Sydney's Best Coffee - Heaven in a Cup(cake)

This was to be a review on coffee, but I have to confess I can't give you an honest critique of the java. Truth is there was something distracting me that day, several things actually. Each one a masterpiece of baked goods, topped with a confection worthy of artistic merit. The venue was the small but inviting Cupcakes on Pitt (3/323-327 Pitt Street Sydney ph: +61 2 9264 4644).



Not unlike New York's Magnolia Bakery, this small store pushes out a large number of little cakes. For $5.00 you receive coffee and your choice of cupcake. On my visit I was lucky to sample two flavours (it pays to bring a friend along). I started with Honeycomb, a smooth chocolate cake smothered in honey frosting topped with a huge chunk of chocolate covered honeycomb. Leaving a fair percentage for my companion I was able to swap the remainder for a taste of Orange Jaffa. With vanilla cake, orange frosting and at least a handful of coarsely crushed Jaffas, it isn't hard to justify the name.



At the 2006 Sydney Royal Show, Cupcakes on Pitt took home the Most Successful Cake Exhibitor award as well as taking the Gold Medal (for their Lemon Meringue Cupcake) and all 5 Silver Medals (for Vanilla, Peppermint, Strawberry, Milk Chocolate and Carrot) in the Cupcake Class.

While they certainly make no secret of their passion for cupcakes, you don't have to start with dessert. For those that need to justify their indulgence with something more substantial, why not try one of their pies or sausage rolls. They also have a great range of sweet and savoury muffins, wraps, prepared gourmet salads and fruit salads. If there isn't a cupcake flavour that appeals, they also have mousse! And yes, they do coffee, a great match for any flavour cupcake.

For the sand and surf lovers they also have a branch at Bondi Beach (112a O'Brien Street Bondi Beach ph: +61 2 9300 8306).