Overview
Monforte Viennoiserie, a pint-sized Carlton North bakery, has been missing just one essential ingredient to make it the ultimate one-stop shop for a morning adventure — proper barista coffee. However, loyal customers need no longer go elsewhere to get their gourmet caffeine fix, as the beloved hole-in-the-wall patisserie finally welcomes its own coffee machine and Everyday Coffee beans.
What Monforte Viennoiserie lacks in size, it certainly makes up for in quality, technique and creativity. Giorgia McAlliser Forte's teal kiosk, tucked away in a row of beige Victorian houses, keeps customers on their toes with an imaginative menu of ever-changing seasonal offerings, along with a couple of staple items that showcase her impeccable technique. Signature classics include a leatherwood honey and sea salt croissant, and seasonal offerings range from the likes of a salted yuzu floating island, to a chocolate, green mandarin and finger lime kouign amann, to a hazelnut, peach and black tea twice-baked pastry.
"Our loyal customers have been crying out for espresso-based drinks, and after 5 years we've finally managed to rejig the space to squeeze in a machine", explains Forte. "The compliments paid around our pastries, in particular the signature classic leatherwood and sea salt croissant, meant we had to match the best with the best, partnering with local Collingwood-based roaster Everyday [Coffee]. The installation of a La Marzocco machine means our customers can rely on a true gold standard across all our food and beverage offerings."
To celebrate its partnership with Everyday Coffee and give back to its devoted customers, Monforte will be giving away free coffees this Saturday, November 15. Get in quick, as the offer is available from 8.30am until 2pm, or until sold out. And for those so inclined, don't worry, they'll still be serving their signature hot and cold filter coffees.
Images: Michael Gardenia.
Got pastries on your mind? Check out the best bakeries in Melbourne.