When I started my blog I thought I was going to write a lot more about cakes and pastries because I’m always trying new ones out and reviewing them in my mind. The problem has been that I quite often wolf the cake or pastry down before taking a photo! And a review of a cake is no review at all if it doesn’t have a photo.
So my first cake review in a year is the magnificent Opera Cake that I purchased from Sweet Infinity in the Strand Arcade, Sydney. It’s a cute little shop that fits in with the look and feel of the surrounding old-fashioned shops of the Strand Arcade. I stood outside for a while to see who was going in, who was just looking in the window and who just didn’t care. My completely non-scientific assessment is this: Lots of women passing by look in the window while almost no men do and men only enter the shop when accompanied by a woman (except me). What does this mean? I don’t really know, but I reckon it’d probably have something do with most men viewing food as fuel whereas many women view it differently. Good on me for the massive generalisations!
OK, the cake. An Opera Cake is essentially a layered cake containing almond sponge, ganache and cream topped with a chocolate glaze. The Sweet Infinity opera cake has all of these elements: a couple of sponge, a couple of ganache and a couple of cream layers with a spinkling of cocoa on top.
Firstly, the cake was NOT overly sweet. I really hate sweet desserts as they take away the subtlety of any flavours. And this cake tasted chocolatey, very slight nutty and a maybe even a hint of…something else. On top of these fantastic flavours was a fantastic texture which was delivered through the fudgy ganache, quite stiff cream and soft sponge. Eaten all together, the mind is just racing with flavours and textures and it’s just about enough to send you over the edge.
Anyway, without getting too scientific and too foodie-like, I can summarise by saying it gets a big thumbs up. I will be returning to try other tasty treats in the future!
16 replies on “Opera Cake from Sweet Infinity”
About time you talked about cakes again! Hey, remind me of the name of the French place at The Rocks.
Not sure of the place at the Rocks. But I need to do more cake reviews, although Indonesian cakes are not usually that good and that could prevent me for the next 6 months doing reviews!
You’re killing me with these photos of sweets! I know that I would be so tempted to wolf them down right away that taking a photo would be the last thing on my mind. Think I am gaining weight every time I look at the food photos – especially the desserts – a major weakness of mine. I want to know your secret at keeping the pounds off.
I have no secret for keeping the pounds off… I’ve putting plenty on lately, but luckily I’ve got room to move.
Love the market research – I always look at food displays when I pass by them!
There you go! You are a fitting example of my research!
I really wish I loved desserts more. Shaun has this obsession over them but I prefer salty to sweet. Still looks yummy!
What about salty desserts? Like salty chocolate, salty caramel or… fish and chip ice cream!? No… Fish and chip ice cream is bad… but salt on desserts is good. 🙂
Salty desserts are good but hard to come by!
So true. I think the best alternative is that Lindt chocolate with salt on it that you can buy at the supermarket.
The sprinkling of cocoa on top looks divine. I’m not sure how anyone (ahem Erica) could be so indifferent about desserts. I want to try some opera cake!
Grrr!
I reckon we can get you on the straight and narrow, Erica. If you travel to Oz, I’ll take you and Shaun on some foodie adventures and we’ll seek out the perfect dessert! I’ve had a few that come close!
Yeah… the cocoa was a great addition. I was apprehensive because it’s such a bitter taste! But it was a nice balance. I love food excursions…
Oooh! That looks and sounds completely divine. If you are ever in Saigon, let me know – a group of us had a cheesecake group so I can point you in the direction of a good cheesecake!!
As a cake and pastry tragic, it sounds good to me!