Christopher Thé started Black Star Pastry nine years ago after stints at Quay and Bel Mondo in Sydney, in a tiny terrace shop in Newtown. There are now three outposts up north and a cake – strawberry watermelon – that is one of the most famous in Sydney.

Black Star has popped up in Melbourne before, but never with a range this big or for as long. Beginning Monday February 20 in Carlton, the patisserie will be here for at least three months, with an eye to finding a permanent space in Melbourne.

In addition to chocolate eclairs, frangipane tarts, custard flans and macadamia brownies, the patisserie’s core cake range will be available in its entirety. So you’ll be able to try the famous gluten-free strawberry and watermelon cake, as well as a black-sesame butter cake with coconut mousse (topped with yuzu jelly and dai dai, an Asian variety of bitter orange), a chocolate hazelnut torte, and an orange cake with Persian figs.

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They’ll also be serving Little Marionette Coffee, a specialty roaster in Sydney that’s not yet been available in Melbourne.

If you can’t get to the store but don’t want to miss out, you can order online – including the celebration cakes.

To celebrate the Melbourne opening, Black Star Pastry is giving a free single portion of strawberry watermelon cake to the first 50 customers who buy a coffee on Monday February 20. Doors open from 10am, but if you’re smart, you’ll be lining up before that.

Black Star Pastry
56–66 University Street, Carlton

Hours:
Mon to Sat 10am–8pm
Sun 10am–5pm