Beard Papa's, Chatswood
If your initial response to the above headline was anything like mine, your heart would be racing, you'd be blinking in disbelief, and your already overactive salivary glands would really be working overtime.
But it's true. It's true. Beard Papa have finally opened in Chatswood. They've been open since the 27th of April. I know! I know! Why did noone tell me?

Were it not for Billy's photo, I would never have been the wiser. But as soon as we realised that our wildest dreams had come true, we were over the Bridge in a shot. Well, within four days. On Thursdays they open late. Woohoo.
We raced into Chatswood Westfield with adrenalin pumping. Shopping centres are always inpenetrable mazes, and we scanned the horizon, the map and the shopping directory with increasing urgency. Would it be sad to admit I may have said "This is like hunting for the clue box in the Amazing Race"?
"Wait!" I pointed excitedly. "That guy! Down there! He's carrying a box! A Beard Papa box! He came from that way!" We pelted down the escalators in search of Phil, I mean, Beard Papa, and then, there it was... I'm sure I heard a chorus of angels.

So what's the big deal? Beard Papa are cream puffs for the choux pastry connoisseur. Originally opened in Japan in 1997 (who else would have a pipe-smoking Santa-like figure as their mascot), there are now hundreds of Beard Papa stores all over Asia and the United States.
The allure of the Beard Papa cream puff lies in its freshness. The puffs are baked fresh every three hours and only at purchase are they filled with vanilla-bean-speckled dollops of whipped cream custard. I'm sure I spotted a leaflet in the Broadway store in New York that boasted that the secret to its crispy choux pastry lay in its unique two-layer shell. The inner sweet fluffiness comes from its core of choux pastry, the crisp outer layer is a piecrust shell.

Freshly baked cream puff shells

Filling each cream puff with custard to order
The girls welcomed us with traditional calls of "Irrashaimase" and their uniforms were so Japanese it made me smile. Samples of both vanilla and chocolate cream puffs were warmly dispensed and within minutes we were trotting away with this season's trendiest handbag.

The verdict? As good as ever. I had my first encounter with Beard Papa's in New York City (I know... I had walked past so many when in Japan but for some reason never actually ate one... argh, the agony when I got back and realised my fatal error!). So I feel as if I need to pay penance for my Japan non-consumption sins. Well, that's the excuse I'm using.
The Sydney version, I'm glad to say, lives up to that revelatory New York memory. Pastry that crunches as you bite into it, soft fluffy innards and a burst of smooth silky custard that makes your toes curl with glee.
But now Sydneysiders don't need to travel to Japan. Or the States. Or the Philippines. Or Singapore. Just Chatswood.
So go. Now. Choux won't regret it =)

Beard Papa's Sweets
K353a Chatswood Westfield
(near General Pants)
1 Anderson Street, Chatswood, Sydney
Tel: +61 (02) 9412 2214
Monday-Wednesday and Friday: 9am-6pm
Thursday: 9am-9pm
Saturday and Sunday: 9am-5pm
1 puff: $2.50
6 puffs: $12.00
12 puffs: $20.00
Related GrabYourForks posts:
Beard Papa's Sweets, March 2007
Beard Papa's Sweets, October 2006
Puffy at Market City, Haymarket Chinatown, July 2007
Puffy at World Square, City, September 2006
posted by Helen (AugustusGloop) on 6/05/2006 11:56:00 pm


32 Comments:
At 6/06/2006 8:47 am,
PiCkLeS said…
See this is further proof that i live in a hole! first it was the foodcourt below woolies now its Beard Papa puffs. I've been to NY and Japan and I've never seen them before! well you know where I'll be off to on the weekend now.
At 6/06/2006 10:49 am,
Sue Crane said…
GIMMMMMEEEEE!
At 6/06/2006 11:36 am,
Jen said…
Yay, Since a trip to NY and Philippines I have been praying and wishing that Beard Papa's would eventually come to Sydney, and now my prayers have been answered!!
At 6/06/2006 2:58 pm,
Su-Yin -Décorateur said…
I've had beard papa's in Singapore and they were DElicious! especially love the gooeey custard filling!
Another brand new Sydney must-try is Famous Amos cookies! If im not mistaken, they just opened up a branch in Chatswood as well. They are my absolute favourite! Amazing range of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies.They have a fairly new branch in Melbourne (opened last year). I used to be desperate enough to get my friend in Melbourne to mail the cookies over! express! haha
At 6/06/2006 4:02 pm,
papa lazarou said…
wow yum!... they look great... if i'd read this post earlier, would have gone to chatswood for lunch today...
At 6/06/2006 4:19 pm,
Bex said…
OMG OMG! Seriously hyperventilating. My first puff was in Shanghai, and we tracked them down in HK and then Hawaii and now it's finally here!
Thanks so much Helen!
At 6/06/2006 5:14 pm,
Food Hog said…
I went there today and bought a box of 6. Have to say that the custard ones are much better than the chocolate. Its sooo yum, have to go back and get some more.. too bad you have to eat it on the day as you cannot freeze them.
I heard that there are more flavours overseas, such as green tea! i hope it comes out in chatswood!!
At 6/06/2006 7:35 pm,
Julia said…
Oh dear, as if I need another food lemming! I've never heard of Beard Papa but I'm sure as soon as I get back I'll be heading northside for a box of these delights.
And how cute is the name!
At 6/07/2006 12:28 am,
Helen (AugustusGloop) said…
Hi Pickles - lol. I only heard about BP's after I got back from Japan and I was so annoyed that I hadn't known earlier. Hope you enjoy your custard puff.
Hi Sue - You wish! =)
Hi JenJen - Go quickly, make haste!
Hi Suyin - I noticed that Famous Amos stand and remembered them as being quite popular in the States. I'm not a huge fan of choc chip cookies, but hey, in the name of research... lol
Hi Papa Lazarou - Oh at least you work closeby. How many times do you think you could "sample" before they start to recognise you? =)
Hi bex - Heh, I was hyperventilating too when I first found about it. I was really shocked that I hadn't heard about them opening earlier.
Hi Food Hog - I agree. I preferred the vanilla to the chocolate ones. They do have an assortment of flavours overseas, but I've always been a traditionalist. French vanilla all the way.
We also tried their molten chocolate pudding in New York but I found it a bit sickly sweet.
Hi Julia - Oh I'm sure you are having much more fun on hols! The cream puffs will be waiting patiently for you on your return.
The name is so Japanesey isn't it?
At 6/07/2006 1:19 am,
Swee San said…
beard papa rocks!! we have it here in Malaysia too!
At 6/07/2006 2:41 pm,
deborah said…
oh aaah.... this is wonderful news! i never knew what the fuss was until i tried one in new york and when i had one for morning tea one morning, we walked back to astor place to get one for dessert after dinner. hehe. i'll have to check it out very soon :)
At 6/07/2006 5:26 pm,
Veruca Salt said…
OMG! Papa was open for 33 days before we knew of it's existence!
Mine were still slightly crispy the next day.
At 6/07/2006 6:07 pm,
nicbiccie said…
Hi Helen! Great site - it always makes me salivate! Thanks for leaving a comment on our blog...that really was a coincidence! I also have the good fortune of living close to Beard Papa's - been twice already. Or could be bad fortune if I get addicted to them!? Tried the chocolate last week, but prefer the vanilla!
At 6/07/2006 10:35 pm,
cin said…
Oh, I read about it several weeks back but figured that you would definitely have heard about it - sorry!
At 6/08/2006 12:50 am,
Helen (AugustusGloop) said…
Hi Swee - Yeah it's about time we Sydneysiders got a Beard Papa. Gotta make up for lost time!
Hi Saffron - You must! When I tried my first one on Broadway, I think I had an epiphany =)
Hi Veruca - I know! Outrageous!
Them cream puffs are magicin their crispiness. Too bad they're not like the Magic Pudding though =)
Hi Nicbiccie - It's probably a good thing that a Bridge separates me from Beard Papa constant orgying =) but I wonder if one may perhaps arrive in Chinatown or World Square?
I agree, I prefer the vanilla over the chocolate.
Hi Cin - lol. No worries. I was just surprised that noone had blogged about it already. And never fear, I will be making up for lost time! =)
At 6/12/2006 2:45 pm,
Jodi said…
Hi Hi
Thanks for the review on Beard Papa's. After finding out that it opened in Chatswood, I was dying to try it out. My first Beard Papa experience was in Beijing..or was it Japan? hehe I like mine slightly warm but the custard is still very fresh and like many others I prefer the original custard to the chocolate..I'll need to try to Famous Amos cookies as someone else has suggested..where in Chatswood is it? Thanks..
A fellow food lover..
reflex
At 6/13/2006 10:34 pm,
Helen (AugustusGloop) said…
Hi Jodi - Yes one's first Beard Papa experience is often warmly remembered =)
Famous Amos is in Chatswood Westfield too. Can't quite remember but it was close to Beard Papa's, and I'm sure Centre Management will be able to help you.
At 7/04/2006 1:39 am,
Mark Vicuna said…
i went through a box of 6 myself - it's too light n easy to devour! although their chocolate filling could be more chocolate in flavour. the original filling is the best.
At 7/04/2006 10:48 pm,
Helen (AugustusGloop) said…
Hi Mark - They're good aren't they! I'm kinda glad a Harbour separates me from uncontrollable puff gluttony.
And I agree. I definitely prefer the vanilla bean flavour.
At 7/12/2006 2:17 am,
Mark Vicuna said…
great minds... :)
At 7/13/2006 4:37 pm,
Helen (AugustusGloop) said…
Hi Mark - Absolutely!
At 8/18/2006 9:56 pm,
Anonymous said…
Hi, just found oyur blog recently!
I've been waiting for weeks now to go to Chatswood and get Beard Papas, and today i was finally able ot get there but couldn't find any sign of Beard papas on the Directory!!!! has it closed down or something, or is it just not listed on the directory for some reason!?? Any help for a desperate Beard papa's devotee???
Thanks!
At 8/19/2006 7:09 pm,
Mel said…
it's still there. it's exactly where she said it is (near the general pants). it's behind nandos.
At 8/19/2006 10:26 pm,
Helen (AugustusGloop) said…
Hi Anonymous - Methinks that Westfield centre directories may not get updated that often! Beard Papa is still there (and thanks Mel for reconfirming).
Hi Mel - Thanks for answering that query. You would think they would have their own little custard-covered footprints leading straight to their store!
At 8/21/2006 3:49 pm,
Anonymous said…
Thank god im going back to chatswood to pick up some photos in a few weeks!! i've been scratching my head over it
Thanks!!
At 9/01/2006 12:07 am,
papa lazarou said…
have u been to world square recently? went through there tonight and saw a kinda imitation joint opened called 'puffy' opposite breadtop... the puffs look more like pineapple buns, crispy on top... and the smell of the custard filling was definitely more eggy/milky... long queues though... didnt bother lining up to try...
At 9/01/2006 1:06 am,
Helen (AugustusGloop) said…
Hi Anonymous - Hope you enjoyed them!
Hi Papa Lazarou - I just received an email from someone advising me of this sighting. I just love that I have all these food spies helping me in my gastronomic research! lol
Will definitely head over to check them out. Apparently they're called Cookie Puff. Sounds tasty!
At 9/14/2006 1:40 am,
icie said…
Goodbye Krispy Kreme!
I actually found this entry some time ago and also tried Beard Papa's some time ago. Chatswood is a bit out of the way for me so I haven't been back since. I thought the Choc custard version was outstanding.
At 9/14/2006 1:01 pm,
Anonymous said…
Hi fellow beard papa freaks! :)
Just thought I'd let you all know that I heard a rumour that a new Beard Papa store will be opening in Chinatown towards the end of the year!
At 9/14/2006 10:04 pm,
Helen (AugustusGloop) said…
Hi Icie - I headed back there recently too. They now have green tea flavour. It was good, but I still prefer vanilla.
Hi Anonymous - I've heard rumblings of this rumour for some time now. Here's hoping it's true, although I dread to think what it will do to my waistline!
At 9/15/2006 9:53 pm,
Anonymous said…
There's a Beard Papa's now at the Galleria Shopping Centre in Morley, Perth. My partner works with the guy who owns it (his wife runs the store) and tells me that it was brilliant.
At 10/01/2006 11:55 pm,
Helen (AugustusGloop) said…
Hi Anonymous - Great news for Perthites. Enjoy!
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