The details
When we say it’s been a long time coming – we mean it. It was back in September 2017 when Bam Bam owners Ursula and Ben Watts (who also founded Paddock Bakery, which is now under the ownership of family member Chloe Watts) first took over the Tweed River-fronting site and announced that the Bam Bam family had another bun in the oven. We all waited, very patiently, as rather significant works were done on the site, including cutting power to the whole of Chinderah for an entire day so electricity upgrades could be done on the site to make way for Cubby’s oven and baking equipment, which was all imported from France. The duo also spent time abroad in the name of research, eating their way through the best Parisian bakeries and patisseries, while Ben trained under the watchful eye of a master baker in France, all to ensure that Cubby’s hero – the humble French baguette – would be absolutely perfect.
The food
Just like Bam Bam has the croissant and Paddock has its sourdough, Cubby has the baguette. The long, thin French-style loaves, which are crafted and baked constantly throughout the day to guarantee freshness, feature across much of Cubby’s all-day menu. There’s the Baggie Benny with streaky bacon and hollandaise, the Avocado Baggie atop a seeded baguette with watercress, puffed pepitas and a respectable splash of Joseph’s olive oil, as well as the Sweet Sweet Baggie Bits – French-toast baguette pieces that are dipped in vanilla custard before being rolled in cinnamon sugar. In the cabinet you’ll find a series of grab-and-go baguette sandwiches in simple combinations like salami, cultured butter and cornichons. Or, just get a baguette on its own and choose from a selection of packaged cured meats, French butter and cheeses to take away with it. Cubby is also rolling out traditional bahn mi – the popular French-influenced Vietnamese sandwich. The authentic pork banh mi is loaded up with pork belly, char sui and all of the trimmings, plus there’s a karaage chicken version with a lick of Kewpie and house-made teriyaki, and even a bacon and two-egg banh mi with provolone cheese and barbecue and chipotle sauces. If you don’t do bread, go for the classic tuna nicoise salad with a candied-garlic dressing, or the punchy Thai green salad. As for the sweeter bites, you’ll find a rotating display of tarts, fresh muffins, eclairs, meringues and more – though you’ll certainly want a moment alone with Cubby’s signature indulgence – the flaky mille-feuille, aka a life-changing vanilla slice.
The space
Back in the day (as in way back, around 100 years ago), the Cubby site was actually a bakery. While it’s had a lot of occupants since then (more recently a burger joint and newsagent), Ursula and Ben were respectful in their transformation, ensuring the premises would retain the heart and soul of its bakery days, while also giving a nod to the laid-back town of Chinderah. The original exposed timber beams remain, along with storied pieces like pendant lights made from old crab pots and a living-plant display made from an authentic wooden baker’s trolley. The terracotta-tiled counter houses a swish coffee set up, pouring Single O for the milk-coffee sippers and Marvell Street for the black brews, which leads into Cubby’s eye-catching open-plan baking space dotted with baskets full of baguettes ready for the taking.
Cubby is officially open. Head to our Stumble Guide for opening hours and location.
