Bread Top, World Square

Bread Top is one of those stores that I always mean to buy something from but am inevitably about to go out to dinner or to a movie when I am walking past it so whilst I can say that I've "perved", I've never purchased. Until now.

Asian bakeries are all over Chinatown but I'd heard that Bread Top was a cut above. My mother had given me one of their red bean buns brought back by a friend from their Melbourne store before they'd opened here and it was very soft and tasty despite the fact that I was probably eating it a day or two after it was baked.

The choice is hard and I want to try a range of things and the item that first catches my eye is the Sushi Sponge ($2.20 for 3 pieces). Chosen for kitsch value, I didn't expect to like it but I really did. The white "rice" part was a fluffy white sponge much like the char sieu bow outer with some seaweed and corn for texture and the "fish" had a pork floss texture but with a fish flavouring. Unusual but very good.

Going down the display, I spy one of my favourite things: mini food. A mini pork chop bun ($1.60) is so delicious, I don't want to share it (I used the mini size as an excuse for that) but the pork chop was a bit small for the bun. The pork chop was still crispy with a tangy Japanese Katsu sauce and garnished with a smidgen of lettuce leaf.

Another miniature bun comes next, the Wasabi Crab bun ($1.20). Its delicious and quite texturey with crab but it had a bit too much wasabi for me but should suit wasabi lovers or everyone else in the world aside from wasabi fearing me just fine!

Last is a "dessert" pick, the Red Bean Swirl $1.70. I deliberately choose one high on the burgundy red bean factor and its as good as it looks. Its chock ful of sweet red bean and pillowy, almost custardy bread with a crumbly biscuit topping.

A favourite out of the lot? Its hard, I'm torn between the Sushi Sponge and the Mini Pork Chop but the others were also delicious. But probably the Mini Pork Chop bun if I could have a bit more pork chop in it I would stop carrying on like one.

World Square, Sydney NSW

Shop 9 22 World Square Retail

644 George Street

Sydney NSW 2000

Tel & Fax (02) 9264 1383

Open until 9pm