Shepparton bakery North End Bakehouse has won Australia’s best vanilla slice in the Great Australian Vanilla Slice Triumph.
The competition is held in Merbein, in Victoria’s northwest on the Murray River and bakers from around the state converged on this tiny hamlet to enter.
Baker Matt Aylett shared his win on Facebook at the weekend.
“We now hold the title for 2023 Australia’s Best Vanilla Slice and (are the) winners of The Great Australian Vanilla Slice Triumph!!”
Mr Aylett credited the perfection of his creamy, decadent vanilla slice to 17 years of practice.
“We make sure the custard’s perfect, pastry’s crispy, icing’s shiny, everything,” he said.
Judges said Mr Aylett’s slice made sure the custard was vanilla custard and not a cream custard and had a “strong, crunchy pastry”
The vanilla slice competition began in Ouyen in 1998 after then-premier Jeff Kennett claimed the vanilla slice from that town’s Mallee Bakery was the best he’d ever tasted.
Ouyen held the competition for a number of years before Merbein took it over. It was held in Mildura for three years but has returned to Merbein.
Have you been to the winning Shepparton bakery?
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