Mansfield is big enough for there to be several streets with shops, and the high street has shops opening up in little alleys, the bad part of that is if you're are driving through, it can be tough to see everything at first glance.
The good part is that i'm always on the look-out for bakeries, my brother once gave me a sausage-roll intervention after a touring trip of Vic was more a one-sausage-roll-from-every-bakery-we-see-jaunt. The bad part is that even though I clearly spotted High Country Bakehouse the very first time i passed it, it took two more times before i eventually landed.
The bad part was the onslaught bakeries, every town seemed to have several 'bakehouses', and in this part of the state; everything was 'high country'. The good part is that this place sits amongst local business on a busy road, if it's not good, it wouldn't have survived.
The bad part was that when I finally arrived at the bakery, I was on my way out of town, my only visit would be my last visit - the pressure was on. The good part was a long hike in the morning meant I was hungry and deserving; one cookies and cream doughnut please - I hoed into this thing like a fat kid on a smartie and for all the clambering my hike up a mountain earlier the day included, I could not finish it, the dogs helped me out.
The bad part was that my plans for seeing friends the next day were cancelled. The good part is that the rhubarb and apple teacake I bought along with the doughnut (both for just over a tenner, WTF) was now free for my own and complete consumption / destruction.
The good part was that I was confident, I (nearly) finished their delicious doughnut, surely a measly teacake wasn't going to pose a problem for me over the three days I have on break alone.
It's now the afternoon of the third day, and I have only just managed to finish the scrumptious, otherworldly, soft and creamy, crunchy and spongy, moist little 'teacake'.
Did I tell you how friendly the staff were, as soon as I arrived - one lady behind the counter completely ignored me to go give my dogs water. Just as well there were others to take my order, and they need be in numbers, because this is a bakery - there is a large operation of wholesale proportions behind the glittering case of goodies on offer at the front.
Of all the places I've seen, and most rightly ignored, this is currently the only one deserving of its name. And currently the very best bakery I have ever been to....
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