Pastry: Day old, soggy, unevenly baked layers 1/10
Presentation: Rough around the edges, burnt top layer, poorly dusted 3/10
Value for money: $3.30- Cheap but poor quality all round - Throwaway job 2/10
Overall score: 2/10
Part A
En route to my favourite banh mi establishment in St Albans on a rainy Sunday morning, I seized the opportunity to stop at Hot Bread and take out one of their 'baked yesterday' slices. The customer service was great, the lady all smiles and honest about the slices being baked the day before - all good. Sadly though, the slice itself just didn't offer anything. The pastry feel apart like a cardboard box left out in the rain. Clear too was the uneven bake of the layers; burnt in areas and blond in others. Propping up the inside was stale and flavourless custard, with crusty edges, a gelatinous bite and lacking any notable vanilla flavour. After two mouthfuls I gave up and my bin at the rest.
Part B
The real purpose of my trip out in the rain was for mine and Mrs B's lunch of a shredded chicken banh mi, ice coffee and my insurance policy. Yes, you see I am a smart man who thinks ahead. I can never leave Fresh Chilli Deli without a custard puff in tow. At $1.50 they are a bargain and I would likely pay twice the price for the quality of the choux pastry and thick eggy custard goodness.
It pays to shop around - maybe this blog should be called Comparethecustard.com.