A Melbourne Icon in the
Heart of Newstead
baker d. chirico
18 Longland Street, Newstead,
Brisbane, QLD 4006
Ph: N/A
'Out at Coffee'
19th October 2024
Anyone who still describes Brisbane as the sleepy city with a country town feel needs to get out more! Brisbane’s come of age in a big way and Newstead’s upmarket shopping precinct, Long Island Piazza, is a prime example of how far it’s come. In fact, it’s so uber chic, Melbourne’s hospitality icon, Baker D. Chirico, has just opened a bakery here… our venue for this week’s ‘Out at Coffee!’
Stephen and I park at the neighbouring Gasworks Plaza, and as we walk to the Piazza, the contrast is stark. We move from industrial looking shopping centre to Italian influenced architecture, with the Piazza’s stone textures and hues, oozing calm and sophistication.
We’re early… the bakery doesn’t open till 8am, so we explore the Piazza, and who should we come across, but Lee, Pete, and Coco the greyhound, enjoying a pre-coffee coffee, in the public area of the stylish and ultra-exclusive ‘members only’ TFP Health Club.
This place has a definite yuppie feel, with beautiful, fit younger people making these fifty somethings feel like we’re in need of the gym and a little Botox to iron out our laughter lines!
The club sits opposite Baker D. Chirico, and as we chat, a queue starts to form outside the bakery. A sense of culinary driven ‘FOMO’ (Fear of Missing Out) suddenly hits us and we rush to join the line.
The café’ has full-length glass windows and as we watch staff getting ready for opening, we realise it’s not just the coffee that’s drawn the crowd… this place is both an architectural masterpiece and a delectable treat!
The bakery has a breadbasket influenced, wooden ceiling, and at the other end of the store, you can see the creative pâtissiers toiling away.
As we look on, our tastebuds are sent into overdrive when tray after tray of delicious European influenced sweet and savoury pastries, and breads, are brought out… this flock of ‘seagulls’ will be swooping in for a real treat today!
And we clearly arrived at the right time, because the queue behind us now stretches all the way past the shop and skirts the piazza. In fact, a very happy looking manager walks up and down outside, clearly pleased with the turnout.
We wait patiently, the final few minutes dragging on forever, but finally the doors open and the early birds get first dibs of the treats on offer. To accompany coffee, Lee and Pete choose two cakes, and Stephen and I decide on a spinach and feta pastry to share.
We also buy a rye, sourdough fruit loaf as an edible 80th Birthday treat for Stephen’s mum. She’s a fruit loaf connoisseur, so we’re hopeful this will be a hit. It weighs a tonne, which means it must be packed full of fruit and walnuts.
As we start to devour our treats in the alfresco eating area, it becomes clear why people are willing to queue. These pastries are delicious!
In fact, they’re so good, Pete tries to inhale his cream cake in one go… his eyes much bigger than his mouth, as cream squirts from either side of his outstretched chops.
As we walk off the coffee and treats, I use the heavy, sourdough fruit loaf as a makeshift dumbbell to help revitalise my dwindling biceps… there’s nothing like exercise on the go!
And as our catchup draws to a close, Stephen and I manage to exit the car park within the 2-hour free parking limit. Sadly, Lee and Pete miss out by 3 mins and have to pay $13! Ouch… they weren’t expecting that extra cost!
Driving home I reflect on the cost of today’s outing and the value for money. For me the experience was worth every cent because it isn’t only about what we eat and drink, or how much it costs. Rather; it’s about being in a safe space with friends, sharing stories, and having fun, and this is the true value of being ‘Out at Coffee’, and it’s priceless!
Allan
I'm proud to state that all content on this Blog is written by me and all photos are originals taken by our group.