Pages

▼

Sunday, May 8, 2011

New Sucre, Balmain

I don't want to speak ill of the departed, but there once was a shop in Darling Street in Balmain that sold 'old wares', mainly clothing and knick-knacks. I don't like so-called vintage shopping at the best of times (give me nice, new, clean stuff anytime) and the smell emanating from this shop was abhorrent. Some people like it, but I don't. 
So it was a happy day when they announced that they were CLOSING DOWN! There are lots of 'For Lease' signs in Darling Street, so I didn't hold out much hope for anything decent to open in its place anytime soon. My dream is for a Gloria Jean's coffee shop to open (don't hate me).
Then, signs went up saying that 'Sucre, a new dessert heaven' was opening.
Sucre is a chocolate and dessert shop, sort of like Koko Black and Haigh's, and they serve desserts and coffee, etc . Oh, how we've been suffering withdrawals since the Zumbo cafe closed.
The best thing is that they are open past 6pm (Thu to Sat), which gives us locals time to drop in and pick up dessert. That's what I did, and here's what I got.

They have some fancy cakes in a cabinet, like citron tarts, and this looked to be the best of them. Blueberry Temptation ($6) is blueberry mousse and jelly on a chocolate cake base. The texture was good although the flavour is not very strong. Very pretty, though.

This gorgeous slice is cut from a massive cake. Chocolate Chambord cake ($5) is moist chocolate cake with rich Chambord raspberry liqueur running through it. It has chocolate ganache icing and chocolate shavings on top. I love this cake! It's not too sweet (except the icing) and the raspberry flavour is fantastic. This cake was so good that I went back the day after and got another slice.

They have a wall of packaged sweets such as chilli chocolate, chocolate with chunks of strawberry, white almond roca, jars of Brighton rock, humbugs and other goodies. The prices are high-ish (around $10 for a block of chocolate). I got a 200g bag of honeycomb covered with Belgian chocolate ($10). Sweet but moreish.

So that was my first visit to Sucre. On my second visit, I got talking with the one of the owners, Ian, who runs the store with Judy. They are Balmain locals with a passion for chocolate. He let me try some of their hot chocolate (sugar-free!) which was velvety and smooth, just made for dunking in some beignets. I'll be trying them on my next visit.

Sucre is at 325 Darling St, Balmain, NSW
Website: http://www.sucre.com.au
Sucre on Urbanspoon
at

17 comments:

  1. JoanneMay 8, 2011 at 10:45 AM

    Ooo! I wish some of the crappy eateries around here would close and open up such a cute dessert shop! That chambord cake sounds delicious!

    ReplyDelete
  2. chopinandmysaucepanMay 8, 2011 at 5:09 PM

    I think the retail businesses along Darling street need to be very competitive especially with discerning locals like yourself. It is a lifestyle suburb and businesses as much as they depend on their customers need to cater to what customers want.

    ReplyDelete
  3. YasmeenMay 8, 2011 at 5:17 PM

    those both look absolutely divine, especially that blueberry number! not sure if Sucre has any openings in Melbourne... if not i'll just keep visiting this post and living vicariously through you :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Rita (mademoiselle délicieuse)May 8, 2011 at 5:34 PM

    Hooray for local finds! Especially those which open past standard business hours so that you get to try their stuff too =D

    ReplyDelete
  5. Angie Lives to Eat (and Cook)!May 8, 2011 at 8:53 PM

    Ohhhh another great addition to Balmain! Must find a time to come and visit again :) That choc chambord cake sure looks nice and moist!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Mary BergfeldMay 9, 2011 at 1:13 AM

    It must be a terrible temptation to have such a shop nearby. It sounds wonderful. This is my first visit to your blog and I've spent some time browsing through your earlier entries. I really enjoyed the time I've spent here and I'll definitely be back. I hope you have a great day. Blessings...Mary

    ReplyDelete
  7. MegSmith @ Cooking.In.CollegeMay 9, 2011 at 6:57 AM

    Oh for goodness sake...that cake!!! That is too good to be true :-)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Nic@diningwithastudMay 9, 2011 at 9:02 AM

    Ooooh I love Chambord! Will give this one a go when I'm next in the area. Shame I didnt see it on Saturday as I was over that way :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. AnonymousMay 9, 2011 at 9:44 AM

    What a lovely place. I wish I live closer to all these great places. Now I can gawk at your pictures. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  10. jeniusMay 9, 2011 at 11:25 AM

    Ooo i saw this place under construction a couple of weeks ago! Can't wait to check it out soon! Thanks for the sneak peek, hehe

    ReplyDelete
  11. Lorraine @ Not Quite NigellaMay 9, 2011 at 5:37 PM

    Great find Belle! There could never be too many sweetie shops! :P

    ReplyDelete
  12. VivMay 9, 2011 at 8:00 PM

    wow there seems to be soo many places on my list to try in balmain! yay for places like this which serves desserts too!

    ReplyDelete
  13. DollyMay 9, 2011 at 9:57 PM

    omg looks delicious..

    balmain too.. hmmmm

    ReplyDelete
  14. FoodafokMay 13, 2011 at 12:18 AM

    Wonderful.

    ReplyDelete
  15. RoseMay 26, 2011 at 12:08 AM

    Omg, have you tried the beignets yet? I've never tried ~proper~ ones but the ones from Sucre are sooooo moreish! The ones I tried were tiny sample ones that were freshly cooked. They should sell the mini ones in little paper bag, they'll sell like erm hot cakes.

    ReplyDelete
  16. KrissyJuly 2, 2011 at 9:16 PM

    Lovely hot chocolate but overpriced..just had a chocolate shot...$3.00 for literally a mouthfull, have to say, I feel a bit ripped off!!

    ReplyDelete
  17. AnonymousAugust 3, 2011 at 9:38 AM

    Sucre, what a treat, great service, real European hot chocolate, not cocoa powder and the Beignets are unbelievably moreish. I am now a regular. Wonder what they will do in the summer????
    Jasmin

    ReplyDelete