Elbio All About Sweets: Amber tests her sweet tooth in the Adelaide City region of South Australia

It's amazing what you find in the back streets of the suburbs. Tucked away in Newton is 'Elbio All About Sweets' - and as the name suggests, it's all about taste.

Apple crumbles, danishes, tarts, meringues, frolita, macaroon, cheesecakes - even lamingtons shaped like pandas - the list goes on and on. And every step is closely supervised by the man himself, Elbio Luis Perez and his partner Alicia De Palma.

One of the things you notice is the lack of heavy machinery - Elbio insists on the personal touch. The Elbio All About Sweets story began when Elbio arrived from Uruguay in 1974 as 23 year old and started up a bakery with a couple of friends.

Elbio Luis Peres: "We bought a van and I was the salesman. I had a business card and I some samples. My selling approach was 'do you like to buy? It's very nice!' When think about it I get horrified but obviously I was younger and I was audacious and that's what happened."

Elbio is always on the lookout for new products - like his signature range of Massini - rich cream between layers of tender sponge cake with a flame caramelized topping.

Elbio Luis Peres: "The secret of the Massini is the topping. The topping takes three hours to cook and obviously it supplies the unique taste of the product."

It's his own creation and after just one taste you can see why it's his signature dish.

Elbio Luis Peres: "Because I have been here for 35 year I have seen the evolution of the consumer and nowadays they are more discerning. They are more knowledgeable, they are more demanding and also they've got a lot more choices. That, in a way creates for the bakers, the pastry cooks a greater challenge and opportunity to create."

Elbio's creations are shipped all over Australia and are even served on The Ghan and Indian Pacific and Qantas - another example of South Australian produce taking on the world.

It's also one of a dozen of food producers on the 'Campbell Food Trail - Flavours of Campbelltown'. Pick up a copy from the Campbelltown Council office on Montacute Road, the library or download one from www.campbelltown.sa.gov.au

You'll find Elbio All About Sweets at 4 Meredith Street in Newton. The shop is open Monday to Friday 9 until 5. If you have any further questions please email info@postcards-sa.com.au

'Flavours of Campbelltown' food trail Campbelltown Council Libraries

Elbio All About Sweets
4 Meredith St
Newton
Mon - Fri 9am-5pm
Ph 8336 1110

Published 29th August 2010