Regular readers of Yummy Lummy know of my deep seated love of vanilla slice. Last year I took a driving holiday to Geelong and back and much of that trip focussed on my favourite pastry.
Last week twenty Canberra Food Bloggers took a trip to Fyshwick (better known for Australia’s pornography industry, brothels and sex shops) to visit Owen at Dream Cuisine and enjoy his pastries. At the time Owen mentioned that his vanilla slice isn’t a constant feature because they are a little labour intensive and he needs a full complement of staff if he’s going to make them available. He did hint though he may have some ready for this week.
While I was at work yesterday (Friday) I thought I’d give Dream Cuisine a call to see if I should plan a Saturday breakfast in Fyshwick. Owen answered the telephone and said he would get his chefs to prepare some for Saturday. I was stoked.
So this morning I head out to try Owen’s Dream Cuisine vanilla slice. Would it be good? Would it compare with my favourites? Who knows, either way, I knew that the Myrtleford Butter Owen uses and his amazing custard would make me happy. I was pretty confident I’d like Owen’s version because he mentioned caramelised pastry. In my mind that would at least put it into the Gumnut Patisserie league.
So when I arrived there they were in the display case. Four slices of happiness with “Dream” written in icing sugar on the top piece of pastry.
I asked for a flat white coffee and a single slice.
When I checked in using the swarm app I become Mayor of Dream Cuisine 
I always like to see Bundaberg sugar at a cafe or restaurant. In my mind it’s the best sugar in Australia and helps me think of my maternal grandparents.
So what did I think of Owen’s Dream Cuisine vanilla slice? As I mentioned on Instagram, it was sensationally dreamy. This is a show piece vanilla slice. There’s no way a Victorian could call this a snot block and if a Victorian did call it a snot block and I was Owen I’d be insulted. Does it meet my expectations for a good vanilla slice? Yes and no. Yes, this is delicious. The caramelised pastry was crisp and sweet and full bodied in flavour. The custard was delicate. It was sweet but not too sweet and it had the right amount of vanilla. All together it was fabulous. But no it’s not my perfect vanilla slice because this is a fancy pastry that tastes really good. For me, my perfect vanilla slice has all this flavour but it also has the right texture and consistency. I want that caramelised pastry to be firm but not soggy and not crisp. I want to be able to bite through it without it fracturing, it needs to break apart. A fork needs to be able to do the same thing. In my perfect vanilla slice the custard won’t squeeze out when pressure is applied to the top and bottom pastry layers either by my teeth or a fork.
I’d highly recommend Dream Cuisine’s vanilla slice to pastry lovers. If you live in Canberra, there’s no excuse, you need to visit Dream Cuisine. It’s not only in Fyshwick. If you’re visiting Canberra, put some time in your diary to make a visit, stay for a coffee and enjoy a treat. The service is great. It’s friendly and you’re served with a smile. They also have good quality containers for takeaway too.
I bought my afternoon tea while I was there.
The lavender and salted caramel macarons are to die for.
Fellow Canberra Food Blogger Tales of a Confectionist also reviewed the vanilla slice
Righto, that does it. I will have to visit Dream Cuisine and stop living vicariously through your wonderfully delicious photos. I think I would disassemble that vanilla slice and lick off all the custard, then eat the pastry layers like biscuits. Uncooth sounding? meh, I’m old enough to do what I like. Thanks for the post Gary.
It’s sort of what I did too Kirsty. I removed the top layer of pastry and enjoyed the crispness and stuck on custard.
That said, there is nothing like a old fashioned vanilla slice that you can hold in your hand and bite through with no squishing. Nothing uncooth about the way you’d eat it Kirsty. My difficulty was doing it in the restaurant with others looking at me after I’d drawn attention to myself by pulling out a big arsed camera 😆
Interesting to read that your grandparents owned a sugar cane farm, Gary.
They owned three all up and there is a street (Que Hee) named after them in Bundaberg.
It sounds delicious. This reminds me more of a French mille feuille than a classic Australian vanilla slice. Both great in their own right but different.
True Lorraine on both counts. Caramelised pastry and vanilla custardy happiness.
Thankyou Gary, I had never heard of Dream Cuisine, so shall make a concerted effort to go there. The slice looks so delicious.
You won’t be disappointed. The layered pastries are really very good and I like the macarons there too. I’ve only tried the sausage rolls but their little savoury tarts looks very nice.
Sounds divine Gary. I’ll put it on my list of places to try when I move back to Canberra in January!
It’s worth a visit Alex 😃