Where Chefs Eat: Audrey Allard of Holy Sugar Loves This Lemon Passionfruit Frozen Custard

Audrey Allard, started her business Holy Sugar as a weekly cake box during Covid. In May 2022, she opened a bricks-and-mortar bakery on High Street, Northcote, and lines quickly formed for citrus tarts, butterscotch crullers and Basque cheesecake slices.

Allard closed the retail arm of her bakery in July. The former Lune pastry chef now focuses on custom orders and has been taking inspiration from and collaborating with fashion brands including Jean Paul Gaultier. We caught up with Allard to find out where (and what) she’s been eating in Melbourne lately.

What’s your go-to breakfast spot?
Alimentary in Fitzroy is my ride or die. It’s always consistent, and really deserves its flowers.

Where do you recommend for a date night?
If you’ve just started dating, go to Al Dente Enoteca. It’s a quality experience at an affordable price so it doesn't feel like too much pressure. Get the tortellini cacio e pepe.

What’s your favourite bakery?
Austro Bakery in North Melbourne. It’s a business model to what we had, only being open Friday and Saturday. Everything there is just done well!

What’s your favourite ice-cream or gelato spot?
Luther’s Scoops. The lemon pash – lemon and passionfruit custard – is insane.

What’s the best place to eat when you’re with a big group?
Johnny’s Green Room. It’s a great location and the perfect rooftop as we’re moving into warmer weather.

What’s your favourite dessert in Melbourne?
My current hyper fixation is Carousel frozen yogurt. It's the best I’ve tried, and made using yogurt not powder so it's not too sweet! I get natural, mango and caramel with mochi as the topping.

What’s the best place to solo dine?
The Dojo Ramen Bar in Northcote, I can just sneak in, have a great meal and leave. The environment is also fairly tame so I don’t get overstimulated.

Where’s the best place for a late-night feed?
Ozzie Kebabs in Preston is open until 3am. I get the lamb kebab and the spinach-and-cheese gozleme, which is my favourite.

Where can you find the best bread in Melbourne?
Baker Bleu , of course. We need a store north side. Northcote Bakeshop and Iris The Bakery do a great sourdough, too.

Is there a venue you’d most like to collaborate with?
I would love to do something with the NGV or Regent Theatre. Some sort of food experience in a beautiful building or something in collaboration with art or ballet would be very fulfilling

What’s your bucket list restaurant?
Carbone in NYC, Osteria Francescana in Italy, The River Cafe in London and Noma just to name a few.