Baker D Chirico brings his favorite sourdough from Vic to Newstead

In 2000, along with Baker D. Chirico, he helped launch Melbourne’s modern wave of iconic local bakeries and quickly became one of the city’s favorite culinary experts. Now Chirico has opened the first branch of his eponymous bakery outside his hometown. And it’s not just the famous sourdough that has moved north. “I (temporarily) moved to Brisbane to be fully focused on the bakery,” says Chirico. Leaflet.

There was a lot to do. This month, six years after Chirico originally signed the lease, the bakery opened in the posh Newstead neighborhood on Long Island. The delay was largely due to Covid and a shortage of building materials, but “the design of the bakery also had to be changed a little to make the workspace work better,” he says.

Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday morning, lines of avid carb lovers take away more than just their daily bread. It features Baker D Chirico classics, including sourdough loaves beloved by Neil Perry and Heston Blumenthal, custard bomboloni and cannoli. But the Brisbane store focuses more on snacks, with a range of paninis, an Italian-Japanese hybrid sandwich with an egg on a bun and the occasional calzone. The standouts at the moment are the potatoes, caramelized onions and Danish béchamel – it’s rich, but not rich enough that you’ll run out of seconds.

The inside of Baker D Chirico Brisbane is all speckled terrazzo marble, brass-edged tables and a high, curved ceiling covered in timber slats. It is inspired by the bread basket ceiling from Chirico’s Carlton store and is meant to resemble the smooth curve of a croissant. Outside you’ll find more seating and a small red three-wheeled Piaggio Ape van with the Baker D. Chirico logo. Combined with the nearby fountains, the complex may be called Long Island, but its Roman piazza atmosphere is complete.

Currently open only three days a week, the bakery has an almost frantic pop-up feel. But Chirico says the goal is to gradually scale up over the coming months. “We are planning to introduce Thursdays in November and hopefully Wednesdays in December before Christmas.” By the end of the year, the store should be open as planned: every week from Wednesday to Sunday from 7:30 am.

“We’re really excited to be in Brisbane… Customers have been extremely supportive and patient with us as we get back on our feet,” says Chirico. Judging by the queues, Brisbane residents already know these baked goods are worth the wait.

Baker D. Chirico Brisbane
18 Longland Street, Newstead
No phone

Watch:
Fri-Sun 8:00–15:00

bakedchirico.com.au/
@bakerdchirico