**Warning: If you’ve Quit Sugar then stop reading now. This blog post may be way too much temptation.
I’ve just done the South Bank Dessert Walking Tour – and it was a ridiculously fun way to spend a Saturday morning (even if I now have sugar burn to rival Willy Wonka!).
Karen, our Tour Leader and a fellow foodie, started our tour with a history of desserts. The first apple pie recipe dates from 1381. And in 1740 they made the first cupcake! That Aussie icon the Lamington was created back in the late 1800s, and is named after Lord Lamington who served as Governor of Queensland at the time.
According to one account Lamington’s French chef, Armand Galland, was called upon at short notice to feed unexpected guests. He cut up some left-over French vanilla sponge cake baked the day before, dipped the slices in chocolate and set them in coconut. Coconut was not widely used in European cooking at that time, but was known to Galland whose wife was from Tahiti where coconut was a common ingredient. Lady Lamington’s guests then asked for the recipe.
While I don’t want to give away too much (in case you want to do the tour yourself), I need to share some personal highlights with you…. let’s start with this little beauty from Cowch dessert bar….
It’s called an Udder Puff, and it is a symphony of sweet sweet goodness. Nestled in this golden case of pastry I discovered a hidden treasure of chocolate pebbles, entombed by a scoop of silky smooth chocolate ice cream, and drizzled with warm milk chocolate. I know right. Wow.
Another treat was this Tiramisu from a little Italian place called Grey’s Café and Bar. It was served with an Italian style donut (baked not fried). Reported to have the best coffee in South Bank, Greys also do great ravioli and gnocchi, all made by hand.
There was dessert pizza….
And this amazing Peach Cake, which has been made by the same lady for 16 years.
As you can imagine, I was in my element walking around South Bank making lots of little foodie discoveries. I got chatting to one lady, who had been given the tour as a birthday gift, which I thought was a lovely idea.
The South Bank Dessert Walking Tour takes place on Saturdays at 11.00am and costs $49.
Be prepared for sugar burn!
Dear lord!!!! Yum!