Bourke Street Bakery, Broadway

Olive, rosemary and salt crust flatbread


EDIT: Bourke Street Bakery on Broadway has closed

There is something to be said for good quality baked bread.

Something like ngh mrph nj mmnh *ahhhh*

Or perhaps just a simple "More".

At the moment I'm in the middle of reading Not On The Label by Felicity Lawrence, and the chapter on commercial breads has me craving the nourishing satisfaction of lovingly proved and nurtured real bread.

Thank goodness for places like Bourke Street Bakery, which not only satiate all your authentic sourdough cravings, but all your sugar requirements as well.



The ever-popular Surry Hills bakery has just opened another branch on Broadway. Unfortunately major Council works have ripped up the foothpath out the front, so much so that the other day I actually walked straight past it on my way there!

We've popped in here a couple of times during its opening month of trade. The heavy drone of trundling traffic doesn't add much atmosphere so we grabbed our goods takeaway for an impromptu picnic in the greenery of Victoria Park.


Chorizo and thyme roll $2.50

The chorizo and thyme roll was a little lacking in chorizo (about one slice cut into tiny pieces) but that's okay, because I was happily nursing my purchase, the olive flatbread.


Olive, rosemary and salt crust flatbread $3.50

The olive flatbread is giant-sized (see the first pic of this post) and an absolute bargain at $3.50. The bottom is crispy like a deep-pan pizza, the bread is soft but chewy, and the top is smothered in good-quality salty kalamatas and garnished with aromatic rosemary tinsel.


Apple and oat sourdough $5.00


Apple and oat sourdough cross-section

The apple and oat sourdough is reassuringly heavy with a lovely crust and a fluffy interior. We had a few slices plain and the sensation was a little like eating a healthy apple pie. A generous dousing of cinnamon was what I really wanted. And maybe a scoop or two of vanilla bean ice cream.

We also tried this toasted the next day slathered with butter which was delicious.

Good both ways. The only fatal flaw is getting your clothes snowed on by the dusting of flour.


Pear tart $3.50

I didn't choose the pear tart. It looked a little almondy for me, and it was (to the immense disappointment of the purchaser). I didn't try this but it was like a tart shell with almond-meal cake and a few slices of pear.


Pistachio and ginger brulee tart $3.50

Instead I chose the pistachio and ginger brulee tart which was a real hit *gloat gloat*


Pistachio and ginger brulee tart cross-section

There aren't enough superlatives for this little beauty. What can I say but buttery crisp pastry, rich eggy custard, generous chunks of pistachio and a satisfying crack of hardened toffee. The custard was imbued with heartwarming ginger. And it was real ginger. You could tell. *sigh*

I want to try every bread and pastry here but I have a feeling I'm going to be stuck on the olive flatbread and the pistachio tart. Poor me.


Bourke Street Bakery on Broadway CLOSED
130 Broadway, Sydney
(next to Kinko's printing services and opposite the turn-off for Mountain Street)
Tel: 02 9281 3113

Open: Tuesday to Friday, 7am-6pm