I took a stroll around The Star the other day. The row of dingy, foot-courtesque eateries and the dodgy old Irish pub are but a distant nightmare compared to what’s now in their place: world class restaurants with the likes of Momofuku and Black, the high-end designer shops like Chanel and Salvatore Ferragamo and the wonderful world of Adriano Zumbo.
For those of you who are my friend on Facebook, you know of the epic battle I have been fighting with Zumbo and his apparently amazing macarons, and how he constantly disappoints me… Well… After three attempts to get on board his train to pastry heaven, and after being bitterly disappointed three times with a melange of generically sweet-tasting, sometimes hard and chewy macarons, I finally experienced a little taste of ambrosia a few weeks ago at his Balmain Pâtisserie. The Cola falvoured macaron was simply delicious; a delightfully soft shell filled with a creamy, Cokey goodness. The lime and coconut macaron was equally amazing. Finally! Finally! I could see what people raved about.
His new store at The Star is something akin to Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory; quirky production lines and bells and whistles adorn the kooky shop fit-out and it’s fun just being in there!
I made my way over to the macarons, or Zumbarons as they’re now called, as he has appointed himself god of the pastry universe… Bingo! Cola! And I decide to try a pumpkin one. My mouth is watering just thinking about that Cola cream…
I heart Zumbo, written across the wall of his shop… A little bit self-idulgent, don’t you think? Anyway, I carry my macarons outside and position them in my palm for the photo… I have the pumpkin one first, as I am saving my Cola baby for last… Well, whaddya know?! The pumpkin one is the same underwhelming sweet crap the rest of his macarons have been… I quickly swallow it to make way for a macaron that tastes NOTHING like the delicious Cola one I had previously. It was a pale imitation of itself; vaguely flavoured, texturally uninteresting and altogether the Zumbo I have come to know and loathe…
I instantly status update my incident… A friend comments that the only thing consistent about Zumbo is his inconsistency! Too true.
Zumbo, you old dog, game over.
