Monday, April 18, 2011

Luxe Bakery, Newtown

Food bloggers are brave and outgoing people.  You wouldn't believe the amount of food bloggers that have suggested catching up with me over a bite to eat.  These are people I've never met before, asides from on twitter or the comments section of our blogs - but they are quite happy to catch up and chat with a complete stranger...over food of course as it's our common love.  I'm a bit of a chicken really when it comes to meet new people one-on-one, which is why this food-blogger bravery impresses an old piggy like moi.


Fellow food blogger Phuoc suggests a lunchtime catch-up now that we're both spending our days in the same suburb.  This is going to be lunch and a mini-photography lesson as Phuoc and I both have the same type of camera.  I'm sure in the blogging world this makes us kindred Canon G11 spirits.  Phuoc has been giving me camera tips via twitter and email, so it's great to finally meet in the flesh to get some "hands-on" advice on my new camera. It's a bit like a blind date really, and what better place to meet someone than over baked treats.



Luxe Bakery occupies what used to be a five bedroom cottage on Missenden Road in Newtown.  If you weren't really paying attention you could easily walk right by it.  I'm urging you all to pay attention as happiness lies within. Trust me, it really does.


Phuoc has grabbed us a seat at the big communal table that occupies a good portion of the bakery. There are smaller tables dotted around if you're on a "real" first date and don't want anyone to overhear awkward attempts at conversation.  This place is busy and buzzing with people popping in and out for lunch, or coffee and cake.

We get right down to the business of ordering.  As well as all of the tasty treats on display at the front of the cafe, there is a huge blackboard offering a myriad of other lunch choices.  Another blackboard offers tasty morsels for the breakfast crowd.


I decide (eventually) on a Pearl Barley Salad ($14.00). I'm determined to be healthy despite being surrounded by sweet temptation.  That said this salad isn't exactly the picture of diet food with pieces of creamy, lush feta and deep-fried sourdough scattered amongst the pearl barley, lettuce, preserved lemon and Spanish onion. The pearl barely has a soft texture, and a slightly nutty taste.  The preserved lemon gives a 'zing' that offsets the creaminess of the cheese and inherent guilt of eating deep-fired sourdough. 

And see my photo - it's looking better than BPT (before Phuoc's Training). Phuoc suggests taking photos in portrait rather than landscape and tells me not to worry about trying to clear out all of the background mess of plates, cups and people that I think are in the way of a good photo.  She tells me it's all part of the story of eating out.  As I'm a total anal-retentive neat freak I'm not so sure about this, but I'm willing to give it a try and see "how I feel about it".  A few tweaks to various buttons on the camera gives me that depth of field that I drool over in other peoples blogs (you know that effect where everything in the background is nice and blurry).


Phuoc's lunch is gold and I have instant food envy.  The House Cured Trout with Hash Brown, Poached Egg and Truffle Oil ($16.00)  is absolutely, without a doubt what I'm having the next time I come back here (though I did spy a tasty looking Wagyu Sandwich when I went up to pay for my lunch which will be the time after next time's lunch). The smoke trout is melt-in-the-mouth delicious and I loved the herb dressing with dill (I managed to nab myself a small bite).


There's a lot to love about this busy little bakery.  I'll be making another dash down to Newtown asap to try what else is on offer...I might even try something sweet next time too.

Luxe Bakery on Urbanspoon

Luxe Bakery is at 195 Missenden Road, Newtown.

28 comments:

  1. great shots, i love the baked goods at the top, so delicious-looking!

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  2. Food-bloggers ARE a sociable and friendly lot, aren't they! And don't worry about the photos - I used to take all of mine landscape and would clear everything out of the way as well, but then you learn that the "clutter" is part of warmth of the experience.

    And yes, you must return to try some sweet stuff in future!

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  3. ooh yum the cured trout sounds delish! hehe the food blogger community is awesomes

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  4. You're so funny! That's what I love about the blogging community, everyone is just so friendly and easy going and it helps that we all have the same passion. It still spins me out though that I've meet people who I can now call friends through blogging, people who started off as strangers on the interwebs..

    Lol at "kindred Canon G11 spirits" and "BPT"

    Man... That cured trout dish was so good! You should definitely they the baked goods next time, especially the tarts! They are so good. I pretty much inhaled the cinnamon custard tart I bought that day

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  5. This looks like my kind of place! Love the photo of the baked goodies!

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  6. What a great way to meet over lunch! I want that hash brown! ;-P

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  7. I know- it is really nerve racking meeting for the first place, the first time I met someone, I gave my boyfriend an sms just to tell him that I was ok- seeing it 'could have been anyone' he he he

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  8. Naww... I love Luxe - and that trout looks fab!

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  9. What a productive catch-up: meeting a food blogger, learning tips about the camera, eating a wonderful meal and getting material for a blog post! I was under the impression that I'd find only sandwiches and desserts at Luxe, now I REALLY want to go.

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  10. that trout looks so delicious! ur making me hungry :(

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  11. It's fantastic that you're getting out there. Great tips from Phuoc, too, and the food looks fantastic. What's not to love?

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  12. Great photos!!! Better get some tips from you now!!

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  13. Oh I've been meaning to go here for ages but I'm never around Newtown anymore! The food looks so good I think I'll have to make a special trip out to Newtown just to try it

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  14. ooo this looks interesting.. normally when im at newtown i opt for Blackstar.

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  15. cured trout with hash brown? oh my I am so there!!!

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  16. That trout looks amazing!!! I love background things in the photo too, it is truly then about sharing your meal :)

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  17. Photos look great! =)
    Haha brave and outgoing? Heck I am complete opposite. It is easier to meet one on one though, I'm not a crowds person!
    Luxe is on my ever growing hit list, so many places needing to be visited, so little time.

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  18. I'm always cautious when meeting people offline, but it helps that so many bloggers already know one another and if they sniff something suss about someone they would no doubt tweet about it, so I do actually feel quite safe. Btw it was nice meeting you the other day :-)

    I love the look of the cottage with the love heart and your slow shutter pic of the waitress moving! And the food looks good too.

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  19. Iv always been really scared too. Still yet to hang out with some fellow bloggers. Well done you for the first step.
    Nom @ the hash brown!!

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  20. That trout looks so yummy! Gotta love cured fish.

    Love the photos too!! The food looks absolutely fab. =)

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  21. Lunch looks lovely, and I agree, food blogging is so much about the people and the socialising that goes with it. Looking forward to seeing more of your photos APT too :)

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  22. wow! I can't believe that i've never even seen this place. looks amazing and a little bit balmain.

    it's deffo on the to-do list over easter!

    http://thealimentarytrack.blogspot.com/

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  23. I love this place! LOL at 'BPT', haha...

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  24. I saw the trout on the menu picture and thought I would def get that if I had a choice. Always forget about this place when I am in newtown.

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  25. Ooh, I've wanted to try this place for aages!
    We should meet up sometime and head down (up rather) for lunch :)

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  26. I've only been to Luxe once and it was just for a coffee - after seeing this I must return for food! If only you were also around this way on the weekend!

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  27. I've been wanting to visit luxe for so long!! Any place with a big red heart tops my list!

    I can't remember life "bPt" - phuoc is just a darling!

    I absolutely love the social aspect that blogging has brought! Mel, we'll be best friends foreverrrr!

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