Next time you're hankering for a pastry and you're in the vicinity of West Village, let Hungary's cylindrical-shaped kürtőskalács tempt your tastebuds. The traditional dish, also known as chimney cake, is caramelised, crunchy and flaky on the outside, soft on the inside, and can even come filled with Nutella — and it gives West End newcomer Kürtősh its name. Open at the Boundary Street precinct seven days a week, the bakery takes its cues from Central Europe, as its name and favourite menu item makes plain. Here, you'll also find burekas in a range of flavours — ricotta and feta, potato and mushroom, and sweet potato, rosemary and thyme, for starters — plus chocolate brandy balls. Croissants, danishes, chocolate twists and cookies, too. Another highlight: cakes by the slab that are sold by weight. Owner Ben Haikin takes his kürtőskalács seriously, travelling to learn how to make them and coming back with a 70-year-old recipe. But his now ten-store chain of bakeries also serves up everything from cheesecakes to coffee, and mixes up its menu regularly. Making many of its dishes onsite, the West End store marks Kürtősh's first in Queensland, with its other shops spread across New South Wales and Victoria — and new outposts to come in Melbourne, too. Visitors to Kurtosh West End can expect both indoor and outdoor seating, a packed cabinet full of baked goods, and a drinks lineup that also includes iced drinks — coffees, teas, chocolates and mochas — and juices.
