Koi Dessert Bar, Sydney

The delicious Basque Cheesecake

All photos are mine. I haven’t used an filters so that glaze was just as shiny in person.

Any Masterchef Australia fan will tell you that Reynold Poernomo is a legend. His desserts always look inventive, delicious, and technical – the perfect mix for any true Masterchef contender. The show has rather high standards for its contestants – standards that Reynold has always exceeded with humility and creativity. It’s no surprise, then, that Reynold is a fan favourite and he is my all-time favourite Masterchef contestant.

 So, obviously, on a recent trip to Sydney the number 1 thing I wanted to do was to eat at his dessert bar – Koi. Before seeing the Opera House, Harbour Bridge, Benny, and Spice Alley – I had to have dessert at Koi. So I did.

Koi was quite easy to find – located in Chippendale near the FourPoints Hotel and Spice Alley. The décor is modern, clean, and simple. The main attractions – the creative and delicious desserts – are carefully placed in a glass covered counter. I was spoilt for choice and the serving team were a great help. Each dessert has a helpful card, detailing its name and ingredients, and the team behind the counter can give you some more information to help you decide.

From left to right: Basque Cheesecake, Daydream, and Nomtella. Look at the shine on that glaze!

Naturally, I visited Koi more than once. There are so many desserts to try and so little time! I have now tried:

·      Basque cheesecake (there is a berry-covered one and a matcha one)

·      Daydream (part of their Spring collection)

·      Lavendar Cake

·      Nomtella (A Koi original)

I could write an entire article about each but instead I would like to invite you to visit Koi and taste the creativity yourself. Each of the desserts were divine – the flavours in the description all shone out but were beautifully balanced. The Koi team have a knack for mixing delightful flavours that hit different parts of your mouth at just the right time. The desserts, quite literally, burst with flavour but each at different times and oh so subtly.

From the technical brilliance of the glazes on the Daydream, Lavendar Cake, and Nomtella to the lightness of the cheesecake. Each bite is a journey through flavour and perfect consistency. The Daydream has strong floral bursts while the Lavendar Cake mixes the floral with a delicious berry kick. Nomtella, as the name suggests, gives you a delicious chocolately mouthful with hints of espresso and salted caramel. Thinking it tastes like Nutella is a mistake –it’s far, far better.

I love cheesecakes – I love eating them and I love baking them. Thus, it’s no surprise that my favourite dessert is the cheesecake. The raspberry and litchi topping is a light and fruity compliment to a light but substantial filling. I don’t know how they managed to make cheesecake filling substantial enough that you could feel it on your tongue but light enough that it dissolves as soon as it lands there. The flavour was cheesecake but it must be mixed with some kind of magic filling to make it phenomenal. It’s cheesecake like you’ve never had it before… and may never have again unless you return.

The Lavendar Cake

The cheesecakes serves two and it’s a healthy serving for both. All the desserts are fun to eat, as well. I enjoyed popping the litchi balls on the cheesecake and cracking the tempered chocolate on the Daydream and Lavendar Cake. There are also some delicious surprises at the centre of a few of them.

Koi Dessert Bar is absolutely worth a visit…and many more after that. They are open Tuesday to Sunday from 11am to 10pm.