Discover how this Aussie supermarket became the ‘roll’ model for baking excellence
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When you think of award-winning baked goods, you might imagine quaint, artisanal bakeries tucked away in cobblestone streets, not the bustling aisles of a supermarket.
However, one Aussie supermarket has turned that notion on its head, proving that excellence can come from the most unexpected places.
This gem has just been crowned with the prestigious title of making Australia's finest croissant, and that's just the tip of the baguette!
Nestled within the supermarket is a pâtisserie that's unlike any other, a place where magic happens and the scent of freshly baked bread wafts through the air, drawing customers like bees to honey.
It's here that Adelaide's Finest has claimed not only the top spot for Australia's Best Croissant at this year's Royal Adelaide Show but also swept up awards for Best Ciabatta, Best Sourdough, Overall Champion Product, and Best Apprentice.
But how did a supermarket become a baking powerhouse? The story is as heartwarming as it is inspiring.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, when the hospitality industry faced unprecedented challenges, Adelaide's Finest Director, Spero Chapley, made a bold move.
He employed highly skilled pâtissiers who had found themselves jobless due to the lockdowns. This decision not only saved jobs but also birthed a team of baking virtuosos.
The pâtisserie team, now comprising nine full-time employees and three TAFE students, is led by the talented Huy Nguyen, an alumnus of the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu cooking school.
Nguyen, who has honed his craft in fine dining establishments like d’Arenberg’s Cube and Aurora, is not just passionate about creating the perfect pastry; he's also dedicated to culinary education, teaching certificates III and IV in patisserie.
Their hard work begins at the crack of dawn, often starting at 3:00 AM in a glass cube at the front of the Pasadena store.
‘The glass kitchen our patisserie team works from lets our customers see the incredible work that goes into these amazing creations,’ Mr Chapley shared.
‘This brings an energy and multisensory dimension to the store experience, part of our ambition to make every visit new and exciting.’
‘The Patisserie is a fine example of how we have been operating for over 70 years—taking a risk on something new, pushing the boundaries of retail, employing and training staff in an effort to showcase the best South Australia has to offer,’ he added.
Adelaide's Finest apprentice Christie-Lee Roberts won Best Apprentice Baker, and her pear Danish was crowned Champion Product of The Show, outshining every other professional entry.
The Royal Adelaide Show is an annual celebration of baking excellence, featuring categories ranging from bread loaves to sausage rolls and vanilla slices.
Each category is meticulously evaluated for its technical merits, with a winner crowned based on their exceptional baking skills.
This year’s spotlight category, croissants, highlighted the French laminated pastry, making it a central feature in the Goyder Pavilion.
Each participant was required to produce four croissants that were uniform in shape, size, and appearance.
The judges emphasised tradition, seeking a winner who could create a ‘back to basics’ style croissant that was ‘crisp, flaky’ and had a ‘buttery flavour and aroma’. The croissants were evaluated based on their appearance, colour, flavour, and pastry quality.
This year’s feature class had stringent marking criteria, assessing detailed attributes such as ‘taste, flavour and eating quality, lamination quality, and internal crumb structure’.
Adelaide’s Finest Supermarkets excelled in these technical aspects, earning the highest overall score and claiming the title of Australia’s best croissant.
Are you tempted to try these award-winning baked goods? We don't blame you! Make your way to Frewville or Pasadena, but be sure to get there early before they sell out for the day.
After all, who wouldn't want a taste of Australia's best croissant, sourdough, and ciabatta?
For those who can't make it in person, don't fret. You can still indulge in these flaky, buttery delights by ordering croissants online. Click here to treat yourself to a taste of baking excellence delivered straight to your door.
Having discovered the extraordinary achievement of Adelaide’s Finest Supermarkets, where their croissants were named Australia’s best, you might be inspired to try your hand at baking these delicious pastries yourself.
If you’re eager to recreate the magic in your own kitchen, you’re in luck—member @Suzanne rose has shared a fantastic recipe for homemade croissants.
Dive into her detailed guide to bring a taste of this award-winning excellence into your home and experience the joy of crafting your own perfect croissants.
So, dear readers, next time you're in South Australia, remember that the ultimate bakery secret might just be hiding in plain sight at your local supermarket.
Have you had Adelaide's Finest offerings? Did it live up to its reputation? We’d love to hear your thoughts and experience in the comments below!
However, one Aussie supermarket has turned that notion on its head, proving that excellence can come from the most unexpected places.
This gem has just been crowned with the prestigious title of making Australia's finest croissant, and that's just the tip of the baguette!
Nestled within the supermarket is a pâtisserie that's unlike any other, a place where magic happens and the scent of freshly baked bread wafts through the air, drawing customers like bees to honey.
It's here that Adelaide's Finest has claimed not only the top spot for Australia's Best Croissant at this year's Royal Adelaide Show but also swept up awards for Best Ciabatta, Best Sourdough, Overall Champion Product, and Best Apprentice.
Adelaide's Finest supermarkets won Australia's Best Croissant at the Royal Adelaide Show, along with Best Ciabatta, Best Sourdough, Overall Champion Product, and Best Apprentice. Credit: Facebook / Adelaide's finest supermarkets
But how did a supermarket become a baking powerhouse? The story is as heartwarming as it is inspiring.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, when the hospitality industry faced unprecedented challenges, Adelaide's Finest Director, Spero Chapley, made a bold move.
He employed highly skilled pâtissiers who had found themselves jobless due to the lockdowns. This decision not only saved jobs but also birthed a team of baking virtuosos.
The pâtisserie team, now comprising nine full-time employees and three TAFE students, is led by the talented Huy Nguyen, an alumnus of the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu cooking school.
Nguyen, who has honed his craft in fine dining establishments like d’Arenberg’s Cube and Aurora, is not just passionate about creating the perfect pastry; he's also dedicated to culinary education, teaching certificates III and IV in patisserie.
Their hard work begins at the crack of dawn, often starting at 3:00 AM in a glass cube at the front of the Pasadena store.
‘The glass kitchen our patisserie team works from lets our customers see the incredible work that goes into these amazing creations,’ Mr Chapley shared.
‘This brings an energy and multisensory dimension to the store experience, part of our ambition to make every visit new and exciting.’
‘The Patisserie is a fine example of how we have been operating for over 70 years—taking a risk on something new, pushing the boundaries of retail, employing and training staff in an effort to showcase the best South Australia has to offer,’ he added.
Adelaide's Finest apprentice Christie-Lee Roberts won Best Apprentice Baker, and her pear Danish was crowned Champion Product of The Show, outshining every other professional entry.
The Royal Adelaide Show is an annual celebration of baking excellence, featuring categories ranging from bread loaves to sausage rolls and vanilla slices.
Each category is meticulously evaluated for its technical merits, with a winner crowned based on their exceptional baking skills.
This year’s spotlight category, croissants, highlighted the French laminated pastry, making it a central feature in the Goyder Pavilion.
Each participant was required to produce four croissants that were uniform in shape, size, and appearance.
The judges emphasised tradition, seeking a winner who could create a ‘back to basics’ style croissant that was ‘crisp, flaky’ and had a ‘buttery flavour and aroma’. The croissants were evaluated based on their appearance, colour, flavour, and pastry quality.
This year’s feature class had stringent marking criteria, assessing detailed attributes such as ‘taste, flavour and eating quality, lamination quality, and internal crumb structure’.
Adelaide’s Finest Supermarkets excelled in these technical aspects, earning the highest overall score and claiming the title of Australia’s best croissant.
Are you tempted to try these award-winning baked goods? We don't blame you! Make your way to Frewville or Pasadena, but be sure to get there early before they sell out for the day.
After all, who wouldn't want a taste of Australia's best croissant, sourdough, and ciabatta?
For those who can't make it in person, don't fret. You can still indulge in these flaky, buttery delights by ordering croissants online. Click here to treat yourself to a taste of baking excellence delivered straight to your door.
Having discovered the extraordinary achievement of Adelaide’s Finest Supermarkets, where their croissants were named Australia’s best, you might be inspired to try your hand at baking these delicious pastries yourself.
If you’re eager to recreate the magic in your own kitchen, you’re in luck—member @Suzanne rose has shared a fantastic recipe for homemade croissants.
Dive into her detailed guide to bring a taste of this award-winning excellence into your home and experience the joy of crafting your own perfect croissants.
Have you had Adelaide's Finest offerings? Did it live up to its reputation? We’d love to hear your thoughts and experience in the comments below!
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