New cupcake boutique from Cupcakes by Paolo

Cupcakes by Paolo are evidently firm believers that "if you build it, they will come".  Originally, these swoonworthy cupcakes sold on Saturdays only from the family Filipino takeaway shop at Footscray Market.  It was quite a trip to browse the bain marie - oxtail in peanut sauce, spicy blood stew, cookies n' cream cupcake!  The business has grown enough for them to open their own standalone store, now on truck-buffeted, windswept Ashley Street.

Despite the isolated location, the love is evident inside.  Cupcakes by Paolo is a family business.  The eponymous Paolo (seen here) is a third-generation baker and is assisted by his parents.  They originally owned Masarap, the Filipino bakery in Churchill Avenue, and baked all the bread for their shop Lutong Pinoy in Footscray Market.  Now they bake on the premises here in Ashley Street and still supply the bread for Lutong Pinoy's new owners.

There's a select range of large cupcake flavours.  Check out the website for special orders including their mini cupcakes and to drool over all the flavours available.

There are two styles at Cupcakes by Paolo - rich, moist chocolate/red velvet bases and very light, sponge-like fruity bases.  My favourite are tender chocolatey bases which are complemented perfectly by creamy swirls of frosting.  My friend S loves Asian chiffon cakes and as such loves the light, fluffy texture of the fruity/vanilla bases.

A cupcake and a coffee is a pretty unreal $5.  They're open from 7am if you need your coffee hit on the way to Tottenham station.  The only hard thing is resisting a cupcake for breakfast!

Cupcakes by Paolo

28c Ashley Street, West Footscray

Phone:  9689 1983

Hours:  Sun & Mon closed, Tues 7am-4pm, Sat 9am-4pm



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