On Em's recommendation, we hiked up to North Hobart for afternoon tea at Sweet Envy. This prim white shopfront boasts all manner of sugary treats - from the ubiquitous cupcakes and macarons to candy, ice-cream, fancy desserts and made-to-order weddings-birthdays-anything cakes.
After a few panicky minutes overwhelmed with choice, I dismissed the frosting-heavy cupcakes and requested the Nutter Butter ($3.50), two peanut cookies sandwiched with peanut butter buttercream. The peril of the crunchy cookie is that it's impenetrable to the dessert fork and all the icing squishes out the middle - I was forced to deconstruct this, and discovered in the process that the buttercream didn't taste of peanut butter at all. The roasted peanuts, at least, added some depth to a very sweet snack.
Michael's raspberry jam doughnut ($3.50) was pleasant, but had inevitably been sitting on display for at least a few hours. Doughnuts really are best eaten within minutes of cooking, aren't they?
Based on the many other reviews of Sweet Envy out there (see below), we may have been a bit unlucky in our selections. It's not surprising that when dozens of different sweets are on offer, some will be better than others. The icecream here, in particular, has a very good reputation and would surely show up the terrible Cold Rock cups we sampled a couple of days earlier.
____________
Other blog posts about Sweet Envy are all positive, though some individual items have caused disappointment. Check out Provender Prattle, Rita's Bite, bri eats, Sunday's Child, Walnuts & Quince, The Drill Hall Emporium, Sitting on top of our world, Feathers and Cupcakes, Molly's Maison, One Crafty Mumma, May Day for Food, nevertoosweet and this thread on Eating Tassie.
____________
Sweet Envy
341 Elizabeth St, North Hobart
(03) 6234 8805
sweet treats $2-10
http://www.sweetenvy.com/
Accessibility: Sweet Entry has a flat, average-width entrance and is more likely to be crowded with customers than furniture. Ordering and payment takes place at counters of varying heights.
ohyeah, the pecan sticky bun is the best. and the almond caramel ice cream.
ReplyDeleteWelcome Debbie Ann! Oh, I have a weakness for pecans - I wish I'd spotted that one.
DeleteI've been underwhelmed every time I've had things from here - though I haven't tried the ice cream!
ReplyDeleteHeya Elizabeth - might be worth just one more visit to test 'em out. ;-)
DeleteOh my. I would crumble before such a display. Admirable restraint.
ReplyDeleteWell, Jackie, we'd had a rather large lunch. We should not have been there at all!
DeleteRaspberry doughnuts must be hot. They are quite possibly the messiest but most delicious food known to mankind.
ReplyDeleteDangerously delicious! That piping hot jam is always a risk.
Deleteyour desserts look good.
ReplyDeleteHi katy_em. Everything in the shop is very pretty!
DeleteOh no! I'm sorry I led you astray!
ReplyDeleteNot at all, Emily! I think a shop like this needs multiple visits to sort out what they do best. :-)
Delete