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Best of the Gold Coast 2018: Top 10 bakeries

WE can’t get enough of the carb-filled naughty foods that bakeries serve up so well. But where is the best place for a doughnut, pie or loaf of bread on the Gold Coast? Last year the strong vegan movement propelled plant-based Flour of Life to take the crown. This year, there’s a new winner.

This Nutella cookie bomb is from Paddock Bakery. See where they landed in our Top 10 best bakeries list
This Nutella cookie bomb is from Paddock Bakery. See where they landed in our Top 10 best bakeries list

WE can’t get enough of the carb-filled naughty foods that bakeries serve up so well.

But where is the best place for a doughnut, pie or loaf of bread on the Gold Coast?

Last year the strong vegan movement propelled plant-based Flour of Life to take the crown.

This year, there’s a new winner.

FLASHBACK: TOP 10 BAKERIES OF 2017

10. Highland Park Hot Bread

Highland Park Shopping Centre, 106 Alexander Drive, Highland Park

Everything in this busy Highland Park bakery is made from scratch daily.

Tom Nguyen and his wife Nancy Le have been producing bread, pies, cakes and slices for the past eight years, using local suppliers.

“The meat for the pies comes from the local butcher,” Nancy says.

“We source everything locally so it’s as fresh as it can be and that comes through in the taste.”

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Highland Park Hot Bread
Highland Park Hot Bread

As well as the usual bakery favourites, keep an eye out for a house specialty, pineapple and passionfruit tarts.

“They have been so popular, we’re making more of them all the time. I don’t think they’ll ever be off the menu.”

Nancy says pie sales are hotting up with the cooler weather with many a customer commenting they’re better than ever.

9. Paddock Bakery

20 Hibiscus Haven, Miami

Although Paddock has undergone some transformation from its artisan bakery beginnings, owner Chloe Watts says the historic woodfired oven remains the soul of the establishment.

“It’s lit 24 hours a day and we are baking fresh all day,” she says.

“It’s what our customers love us for.”

Some of the food served in the new upstairs eating area at Paddock Bakery at Miami. Picture Glenn Hampson
Some of the food served in the new upstairs eating area at Paddock Bakery at Miami. Picture Glenn Hampson

Indeed, Paddock’s delectable baked goodies still have people queuing. Its iconic sourdough recently took out the Toowoomba Show’s prestigious King of the Bakers’ Award for Best White Sourdough and its cranberry and walnut loaf picked up Best Specialty Bread.

Paddock also has a milk bar serving gourmet milkshakes and smoothies, an event space and is fully licensed.

If you need to duck in for a warm-from-the-oven loaf of bread, perfect pie or stunning sausage roll, there are now 40 paved car spaces.

The salted caramel & pretzel cookie doughnut. Photo: Richard Gosling
The salted caramel & pretzel cookie doughnut. Photo: Richard Gosling

8. Flour of Life

20 Siganto Drive, Helensvale

Owner Steve O’Brien says Flour of Life has many customers who still don’t know it’s a vegan bakery.

Steven, a herbivore himself, launched the venture 18 months ago when he saw a gap in the market for a plant-based baker.

“We don’t really market it as a vegan bakery,” he says.

Flour of Life’s pies. Picture Glenn Hampson
Flour of Life’s pies. Picture Glenn Hampson

“We’ve got all the same things a regular bakery has, it’s just that it’s all plant-based. You can’t really tell from the taste, even the ‘meat’ pies.”

Steven says since he’s opened his business, plant-based food choices have blossomed on the Gold Coast.

“It’s the fastest growing market sector and the Gold Coast is right up there in embracing it.” As well as being egg-free, dairy-free and meat-free, Flour of Life also offers gluten-free options.

7. Bakery 165

165 Maudsland Road, Oxenford

Bread may be a staple of life and in the spirit of modern convenience, Bakery 165 offers a drive-through service, believed to be only the third in Australia.

Time-poor commuters can also pick up a decent coffee with their order.

All 165’s goodies: bread, pies, doughnuts and a selection of sweet classics, are baked on the premises.

Bakery 165
Bakery 165

6. Foster’s Bakery

1/2227 Gold Coast Highway, Nobby Beach

This Nobbys institution has been feeding locals and holiday-makers for 36 years.

The original Foster, Kevin, passed the baton on to son Stuart in 2007 (although he’s known to appear behind the counter every now and again).

The old formula’s still much the same although Stuart has introduced the odd item to give a nod to the changing times, including the newest vegan pie filled with sweet potato and lentils.

“It’s a real community bakery and that’s what we’re aiming for,” Stuart says.

The rosemary and lamb pie at Fosters Bakery. Picture Mike Batterham
The rosemary and lamb pie at Fosters Bakery. Picture Mike Batterham

Keep an eye out for the vintage pic framed on the wall of Kevin as a 15-year-old apprentice pastry chef in 1962.

Some of his original recipes, including the house custard, remain unchanged. It’s worth getting a custard slice just for the nostalgia hit.

5. Bam Bam Bakehouse

2519 Gold Coast Highway, Mermaid Beach

If the Mother’s Day queues for breakfast in bed orders were anything to go by, it’s safe to say Bam Bam’s handcrafted baked goods are approaching icon status on the Gold Coast.

Bam Bam’s pastry creators are still turning out their famous three-days-in-the-making croissants as well as a slew of luscious artisan pastries, while traditional bakery classics are lovingly perfected.

Eggs benny on a croissant at Bam Bam Bakehouse, Mermaid Beach.
Eggs benny on a croissant at Bam Bam Bakehouse, Mermaid Beach.

Front of house manager Daniel Cresswell says everything at Bam Bam is baked fresh throughout the day.

“You can’t beat getting something hot from the oven,” he says.

“We have our full range on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays so they’re the best days to find all the favourites.”

Bam Bam Bakehouse launches cookie dough croissant

Due to popular demand, Bam Bam is now offering its popular strawberry tarts in large, cake-size versions.

“There are more and more people asking for birthday cakes now so that’s something we’re exploring.”

Choux bomb at Bam Bam Bakehouse, Mermaid Beach.
Choux bomb at Bam Bam Bakehouse, Mermaid Beach.

4. 5b2f Bakehouse

55 Brooke Avenue, Chirn Park

Internationally-decorated pastry chef Moonsun Yoo has been lighting up the small Chirn Park shopping strip since opening his own bakery 18 months ago.

5b2f (as in the biblical five bread, two fishes) features an array of artisan sweets and pastries. Moonsun says, as well as perfecting Aussie favourites, he’s introduced his customers to some new delights.

5B2F desserts. Picture Mike Batterham
5B2F desserts. Picture Mike Batterham

He’s particularly pleased regulars are now asking for his traditional French/Italian Mont Blanc desserts.

“They weren’t accustomed to the European chestnut flavour to begin with,” he says.

“But now they have the taste for it. Another developing craving is for matcha tea in cakes and pastries.”

5B2F owner Mr Moonsun Yoo at his wood fired oven. Picture Mike Batterham
5B2F owner Mr Moonsun Yoo at his wood fired oven. Picture Mike Batterham

3. Gumnut Cafe Bakery

Mudgeeraba Market Shopping Centre, 25 Swan Lane, Mudgeeraba

You can get regular loaves and artisan breads at this local’s favourite fronting the leafy courtyard of the Mudgeeraba Market Shopping Centre but it’s arguably the cakes and coffee that draw the crowds on shopping days.

Everything is made from scratch on the premises using fresh ingredients, just like grandma used to make.

Gumnut Cafe Bakery
Gumnut Cafe Bakery

Co-owner Luke Chilcott says cakes are the house speciality and there are a wide range of sweet treats to choose from but his personal recommendation is the chocolate sponge.

“It’s nice and light and made with fresh cream,” he says.

There are gluten-free options too and many a local will tell you won’t find a better pie for miles.

2. Burleigh Baker

13/50 James Street, Burleigh Heads

Owner Geoff Dance is not so much a baker as a health crusader.

After working in the grain industry for many years, Geoff found it increasingly difficult to find a decent loaf of bread so came out of retirement to make his own.

That was four years ago and his handmade, slow-fermented, stone hearth baked sourdough breads have gone from strength to strength.

Baker Geoff Dance from Burleigh Baker. Photo: Jerad Williams
Baker Geoff Dance from Burleigh Baker. Photo: Jerad Williams

“I’m in the shop as much as I can be, telling people you’ve got to eat proper bread that’s good for your gut, not bad for it,” he says.

“Everything we do is nutritionally based.” Burleigh Baker uses only certified organic/sustainable flour, leaven, sea salt and filtered water.

The trick is in the long, cool fermentation to develop the doughs’ complex flavours and optimise digestion.

“It’s real bread,” Geoff says. “It’s how it’s meant to be. Word is spreading.”

1. The Flying Pieman

1162 Pimpama-Jacobs Well Road, Jacobs Well

Nine years ago Tim and Kellie Cook weren’t happy with where bakeries were headed, so in Kellie’s words: “Tim said bugger it, we’ll do it ourselves!”

“We only bought it to keep the baking industry alive ... people weren’t making anything from scratch anymore,” she continues.

“So we make everything from scratch, nothing is ever frozen even down to the pastry for the pies.

The Flying Pie Man at Jacobs Well whips up some amazing desserts. Picture Glenn Hampson
The Flying Pie Man at Jacobs Well whips up some amazing desserts. Picture Glenn Hampson

“People say, ‘Oh my God, I haven’t had pastry like that since I was a kid’.

“Those comments make it all worth it.”

Old-school values means an old-school offering — so old school Kellie was surprised they won this online voting poll, considering many of their biggest fans aren’t the tech savvy age group.

“We do everything in breads, and there’s no sugar in any bread. Then we do things like

bee stings, jelly cakes, old fashioned carrot cake, date loaves, sponges — we still use old recipe for our sponge that everybody adores.

The Flying Pie Man at Jacobs Well also does a great sandwich. Picture Glenn Hampson
The Flying Pie Man at Jacobs Well also does a great sandwich. Picture Glenn Hampson

“Then general stuff like custard tarts, pies — our Ned Kelly pies go off, they’re made with mince, egg, cheese and bacon. And our salad bar, we’ve got people driving for miles for our salad bar.”

Kellie says the Jacobs Well community has really gotten behind The Flying Pieman, so it’s only fitting that they give back in the best way possible.

“We donate everything we don’t sell at the end of the day to different charities,” Kellie says.

“Things like bread and cakes, anything OH & S lets us give away we do.

The Flying Pie Man at Jacobs Well is the Best of the Gold Coast Bakery winner. Staff members Cindy Herrett and Amy Osborne with owner Kellie Cook. Picture Glenn Hampson
The Flying Pie Man at Jacobs Well is the Best of the Gold Coast Bakery winner. Staff members Cindy Herrett and Amy Osborne with owner Kellie Cook. Picture Glenn Hampson

“I always say to people if you or someone you know is doing it tough just let us know, we’re here to help and there’s no shame in asking.”

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Original URL: https://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/lifestyle/best-of-gold-coast/best-of-the-gold-coast-2018-top-10-bakeries/news-story/d4ded5ecb4eb0eb0ac88ee496e34d144