since we were seated by the cakewalk and got up close and personal with all of Zumbo's fabulous concoctions.

Once inside, it was pretty chaotic. People were jostling for prime position, cameras were in your face, and the Zumbo models were scatered everywhere. The organisers really should have anticipated that the die hard Zumbo fans would be out in force and hired a larger space. Each cake was "escorted" down the runway - which is fitting because Zumbo's cakes are the epitome of food fashion - its simply fitting that he had a "cake walk" and I just sat and admired the yummy cakes doing my best Nicole Richie / Rachel Zoe front row attentiveness. Thank God no models fell over..think of the cake! 

Pretty in pink, the first model out carried the Bubblegum Strawberry Mousse cake with poprocks and a bubblegum surprise in the centre (above left). She was followed by a model wearing a sunny yellow dress and bearing the Little Pineapple made with pinapple jelly, pineapple curd, cream anglaise on an anzac biscuit base (above right).

The corn-on-the cob merengue was up next which looked like a white hedgehog from the merengue peaks - no photos of this but it look so intresting and would be on my order list! The DJ announced a short break for the models to go around the floor with a variety of cake samples. I picked a small sample of the mandarin tart (above right) a small sable shell with mandarin compote and mandarin curd. As they say "Give me a Mandi mum!"

The next set of cakes were presented shortly. A black liquorice cake which, when cut looked like a sushi roll with raspberry gel innards.

I totally could have been up there on stage right? I charge a dozen macarons per hour. Haha!

There was also the Milo Dream - a shotglass layered with a hard Milo chocolate dome on top and creamy mousse, milo chantilly cream and chocolate discs inside.

To much enthusiasm from the crowd Zumbo's much-applauded macarons came soon after. For this season, flavours include pancake with maple syrup, musk, basil, passionfruit, ginger, macadamia and scorched almonds.

The audience were presented with serving platter of the most amazing strawberry and cream macarons. There was no neat way to eat this, the filling was creamy strawberry..almost like an ice cream - everyone went nuts, either from seeing the man himself or from that sudden surge of sugar in the body!

For his interpretation of the fruits of summer, Zumbo showed of a mango layer cake with macadamia, vanilla brulee and mango mousse (above left). There was also a Raunchy Raspberry tart on a sable base, raspberry yoghurt mousse italian meringue and topped with fresh raspberries (above right).

We were able to sample a mini version of the cookies and cream cake with vanilla chantilly cream, a chocolate bread case and a liquid chocolate center. Mmm indeed.

For lovers of all things caramel and sweet, Zumbo has this insane salty sticky wheely with salted caramel plates and chewy caramel inside.

There was also a simple mud cake brought out because Adriano wanted to keep things "simple" Im sorry but that has to be one of the fanciest black and white mudcakes I have seen.

There was also a Chocolate Chilli and Peanut Butter cake with chilli brulee, a flourless biscuit, and caramelised rice crispies among other layers. (above left)

In true Zumbo style the insano creation of the collection has to go to the Wasbi Pea cake. Im not even entirely sure what is in it, but there was mention of wasabi pea crisps. WASABI!

It had taken over an hour to show the new collections, at times marred by long pauses and breaks. Adriano remarked that some of the cakes were finished just a few minutes before the show. Everyone was invited to taste all the yummy desserts after the show or have their gratuitous shot with Adriano. I think everyone was in agreement that the desserts indeed tasted just as good as they look!

I love this photo so much.

Such a crowd pleaser! Hopefully next time they secure a larger space to showcase the events. Did they not anticipate that Zumbo fans would have come out in full force? Its a shame that some waited for over an hour and were stuck in a crowded room and were unable to enjoy the show. Fans first, SBS later. Productions like this should be executed just as slick as the desserts on offer. A big hello to fellow sweet toothed bloggers who were there too!

The Adriano Zumbo 2010 Collections will be available at his Balmain shop from tomorrow, 23rd of November. So what are you waiting for dear readers. Put your laptop aside and hurry on down to Balmain to sample Adriano Zumbo's delicious summer treats! With all this sugar I don't think ill be able to sleep anytime soon.. see you in Balmain!

Thank you Zumbo Patisserie for a wonderful evening. Adriano, you are a rockstar.
Adriano Zumbo Patisserie 296 Darling Street, Balmain, 2041 (02) 9810 7318
http://www.adrianozumbo.com/