By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
THE Journal doesn’t usually feature an international franchise but PappaRoti’s coffee buns came highly recommended.
The light buttery buns – with the texture of a doughnut but with a coffee-flavoured outer crust – have been a worldwide hit.
The Malaysian-based chain first wafted its coffee and butter baked aromas into Springvale three years ago. It’s the only place to savour such buns in Melbourne’s south-east.
Proprietor Michael Wu had never owned a food outlet before but trusted this popular Asian brand would translate well into Springvale’s shopping precinct.
“It was among the first in Victoria but I knew PappaRoti is popular all around the world.”
Manager Sam Ang said up to 200 of these crispy cakes are served daily, usually with a scoop of ice cream on top.
The buns’ dough, which is standardised across the franchise’s Arabic and Asian stores, is imported, Mr Ang said.
On the premises, it is defrosted, coated with a coffee-flavoured paste and baked for 20 minutes – at 180C on top and 200C on the bottom.
Customers can wash it down with the cafe’s Malaysian-style organic coffee or tea – super-sweetened with condensed milk.
Our resident taster summed them up as similar to a popular doughnut chain’s products.
“Sweet” – he told the Journal. So sweet that he couldn’t extend himself to more than two in a sitting.
PappaRoti is at Shop 29b Buckingham Avenue, Springvale.
Phone 9546 8880.
