La Bella Italia

La Bella Italia, Petone  4/10, $4.50, would not have again - made by on site.

This was a pretty disappointing step back to reviewing my beloved caramel slice. 

We hadn't had a bit for almost a year, and I was expecting a goodie from La Bella Italia. I know it doesn't look much either, but I hoped it might be an ugly duckling.

The caramel was pretty good and gooey - not too much, but the base was dry and crumbly. It tasted rich and laden with cocoa (no coconut..). It was crumbly enough to leave crumbs all over the bed. Which then got mushed into the sheets - points off. 

Actual dark chocolate was also used for the topping, which I'm not entirely opposed to, but in this instance was all a bit much. 

Nice idea on the base and topping, but was a bit rich, esp. after a rich cheesy lunch.

Gasoline, The Terrace

Gasoline, The Terrace  8/10, $4, would have again - made by Arobake.

I have been very remiss in posting this as I actually had it about 3 months ago and it was yum!

I won't hold it against Gasoline that they bring this in from Arobake - it's Arobake's Macadamia Caramel Slice, which has been featured here before.  However, it's good to know it still tastes grand, and can be found closer to home and work!

Of the svelte variety, a good coconutty base, good caramel, not too heavy - very nicely balanced.  Tastes better than it looks. Thank goodness my friend Nuala was there with me to share it or I would have bought another slice to scoff off. 

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. 

Aurora, Mosgiel

Aurora, Mosgiel. Will buy again.  Made on site.  9/10.  $?


This was a fresh, coconutty, oaty treat!  It wasn't too sweet or overwhelming, and not too dry either. Very much in the chunky country category, but as mentioned before this is more my preference than the svelte sort.  This was very good, and although I kept trying to save some to take home and share, it kept getting smaller and smaller until it was too small to share - I just ate the evidence. 


I don't get to Mosgiel much, but will make an effort to go there next time.  Their cheese scones and cheese rolls were pretty good too.  I just with I'd had more time to share fit with my family there!

Gamboni's, Karori

Gamboni's, Karori.  Won't buy again.  Made on site.  4/10.  $3.50.

Ah, I lament this particular slice.  It had all the markings of a tasty treat, including being gluten free.  Completely redundant to me, but I appreciated the effort for my gluten intolerant friends.

The caramel and chocolate was great, but the base tasted like burnt chocolate toast and was equally crunchy.  This may have been a freshness issue, or a lack of gluten, but meant I probably will only buy it again if I have a person with Celiac's in the house.

Ritual, Wanaka

Ritual, Wanaka.  Will not buy again.  Made on site.  3/10. $4.

Again, a bit disappointing for dear Wanaka.  This had a hard thick icing, and I couldn't actually taste the caramel.  The base was also all wrong - maybe it just wasn't fresh..

EIther which way it seemed like a bit of a chef's experiment - which I'm all for, I just wish they'd try them before putting them on the counter. 

Fingers crossed for less a less bleak caramel slice outlook for Christmas.

Gusto, Wanaka

Gusto, Wanaka. Wouldn't buy again.  Made on site.  4/10. $4

This was sampled during a recent trip to Wanaka - I'd have to say Wanaka shouldn't bother with caramel slice.  Only 2 of the 7 cafes I went past actually had something that resembled caramel slice and this tan slice was one of them.

On the rough theme of disappointment, this stuck to my mouth - and my parents (I'm not just being mean, there was intersubjective-verification here, truly scientific!).

Won't bug again, and brings the rest of the this cafe's apparently good food into question.

Sorry Gusto.