Overview
If your idea of trifle is Aeroplane Jelly, Madeira cake from the nearest supermarket, tinned peaches and cheap rum, think again. Pastry chef and owner of Enmore's Saga Andy Bowdy — whose peanut butter and banana sundaes (once served at Hartsyard) are the stuff of legend — has reinvented the dessert, especially for Christmas. His festive trifles made their debut in 2017 and they're back for a second round.
In Bowdy's words, "I know a trifle can be a little controversial, but lets face it — a trifle is basically a cake in a bowl." If you've ever sampled his cakes, you'll take that as good tidings. Exceptionally good tidings. These trifles are not just cakes, but OTT masterpieces, loaded with all kinds of goodies, like baked cheesecake chunks, caramelised popcorn and salted caramel drizzle.
On the Christmas trifle menu are four options. One of them is the Ted, a blackforest-inspired concoction of chocolate fudge cake, white chocolate mascarpone, morello cherry compote and Nutella cremeux, topped with candied hazelnuts, choc-hazelnut crumb and fresh cherries, and infused with a cherry and bourbon soak. Meanwhile, the Philly takes its cue from peaches and cream. Think layers of vanilla sponge, maple custard, vanilla chantilly and peach and rosemary compote, spiked with peach and bourbon jelly, and topped with brown sugar pecans, Anzac crumbs and fresh peaches and raspberries.
There's also the Jacoby's, a tropical explosion of vanilla sponge, passionfruit curd, pineapple white rum jelly, coconut custard and vanilla chantilly, with caramelised pineapple, coconut chew, milk crumb and fresh passionfruit and pineapple. Then, for Italophiles, the Tiramisu.
It's not the only OTT trifle making the rounds this Christmas either, Gelato Messina's famed Christmas coma has also returned.
Andy Bowdy's Christmas trifles can be ordered online now and collected from Saga, Enmore, from December 1–24. Each cake is $195 and feeds 18-22 people.