Where delicateness is concerned the French might be pastry maestros, but if you’re looking for honest-to-goodness indulgence then, well, that title belongs firmly to the Italians.

Case in point? A tiny Italian pasticceria hidden down a Military Road laneway. Cucciolo Pasticceria is the brainchild of Alexandra Rispoli, former pastry chef of Guilliame at Bennelong and Buon Ricordo. Taking this five-star experience, she’s now putting it to use in a quaint, cosy, home-style pasticceria all of her own.

Cucciolo’s recipe is easier to swallow than a mouthful of Sicilian cannoli — real food and a welcoming vibe. The interior transports you back to the Italy of yesteryear, and Alexandra’s pastry skills spread far beyond the frail barriers of pie-crust. The cannoli is indeed her most popular treat, though both the ricotta and mascarpone tarts are equally worth a trip over the bridge for.

With a grandfather who himself was a pioneer of Italian sweets, you might say Alexandra’s fate was written in the stars. We’re happy to concede that, like whirlwind romance and leopard print, there are some things Italians just do better.

Cucciolo
The Little Laneway, Shop 4, 190 Military Road, Neutral Bay
T: 0450 256 438
Monday 7am – 3pm, Tues – Fri 7am – 4pm, Saturday 8am – 2pm