ROCKIN' ROLLS IN TASTE
WHERE TO SNAG THE CITY'S BEST BAKERY TREATS
THAT moment when the last, lonely Nutella dessert you’ve had your eye on for a good 15 minutes is snaffled by the person queuing in front of you. There’s something rather
Hunger Games about a Saturday morning at new Ferry Rd cafe Blendlove.
Gold Coast market favourites Sharlene Fletcher and Riki-Lee Gilbert’s move to permanent premises has proved staggeringly popular.
The line-up is snaking out the door – some have travelled from Brisbane purely for their fix – seat stalking is essential, and the previously packed dessert display is looking distinctly forlorn.
Yet it’s clear these raw and wholefood wizards haven’t bitten off more than they can chew. There’s a secret stash. Reaching the front of the line, I spill out my sad tale of Nutella lost to the angel at the counter, only to find she’s saved four pieces for exactly this kind of emergency.
The neatly portioned parcels ($7 each) may be vegan and free of gluten, wheat, cane sugar, dairy and soy, but there’s ample indulgence in creamy textures and creative flavours.
My aforementioned prize has a smooth hazelnut filling, a vegan chocolate crust and is topped with fresh hazelnuts.
Other genuinely guilt-free favourites include choc chip cookie dough, a toffee-layered banoffee, Turkish delight slice dusted with cacao, and mango and coconut wedged with macadamias.
Take home a three-pack box special for $20.
While dessert’s definitely the star, a small menu of carefully sourced ingredients performs the savoury support act.
There are vibrantly coloured salads ($12) behind the counter, or try an acai bowl ($12) liberally topped with buckwheat, banana and berries.
Toasted rye sourdough is smothered with smashed avocado, a tangle of foliage and sprinkle of seeds ($14) or can be layered with banana, walnut and maple ($14).
Choose the veggie burger ($15) for a bigger serve, including hummus, avo, sprouts, sweet potato, eggplant, rocket, red cabbage and red onion.
Smoothies ($10) range from the Berry Bomb with maqui powder and blueberries to Plant Power packed with kale, spinach, lemon, avo, banana and cloudy apple juice.
The organic coffee (from $4) is locally roasted by Supreme Roasters, with delicate caramel and chocolate notes.