What's the Story?
Another Sydney institution passes. A walk through Chinatown last week showed the old Maxim's cake shop--on the corner of Goulburn and Sussex Street--all boarded up. Already painted on the awning and with new signs hanging are the new owners, the expanding Malaysian franchise bakery, Bread Story.
Admittedly I haven't been that big a customer at Maxim's lately--all too often I've been waylaid by Saint Honore's cocktail buns or the $1.30 florentines from Emperor's Garden instead.
But I have fond childhood memories of Maxim's, when Mum or Dad might give in and indulge us in a fluffy eggy cupcake wrapped in a cone of wax paper. The distinctive boxes also elicited much excitement, arriving on our doorstep filled with a selection of cream cakes, courtesy of a visitor or guest, or hand picked with glee when cashing in those fantastic cake cards from Chinese weddings.
RIP Maxim's. A new Story begins.
Related GrabYourFork posts:
Bread Story, Broadway, Ultimo
posted by Helen (AugustusGloop) on 3/05/2006 08:12:00 pm
13 Comments:
At 3/05/2006 8:29 pm,
Anonymous said…
holy mackeral batman! i loved that place! well, not so much the cakes, but the warm yummy cakey smells as you wait at the lights to cross. and how that wedding cake in the window would get yellower and yellower...
At 3/05/2006 9:46 pm,
PiCkLeS said…
Oh what?!?! i was there just recently! it was the only place open on a saturday morning before dance class!
Sometimes we take things for granted a little.
At 3/06/2006 7:41 am,
Reb said…
Those cakes always look so architecturally perfect, but were always a let down on the taste. I could only ever taste sugar and I have a permanent dislike of 'mock' cream. But the savoury tooth kicked in with chicken or pork buns as a snack. Poor Maxims - hope Bread Story becomes such a well patronised Chinatown feature. They should name a commemorative bun for them.
At 3/06/2006 11:12 am,
Julia said…
I drove past there too last week and gasped when I saw the aqua paint that is Bread Story. I grew up with Maxim's and their egg tarts, always our favourite from all we'd tried. A sad passing.
At 3/06/2006 6:23 pm,
FooDcrazEE said…
hmm... i dont know why but i have never fancy the bread in Bread Story...its personal taste
At 3/06/2006 11:13 pm,
Helen (AugustusGloop) said…
Hi Chocolatesuze - lol @ wedding cake. Very true.
Hi Pickles - You'll have to find a new bakery methinks. Yep, it's only when things are gone you start to mournfully reminisce.
Hi Reb - Bread Story is all modern and new with deliberately kitsch bakery product names and everything all clean and gleaming.
I'm sure it'll be popular but hey,
I'm just getting old and wistful.
Hi Julia - I have to admit I gasped too. And then pulled out the camera, but hey, that's just me.
I've always preferred egg tarts from yum cha. They always had the buttery flaky (lardy) pastry versions. Mmm... delicious...
Hi foodcrazee - I've only tried their durian bread. It was ok but I thought for what it was, it was rather pricey.
At 3/07/2006 1:37 am,
Culinary Hag said…
Sniff sniff. Wasn't a fav place for cakes but like an old faithful friend it was always there if you needed it.
Like many Sydney relics...that are just always there...it will be missed.
At 3/08/2006 8:16 pm,
Helen (AugustusGloop) said…
Hi Culinary Hag - I guess we weren't there for Maxim's when she needed us... =)
At 3/09/2006 5:36 pm,
Anonymous said…
Oh No! Yeah I saw that too.... have many fond childhood memories of that store in the 80's.. it's a landmark.. where will I tell my mum to meet me now? Bread story!! I don't think so! :( RIP Maxim's.
At 3/10/2006 12:10 am,
Helen (AugustusGloop) said…
Hi Super - Ahh all the childhood memories are coming out now!
At 5/24/2006 7:27 pm,
Dave said…
All things must come to pass and I fear that the new franchise will not live up the the powerful history of this address.
Back in the mid 70's this site was known as the Wong Shing Kee. Wong Shing Kee made Yum Cha style food before there were any Yum Cha places at Dixon Street. Their BBQ Pork wrapped in fresh Rice Noodle was magically made before your eyes and served. It had a cult following, but alas, disappeared like Maxim's.
Maxim's had the typical range of St Honore (except they did it first) but a few special items set it apart, Kai Chai Slice and their Sesame Balls. Was it worth getting fat for?
YES!
A sad loss no doubt! One thing about Chinatown. It is always changing.
At 5/24/2006 9:26 pm,
Helen (AugustusGloop) said…
Hi Dave - Wow. Thanks for the historical info. I had no idea about Wong Shing Kee.
Chinatown is definitely changing. Bread Story has definitely captured the imagination of many students though. The place is always buzzing.
I'm not a big fan of their excessive use of plastic, but I do like that it seems to have created a bit more of a buzz around Chinatown late at night.
At 3/18/2007 6:28 pm,
Anonymous said…
to Dave, Wong Shing Kee has moved to a little shop in Anzac Parade, Kensington. I don't know the exact numbers, but it's opposite the Kingsford RSL. I agree with you, it's a nice place and their Gran'ma Beancurd (mapo tofu) is very yummy too.
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