Overview
In the last year-and-a-bit, two of Asia's biggest cheese-based dessert chains have made their way to Sydney. Last year, we saw the opening of Japan's Uncle Tetsu, which was welcomed into the city with queues around the block and crowd control barriers. Since then, Malaysia's Hokkaido Baked Cheese Tart has similarly cashed in on Sydney's love for cheese snacks by opening three locations around the city.
Well, good thing you've increased your lactose tolerance, because Japan's Pablo is opening its first Australian store on George Street. The cheese tart consists of a crisp, buttery pastry that holds a wobbly, cream-cheese interior that you can have cooked in two ways: 'medium' or 'rare'. There are mini sizes and a matcha flavour too.
Founded less than a decade ago in Osaka, Pablo is the brainchild of young entrepreneur Masamitsu Sakimoto. It began as an off-the-shelf, Western-inspired product but a business rejig ensured that there's now an oven in each store. And no, Pablo is not a copycat — they've already got 44 stores around Japan and 13 internationally. Their tarts aren't in the Hokkaido style, but, for all intents and purposes, are pretty similar. You can watch an excellently soundtracked video comparing the two here.
Pablo opens on Tuesday, November 14 at midday, located at 605 George Street, Sydney (entrance on Goulburn Street), and will be open 11am–10pm, daily. FOr more information, visit their Facebook page.