Three of Gelato Messina’s top chefs are taking their side hustle and making it official. Shadow Baking is due to open in Darlinghurst before the end of the year and we can tell you right now, it’ll be worth the queues.

As if it hadn’t been a big enough year for the gelato label, Shadow Baking will be the buttery, flaky jewel in the crown thanks to the expertise of Messina chefs Tom Mitchell, Remi Talbot, and Florian Fritsch. The trio kicked off this pastry dream back in 2022 when they started working on baked goods to serve at The Cannery’s monthly markets, now off the back of the huge success the three have found permanent digs in Darlinghurst.

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Details of the bakery are thin at time of writing but we’re expecting Shadow Baking will open as the new next door neighbour of the original Gelato Messina site on Victoria Street sometime before the year is out. 

Mandarin croissants, mushroom pastries, kouign-amann custard gelato sandwiches, and macadamia praline danishes, Reuben croissant sandwiches, and coconut and pandan brioche are just some of the highlights that the trio has fired out at their market stalls and we’re seriously hopeful that we’ll see those beauties again.

Shadow Baking is set to open in Darlinghurst in late 2023. For updates, keep an eye on to the bakery’s Instagram.

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