During Melbourne’s lockdowns, you might have ordered yourself a cheeky treat from Tarts Anon as a way to cope. Well, now you can visit their brick-and-mortar store, and enjoy their delicious tarts five days a week. So, if ever you’re feeling a bit crusty, and you’d like to find a new zest for life, pop into their Cremorne store and browse through the available slices. If you’d like to keep to the old-school way, you can also pre-order their tarts in advance.
Tarts Anon
Tarts Anon began as the ultimate lockdown side hustle in 2020. Gareth Whitton, Head Pastry Chef at Dinner By Heston Blumenthal, was made redundant and working at Woolies. He began baking tarts at home, and his partner Catherine Way, convinced him to sell them. She created an Instagram account to show off his skills and dropped some flyers around. Word spread, and soon, Tarts Anon developed a cult-following around Melbourne.
Inside the Cremorne store, you’ll find five different flavours to try by the slice, and coffee from Square One. The menu rotates frequently, but some flavours have become regulars, like Chocolate & Caramel, Lemon & Rhubarb, Signature Pear and Smoked Pecan and Maple. The majority of the tarts are flavours that Gareth and Catherine would eat themselves. These are simple and familiar flavours, like the Black Forest Tart, that are executed with technique and precision. Other flavours are Gareth’s takes on tarts that he made when working in high-end restaurants.
The store currently seats about 15 people, both inside and outside. Pop inside, grab a slice and a coffee, and sit down to enjoy your tasty treat. Or, order your tart in advance. Pre-orders open at 6pm on Monday evening, for collection on Wednesday to Sunday that same week. You can purchase tarts in quarter, half and whole sizes. Delivery is not available.
Tarts Anon is currently open Wednesday to Sunday, but they have plans to expand their hours and open seven days a week in the near future.
To keep up-to-date with their different flavours each week, check out their Instagram.