PUBLISHED September 25th, 2012 08:25 am | UPDATED March 29th, 2016 03:07 pm
I’d been meaning to get over to Carpenter and Cook for the longest time, having heard good things on the grapevine about this little hidden gem. Some things are worth the wait, and this was one of them.
Walking into Carpenter and Cook off the street feels like somewhat of a fairytale – like you are entering an enchanted land of all things vintage. The first thing you lay your eyes on is the impossibly cute interior stuffed full of carefully-curated vintage furniture and curios. From lovingly upholstered church chairs, to old weighing scales and vintage typewriters, to tables whose bases have been borrowed from an old sewing machine.
Then the eyes sweep across to the counter, where baked goods will lure your attention away from the interior and make you focus on the task of delighting in freshly made deliciousness! – quiches, brioche buns, tartines, cakes, muffins and much more ranging in price from $5-$9 each depending on what you decide your dalliance will be.
At the same time your ears get a little jolly from the vintage music sounds tinkling away in the background. It almost made me want to skip around the place in vintage delight!
The Cook’s Amazing Quiche – which on the face of it might seem like a mighty claim…is actually, well, amazing. We opted for the black olive and sun-dried tomato variant but there is also one for the ham and mushroom sort, and its amazingness owed to the fact that the texture was smooth, feathery light and practically melt-in-your-mouth, it was that good. And sitting atop a perfectly flaky crust. Top marks to the Cook indeed! Though it’s no surprise really seeing as she trained in the prestigious Cordon Bleu in London.
Another must try is the brioche bun which was super light and fluffy, and in a word, pillowy-soft.
The “Eat me Cakes” will have you wondering what price you will pay for eating them – shrinking in an instant or growing to be a giant perhaps just like little old Alice in Wonderland? Well actually there’s no strings attached here. Just delicious cakes like pear and almond, banana and good old-fashioned lemon drizzle cake. Super tasty and all bound to beguile you with their old school charm. However if all you’re after is a quintessential scone fresh from the oven, then you will be able to have yours buttered here.
Don’t miss out on the coffee – it’s super smooth and yummy and served up in ridiculously charming, old time glasses complete with vintage spoons – you’d be a fool not to get your java fix here.
And if that’s not enough, if you so happen to want to indulge in a little tipple, what better place to enjoy the perfect and vintage oh-so-lovely drink of Pimms. That you can do at Carpenter and Cook also. Pimms O Clock anyone?