Spongedrop Cakery
10 Salisbury Avenue, Mount Maunganui
Ph: (021) 515 139
Hours: Wednesday to Sunday, from 9am till 5pm.
On the menu: Sweet treats and coffee. The focus here is delicious cupcakes, though there are macarons, raw caramel slice and savoury muffins too. The coffee is Supreme and though I'm a regular visitor and notoriously fussy coffee-drinker, I'm yet to be served a flat white that is anything but excellent. A range of Aroha cold juices and Harney & Sons teas are also available for those not after a caffeine hit with their sugar spike.
The buzz: With a sweet colour palette of soft pastels, the atmosphere at Spongedrop is calm and friendly. There's usually a steady stream of takeaway orders alongside those dining in, who range from teens to retirees, locals to cruise shippers. Its location next to Coronation Park means customers spill out into the sun-drenched courtyard and beyond, borrowing one of the picnic blankets on offer if necessary.
I'll have: I strayed from my favourite salted caramel to try the lemon cheesecake cupcake ($4.50), with my usual soy flat white ($5). While a cupcake and coffee may seem a simple order, brilliance in simplicity can be hard to achieve. The buttercream icing smeared away to reveal a dollop of home-made lemon curd between it and the moist, fluffy cake. The perfect blend of sugary sweet and tangy lemon was satisfying till the last bite. Because we've been regular customers of Spongedrop since it opened late last year, I can also happily vouch for the delightfully tart raspberry, the Heilala vanilla and, as mentioned, the salted caramel, which will always have my heart.
He'll have: The latest addition to Spongedrop's repertoire - after a mere two weeks on the market, the custard square cupcake is sought-after and often sold-out. It's a vanilla sponge, topped with a dollop of custard and a passionfruit buttercream icing, garnished with a teeny triangle of golden puff pastry and a drizzle of passionfruit sauce. I actually had one of these too, knowing that hubby's penchant for custard squares meant he wouldn't even give me a taste! Personally, I'd have preferred a wee bit more custard, but owner Danielle Cubis assures me she can't physically get any more in, otherwise she would. And as predicted, hubby enjoyed it so much he almost snarled at me when I tried to edge in on his as well. Serves me right for being greedy.
Value for money: At first glance, $4.50 for a cupcake may seem a lot. But when you think about the soggy muffins or stale scones you might get for your $4.50 elsewhere, the quality at Spongedrop is worth far more than that. Every element of these tiny cakes of delight is hand-made to perfection. They are light, satisfying and the kind of treat your Instagram feed will go nuts for. All that for $4.50 is a bargain.
To drink: A soy flat white and an Aroha Ginger, Lemon and Honey juice ($4.50). Regular coffees here are $4.50, with soy, rice and almond milk on offer. The Harney & Sons range has something for every palate. The staff: Spongedrop staff are some of the best I've come across, whether it's in the actual cakery or down at the Little Big Markets. Always polite, kind and only too happy to stop and have a chat, or explain each flavour to you in minute detail. Hot drinks are served in a speedy fashion, even when the place is packed. They are the perfect people to give cruise ship visitors a great impression of our city.
The verdict: Danielle Cubis spent years honing her craft for weddings and at the Little Big Markets before opening the cakery, and it shows. Spongedrop Cakery is a perfect example of figuring out what you're really good at and just sticking to that. There's wisdom in keeping it simple and you can't get much simpler than delicious coffee and excellent cake. Its idyllic spot next to the park makes it the perfect place to while away a summer afternoon with your loved one, or get your treats to take away and wander around to Pilot Bay.
This has fast become one of our go-to impress-your-visitors-with-the-awesomeness-of-the-Bay spots and if my hard-to-please in-laws were anything to go by over Christmas, then we're on to a winner.
For anyone with a sweet tooth or a penchant for amazing baked goods, add Spongedrop to your must-do list.