Blog Archives - VANILLA SLICE (SNOT) BLOG

VANILLA SLICE (SNOT) BLOG

Aviv Bakery - Elsternwick, VIC

3/29/2015

Rating: 9.25/10
In one word: Heavenly

Aviv has been on my bucket list from the beginning so it was exciting to finally tick it off. I arrived at 2pm to a closed sign but the lovely lady let me sneak in when I said I just wanted a take away vanilla slice...Phew! Amazing is the only word to describe this slice, why it's not top of the pile is simply down to the dusted icing sugar rather than a more complex fondant or glaze. Possibly the nicest custard I've sampled, velvety in texture, creamy, sweet but full of egg and rich in colour. The pastry again was faultless; thick, golden, buttery, flaky and baked to absolute perfection. Size, quality and value for money are all 10/10, just in need of a more sophisticated topping to be the best of the best.

Bossy Boots Cafe - Brighton, VIC

3/28/2015

Rating: 8/10
In one word: Tiny

Claiming to have the "Best vanilla slice in Melbourne" on Twitter, I had to see for myself. With a French pastry chef in their ranks, I admit the pastry was heavenly; Golden, buttery, flaky and a real treat to pick out of your teeth afterwards! The custard boasting a beautiful yellow eggy colour and vanilla seeds running through. The fondant icing sticky to the touch and soft enough to lick off your fingers. Then comes the sneaky layer of homemade jam that gives it another dimension. I could not fault the style, flavours and textures whatsoever, but the size and cost really let this one down. I know they say that good things come in small packages, but at $5.20 that is not always the case.

Rosenhart Cake Shop - Ballarat, VIC

3/28/2015

Rating: 6/10

Visiting parent from the UK = Daytrip to Ballarat = Vanilla slice as a present.
Apparently this place used to be very good, but judging on the vanilla slice I wasn't so sure. As lovely as the present was, I couldn't falsify the result and judgement. The whole thing was just way too sweet. The icing was like eating pure sugar on a spoon. The custard; sweetened and creamy but not much in the way of flavour. The best part was the crispy pastry which cut and crumbled nicely upon eating.

West Street Cafe & Bakery - Hadfield, VIC

3/28/2015

Rating: 7/10
In one word: Crisp

Last day at work gift, well received! Although not fresh on the day I was pleasently surprised at how crisp the pastry still was, no hint of sogginess here. The intense flavour of vanilla really came through the custard and the thin layer of fondant icing was absolutely delicious and an excellent addition to the slice. Only let down was the texture of the custard, although very tasty its slightly 'set' consistency was notable.

Tea Drop Cafe - South Melbourne, VIC

3/26/2015

Rating: 8.5/10
In one word: Sustainable

My favourite vanilla slice in a while and an unexpected find in the South Melbourne Market. Creamy and beautifully textured custard held between two crisp layers of golden pastry and topped off with a generous dusting of icing sugar. This really was a pleasure to eat from start to finish with their sustainable wooden fork. The aftertaste of salty pastry after the initial hit of sweetness was a lasting memory. Although not baked in house, they have a great choice of supplier.

Jolly Miller - Sunbury, VIC

3/26/2015

Rating: 7/10
In one word: Soggy

Jolly Miller in Gisbourne has been on my bucket list for a little while, so when there was an opportunity to try a vanilla slice from the Melton Cafe I was game. The positives were the size, proportions and the sweet, eggy custard. It proved near impossible to cut due to the inadequate pastry. Soggy! Icing was quite a nice texture and not overwhelmingly sweet. Technically off the bucket list but not as good as I'd hoped.

Strudels Cafe - Niddrie, VIC

3/23/2015

Rating: 7.5/10
In one word: Coconutty?

Thank you on the take away box was a delightful way to begin my Strudels experience. The item in question was a very nicely presented, proportioned and fresh specimen. Great buttery pastry that cut with a knife and fork, plus a healthy dusting of icing sugar to give it the sweetness against the creamy filling. The custard itself, rather cream whipped and fragrenced with what tasted like coconut rather than vanilla made this one quite different in its approach. Very tasty, perhaps not coconut, but thank you none the less.

Condelishious Cafe - Moonee Ponds, VIC

3/16/2015

Rating: 5/10
In one word: Bitter

Although blown away by the shear size and weight of this vanilla slice, the taste and textures just weren't there. The custard at first seemed the perfect texture, smooth and creamy and slightly eggy. However the after taste became bitter and overpowering in truth. The bottom layer of pastry was a non-event from the start, soggy and flavourless. The top layer of pastry was more crumbly but the bake was underdone, therefore lacking crispness and the golden taste needed. A very thin dusting of icing sugar was the final insult, a near naked slice that lacked sufficient sweetness, plus that bitter after taste.

High Street Bakery - Kyneton, VIC

3/11/2015

Rating: 8/10
In one word: Dense

The Modern Day Bakery in Daylesford has been on my radar for quite some time, so the affiliated bakery in Kyneton was a decent result for the long weekend. I chose the dusted icing sugar over a thick and messy looking pink icing. The winner of this slice is the size, density and egginess of the fresh custard. This is proper custard, not creme patissiere or the lightly whipped vanilla cream found in other slices. Although not packed with a massive punch of vanilla I fully appreciated the custard. The pastry was buttery and had a good taste, though slightly soggy in places, but not bad overall.

Moonlight Cafe - Broadmeadows Shopping Centre, VIC

3/4/2015

Rating: 7/10
In one word: Tempting

After three slices at the weekend I deserved a break...yeah right! Couldn't resist, this coffee shop don't normally sell vanilla slices. They obviously don't bake them on site but the supplier aren't doing a bad job. The pastry was nicely golden and crisp to the cut. The fondant icing thin, sweet and slightly sticky. The filling, a very fresh creamy texture with a hint of vanilla. Not custard, cream; similar to La Manna. Not a bad effort, much better than the "award winning" bakeries in the Grampians.

Stony Creek Bakery - Halls Gap, VIC

3/2/2015

Rating: 3/10
In one word: Nineties

To the third and final bakery of my hat-trick weekend in the Grampians and in more ways than one a "Blast from the past". Clearly a lot has changed since 1998 and the inaugural winners of the competition are selling a very below average 'snot block'. Poor textures of rubbery and flavourless custard, soft pastry and average at best icing left me feeling rather saddened by the whole experience. So much beauty in the Grampians, but none in this "over the hill" slice.

Ararat Bakery - Ararat, VIC

3/1/2015

Rating: 4/10
In one word: Anemic

Second bakery of the hat-trick weekend, bought as a take away and dissected in my Grampians cottage later that night. These guys came 3rd in the 2013 challenge, I honestly don't understand how. As always I sampled first then ate for pleasure, except there wasn't much of the latter; in fact, picture 2 shows what I threw away in displeasure. Icing WAY too thick and solid (impossible to cut at all), the pastry anemic, soggy and likewise impossible to cut. The custard was the only element that I finished, with its rather custard powder taste the texture was OK at best. I think that I should enter the challenge and see if I can come 3rd!

Waack's Bakery - Ararat, VIC

3/1/2015

Rating: 8.5/10
In one word: Grainy

The first bakery of my hat-trick weekend in the Grampians and the 2008 winners of the Vanilla Slice Triumph. I was initially served a broken and sad looking slice from the young waitress but then her colleague replaced it when she saw how bad it looked, which in turn made me much happier!...Phew!
Pastry was impossible to cut with the plastic knife which was a good sign and the custard smooth enough to sample with the plastic fork.
Gorgeously baked pastry was firm and flaky, the icing sweet, sticky and easy to break through and the custard an eggy creamy "vanillary" flavour. One point to ponder; a slight grainy texture of the custard. Maybe frozen or was it the thickening agent? Overall, very nice indeed.