Itâs a bakery that needs no introductionâBlack Star Pastryâthe little bakery that opened 13 years ago and started a global online frenzy with its strawberry watermelon cake. Since then, the humble store grew to four locations across Sydney and opened a storefront in Melbourne. Theyâve sold thousands of pastries, sweets, and cakes. For anyone who has been to the original storefront in Newtown will be familiar with its cosy feel, but after 13 years, the unassuming hidden shop quietly served its last sliceâat least in that location.
The new location is housed in a heritage building at 325 King Street, a mere few meters from its flagship. Unlike the one before, this shop commands centre stage on Newtownâs main shopping strip, which is fitting for the brandâs growth and reputation.
âNewtown is incredibly special to us, as itâs where Black Star Pastryâs journey began all those years ago,â says General Manager, Josef Murray. âLong before the strawberry watermelon cake and its legion of fans, it was Newtownâs locals who first embraced this budding bakery.â While Black Star Pastry outgrew the old location, prompting a search for a new store, its intention has always been to stay connected with this vibrant community.
Paying homage to its Newtown roots, the new storeâs narrative is ânostalgiaâ. MKZ Architectsâwho conceived Black Star Pastryâs âturning pageâ store at The Galeries â brought the new location to life by embracing the buildingâs heritage architecture and taking design cues from classic patisseries.
Walking in, the space is warm and inviting. High ceilings, floorboards, marble benches, and arched windows all play a part in the pastry stores new identity, creating a high-end, but not stuffy space, where you can sit at the marble countertop, or by the windows, and enjoy a morning coffee with your pastry. As always, you can get your treat to go.
The highlight of the space is the rolling pin ceiling installationâa tribute to the timeless art of baking. It surrounds the marble countertop, catching the morning light and adds to the storeâs nostalgia narrative.
The store will continue to serve all the usual staplesâin addition to its original cakes, you can enjoy a range of quiches, pies, sausage rolls, pastries, croissants, and a brilliant egg and bacon breakfast roll.
Open from 7:30 am daily and now just 50 metres from Newtown station, the new location offers added convenience for coffee commuters as well as express access for cake collection.
Mexican restaurant chain Mad Mex has dropped a new protein, and it’s one of the most popular street foods in Mexico.
Enter, Chicken Al Pastor. It’s traditionally made with pork and grilled on a spinning rotisserie with a pineapple sitting a top, but Mad Mex has put its own spin on it, serving chicken bathed in an Al Pastor marinade with a touch of juicy pineapple.
You can order the protein-packed filling in your favourite burrito, bowl, quesadilla, nachos, or in a taco.
As always, these things are here for a good time, not a long time. Pop into your local Mad Mex restaurant, order delivery or through the Mad Mex app today.