Celebrated pastry chef Andy Bowden (known online as Andy Bowdy) knows a thing about whipping up impressive sweet and savoury treats. As the pastry chef behind venues like now-closed Hartsyard and his own Saga bakery, and the Ace Hotel Sydney, he’s known for nostalgia-driven dishes that use the best ingredients — like Australian Eggs.
In the spirit of the season of indulgence, we asked Andy about how he’ll be enjoying Easter, and what he’ll be baking.
Do you have any Easter traditions? Or will you be starting any with your new baby?
Up until this year, I’ve been making hot cross buns, which means I’m pretty much non-existent to the outside world for a week, trading the days for all-night hot cross bun kitchen raves to ensure the fiends get their fluffy buns of joy for Easter.Â
With the new addition to the family, I now have an excuse to buy Easter eggs again (chocolate is less of a novelty when you’re a pastry chef).
What are you making and serving (using Australian eggs) this Easter?
This Easter I’ll be whipping up a bit of a dessert play on devilled eggs. I think it’s a fun way to fancy up all the hollow eggs, filling them with tart passionfruit, a hint of fennel seed and some fluffy meringue to mellow the flavours out.
What’s the biggest mistake home bakers make when it comes to using eggs?
Not understanding the role of eggs in a recipe, for instance over-whipping or under-whipping eggs, or knocking too much air out when incorporating dry ingredients which results in too much denseness.
What’s the ultimate Easter egg: chocolate, or the real deal?
It’s a close call, as I love chocolate, but eggs are so versatile, especially when creating sweet treats. My hot cross buns, which I devour too many of, wouldn’t be possible without eggs to enrich the dough – and it wouldn’t be Easter without them!
A classic baking dilemma is ending up with just yolks or just whites; what’s your go-to for using up both?
Leftover yolks go into a custard tart, and leftover whites go into a whiskey sour — which you’ll need while you nervously wait for the tart to set!
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Beyond pad Thai: 5 trending Thai dishes to try
 The rise of the private party
Native ad body.
