Barista V2, Palmerston North

Barista, Won't buy again. Made on site. 7/10. $4.

This was nice and fresh and had an almost fudge icing - though not at all crystalized.  While I've had a few Caramel Slices from Barista, this was the first of their Macadamia ones, with a taste of this throughout. 


It had a good decent caramel filling and a decent base, but to be honest the macadamia taste was wasted on me - though I could tell that if you were a macadamia fan you'd enjoy this. 

Revive, Petone

Revive, Petone.  Wouldn't buy again. Made on site. 7/10. $4.

This was delicious except for the chocolate. Milk chocolate does not belong on caramel slice, even if it is really good exotic milk chocolate.

This cut beautifully - nice and fresh, great caramel and a nice base.

I wouldn't buy it based purely on the milk chocolate, but if this doesn't bother you, certainly worth stopping by.

Thanks Anna P for bringing this into work to share!

Hideaway Cafe

Hideaway Cafe, Wellington.  Would buy again. Forgot to ask if made on site.   7/10  $3.80

So quite the caramel slice eating hiatus.

Hopefully that hasn't dulled my tasting senses.  This tasted much better than it looked.  I expected it to be mass produced blurrgh, but it was quite edible, tasty even.

Good caramel and not too much chocolate.  Nice chewy base, despite no coconut - or very little anyway.  Suspect it was relatively fresh.  Would buy again, but wouldn't take to a person's house.  Perfect for mid afternoon munchies, even better the the cafe is downstairs from work.

My work buddy Julia rated it a 7-8, but I reckon a 7/10.

RECIPE: Donna Hay, made by Wendo!

RECIPE: Donna Hay, made by Wendo - cost per batch: $?  7/10

I have been somewhat remiss in this posting given it was made last weekend.  I have been in two minds on posting reviews of recipes, esp. when buddies have made a batch - I have been apprehensive that my affection for my friend may soften any review - esp. those who have "the best recipe ever"! (Not the claim in this instance.)

However, this seems somewhat of a dis-service.  So... I am going to have a crack at it, noting these are reviews of the recipe, not of my friends per se, or their personal caramel slice taste.

Right, that said, I did quite like this recipe - I must admit I wasn't convinced at first, though I think this was due to the plate of cheese, stunning pinot and large dish of cannelloni I'd eaten (nothing much tastes brilliant after that).  But it was quite good.  I would stick this recipe in the 'svelte/sleek' category.  It has a nice base - though no coconut (I understand Donna Hay has two recipes, one using ground alonds, and one using coconut).   Good, good caramel.  The only area that I think could be improved would be the chocolate, trusty cooking chocolate was used, and perhaps we could have tried a block of Whittakers dark Ghana...

Overall pretty good.  I completely forgot to take a picture of this slice. I gutsed it all first - well, me, family and work buddies as there was A LOT of it.  Though there is a pic with the recipe:
http://www.donnahay.com.au/recipes/322-chocolate-caramel-slice/

Coffee on the Square, Karori Road

Would certainly buy again. $4.20  7/10  Made on site.

This was pretty good - I had high expectations as I'd had this before and vaguely remembered enjoying it, though given the cafe had changed hands I wasn't super sure.  This had a really good chewy coconutty base though slightly dry.  The caramel was good and really flavoursome, but not overly sweet.  And it smelt good...

I'm thinking caramel slices tend to come in two categories - delicate and svelte, or chunky/scruffy.  This was definitely on the chunky scruffy side.

The topping was a sniff crystallised/sugary - perhaps a day or two old?  Though $4.20, it was big enough to share.