Feel like a kid with fancy finger sandwiches at South Melbourne’s Latest

Darling Group knows pastries. The company behind popular brunch spots like Higher ground, Top paddockAnd Kettle Black has been making all its bread and pastries in-house for two years. But it’s not something they’ve been loud about. With the opening today of its bakery and café Cheri in South Melbourne, the group is finally ready to put its home-made baking and patisserie front and center.

Cheri, first Bibelot And Chez Dre is located beneath the group’s new production kitchen, where pastry chef Michael Germanos leads a team that produces a steady stream of cruffins, doughnuts, quiches, baguettes and choux.

Upon entering the 150-seat venue, you are greeted with a large display case showcasing the day’s offerings. These can include Paris-Brest (a ring of choux pastry with hazelnut or pistachio cream and praline), lime and basil eclairs, or spiral croissant-cookie hybrids (crookies) finished with dulce de leche and salt. There is also a gelato box with 18 homemade classic and Asian-inspired flavors, such as fior di latte, pistachio and yuzu mandarin.

“This is an expansion of (our existing offering), allowing the bakers and pastry chefs (Germanos) to flex their muscles and be a little more creative,” says culinary director Ash Hicks. Flyer.

“We have everything from nostalgic cinnamon rolls (with cinnamon-almond cream and dulcey (caramelized white chocolate)) and finger rolls (flavored with rum and raisins, cookies and cream, and seasonal berries), to luxurious cakes and hand-made pastries,” says Hicks.

While the sweets change seasonally, one mainstay is the triple chocolate brownie croissant filled with chocolate sticks, glazed and baked until caramelized. The team is currently producing around 800 units per week to supply the locations, not counting Cheri’s increased demand.

Savory options include Roman-style pizzas, focaccia sandwiches and piadinas (Italian flatbreads) filled with produce from the South Melbourne Market.

Guests can also head to the dining room for an all-day menu, featuring Neapolitan-style pizzas made from 72-hour fermented dough, croissants, French toast and sourdough rolls. Drinks range from European-inspired cocktails to peach cold brew and decadent triple-chocolate brownie shakes.

The semi-visible kitchen and airy, open dining room provide a full view of the action, while the high ceilings and industrial feel of the venue hark back to its earlier days as a Kodak factory. At the back there is a courtyard for 50 people with a retractable roof.

Cheri
285-287 Coventry Street, South Melbourne
9690 2688

Opening hours:
Daily 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM

cherieatery.com.au