Old Mates Bakery
We made it through to the NT border and explored all the numerous hot spots all the way up to Darwin. For those who have followed my 🥧 journey for a while you would know we were up in the NT back in 2021 and reviewed most of the 🥧 joints on that trip. This tour was about finding all the hidden jems I missed in the last tour.
One place I was tipped off about was Old Mates Bakery in the Oasis Shopping Centre at Palmerston. Owners Rob and Chris opened this place in November last year. Both lads have been in the baking game for a few years, but started their careers as middle age apprentices.
Rob’s passion for 🥧’s can only be surpassed by is passion for training greyhounds. This legend gets up at the crack of dawn and puts about 30 dish lickers through their paces. I’ve met so many bakers on my 🥧 journey who also have a love for these majestic animals and that’s pretty awesome.
The bakery is open 7 days a week from 7am and offers a great selection of cakes, savory and 🥧’s. I also noticed there a old SA favorite in the cabinet and that was the famous kitchener bun !!! These things are epic. It was way to early in the morning for a kitchener bun, but never too early for a 🥧
Rob had a fresh batch of 🥧’s out of the oven and the selection on offer was great. For this review Rob put forward a few 🥧 options, but in the end I went for the the 🌶️🥧. It’s been a while since I’ve reviewed one of these flavoured 🥧’s and I was so excited to get started.
🥧 THE REVIEW 🥧
1. Value for Money – $6 represented ok value for a 🥧 of this size. The diameter was a standard size 🥧. While the depth was ok the 🥧 had sunk a little in the middle. Overall $6 is probably the norm for a 🥧 of this size. 8.5/10
2. Meat Ratio – Yes the 🥧 was full, but it had sunk in the middle. Nothing major, but this has affected the overall score. 8.5/10
3. Flavour – Mince and chilli !!! Very basic ingredients and highly effective. While the chilli gave you a decent kick it wasn’t overpowering and was the perfect mix. The lads have done a good job with this one , thoughly enjoyed. 8/10
4. Pastry – Color was very good, as was the shape and shrinkage. When tipped this 🥧 on its axle it didn’t move a muscle. The pastry flavour was quite nice as well. Only negatives was the bakes and thicknesses. Both were slightly underbaked and a tad thick. This can easily be fixed but has affected the overall score. 6.5/10
5. Serving Temperature – Zero issues !!!! Perfect temp 10/10
Overall Rating
🥧🥧 41.5/50 🥧🥧
A few things to work on here and there, but overall this was a pretty good product. The price tag, meat ratio and flavour scores were all very consistent with only the pastry letting the overall score down. The pastry bake and thickness are areas that can easily be fixed and could have been once off’s too. Best part was the flavour, the chilli gave you a whack but wasn’t overpowering. Zero hesitutation in recommending this particular flavoured 🥧. Good job boys.
A huge thanks to Rob and Fieldsey for having me in. This is a cracking little bakery and 100% worth the stop in. All the food here looked incredible and tasted beautiful and i so glad I made the short trip out this way. Good luck with the bakery and training plenty of winners boys.
The city of Darwin and surrounds has so much on offer and is extremely family orientated. From the famous markets to the jumping crocs this is a very cool place.
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