Jackman & McRoss Bakery

This is my favourite bakery in the whole world. I would, and have in the past, travel to Hobart especially for this place. I was only here for a short short visit, but there’s no way I’m going to leave without visiting, and taking away a bunch of goodies too.

Food

There’s a small lunch menu, as well as blackboard specials, with pies dominating, and it should, as they make the best pastries ever. I wanted to get the scallop pie but unfortunately it wasn’t on the menu, so I settled for the blackboard special of Braised rabbit pie topped with prunes and nuts stuffing ($8.50). This came in a ramekin, with pink pieces of soft rabbit (a little bit more gamey but otherwise is like chicken) and a top overflowing with a sweet and crumby topping.

PM enjoyed the steak & Guinness pie ($6.50) which he declared was ”The best pie I’ve had for a long time”.

For takeaway, I stocked up on:

• quince and pomegranate tart ($6.50) - contained a heavenly pie crust that was not too soggy but not too hard. The custard filling was scented with vanilla and matched the sweet and sour taste of the poached quinces that still had bite. More importantly, it looked spectacular!
• polenta special ($6.50) - a cheesy polenta tart smeared with bitey pesto, topped with a raw capsicum with bite, roasted pumpkin, sweet juicy Huon Valley mushroom and a piece of great cheese. Tasmania at its best.
• honey and seeded rye ($4.60) - nutty flavour with a hint of sweetness, the brown crust has been coated in toasted sesame seeds and the inside is still fluffy and soft, and a bit dense.
• biscotti ($5.50) - they use very good quality ingredients. You can actually taste the difference. The almond come in bigger pieces than usual. This one is something you really have to dunk to get the full effect.

Rating - 8.5

Atmosphere

This is located along the pretty Hampden Rd, lined with restored historic houses. Jackman & McRoss is in one of those restored houses. The front has been painted black, with one room holding the front counter of their amazing cake displays, as well as the freshly baked bread, muffins, brioche, and their tempting varieties of pies. The adjoining two rooms contain little round tables, much like a Parisian café. The whole setting is of posh country town. There were several people walking their dogs, and various locals, as well as businessmen, who all stop by for a break, relaxing in the open dining room.

We took a seat by the window and watched the local traffic walk by, and people who have left their dogs outside.

Rating - 3

Service

They are almost constantly busy, but it’s one of those places. The service was very prompt. In fact, we’d only just sat down and started looking at the menu when they came to take our order. Otherwise, it’s very casual, you have to go to the counter and pay, and it’s cash only.

Rating - 3

C-factor

It’s certainly not cheap. With bread starting at around $4, pies and tarts from $6, but the quality is certainly top rate.

Rating - 1.5

Brownie Points - 16

Info

57-59 Hampden Rd
Battery Point
TAS 7004
Phone (03) 6223 3186