FAO Scottish Clarets (who frequent bakeries)

[jdrobbo]

Hi all,

I have a problem…

I’ve just returned home from a lovely four or five days in Dumfries and Galloway. Yesterday, I frequented a little bakery that the wife and I found.

I love a vanilla slice (my favourite) and on entry, my eyes were drawn to a vanilla slice that literally took me back to my childhood…crisp pastry, thick icing and lots and lots of filling…I just had to get one…they just don’t seem to make them like they used to around these parts, nor in Colne where I’d have gone as a child/teenager.

Anyway, getting to my point…

I asked the lovely Scottish ladies if I could have one of the vanilla slices, to which I was told ‘I’ll just go and see if we’ve got some in the back…”

I then questioned what was wrong with the three remaining ones behind the glass counter, to which I received the response, in a wonderful local accent (think David Tennant) ‘they’re not vanilla, they’re custard!’

Well this set my mind racing, but I duly went for said ‘custard’ slice only to find that it was just like I had as child. Still, this left me confused…

So today, on the way home, we decided to frequent the bakery again. Same setup, same ladies, but this time, I stayed in the car… exactly the same response…that they’d have to get some from out the back.

Sooooo

Are my favourite pastries in fact, custard slices rather than vanilla slices?

If so, what are vanilla slices?

Or are the ladies behind the counter on an enormous wind-up?

Photo for proof…

IMG_8843.jpeg (654.8 KiB) Viewed 2286 times

Ps. I’m sure Rowls will approve of such a culinary predicament!

Pps…before anyone makes a gripe about diet, heart attacks, diabetes etc, I run about 30-50km a week so I allow myself the occasional holiday treat

[Bosscat]

Hi all,

I have a problem…

I’ve just returned home from a lovely four or five days in Dumfries and Galloway. Yesterday, I frequented a little bakery that the wife and I found.

I love a vanilla slice (my favourite) and on entry, my eyes were drawn to a vanilla slice that literally took me back to my childhood…crisp pastry, thick icing and lots and lots of filling…I just had to get one…they just don’t seem to make them like they used to around these parts, nor in Colne where I’d have gone as a child/teenager.

Anyway, getting to my point…

I asked the lovely Scottish ladies if I could have one of the vanilla slices, to which I was told ‘I’ll just go and see if we’ve got some in the back…”

I then questioned what was wrong with the three remaining ones behind the glass counter, to which I received the response, in a wonderful local accent (think David Tennant) ‘they’re not vanilla, they’re custard!’

Well this set my mind racing, but I duly went for said ‘custard’ slice only to find that it was just like I had as child. Still, this left me confused…

So today, on the way home, we decided to frequent the bakery again. Same setup, same ladies, but this time, I stayed in the car… exactly the same response…that they’d have to get some from out the back.

Sooooo

Are my favourite pastries in fact, custard slices rather than vanilla slices?

If so, what are vanilla slices?

Or are the ladies behind the counter on an enormous wind-up?

Photo for proof…

IMG_8843.jpeg



Ps. I’m sure Rowls will approve of such a culinary predicament!

Pps…before anyone makes a gripe about diet, heart attacks, diabetes etc, I run about 30-50km a week so I allow myself the occasional holiday treat

Screenshot_20230803_204026_Chrome.jpg (188.55 KiB) Viewed 2249 times

[jdrobbo]

So I was being tricked?

And my wife, too?

[Father Jack]

Another big question - was it four or five days away?

[dandeclaret]

Completely random question.... what kids TV programme was Captain Greybeard from?

[jdrobbo]

Five days, four nights…go figure…

[Woodleyclaret]

Oddies make the best vanilla slices they even give you a card box to transport back to the South( in our case) in

[Bosscat]

Five days, four nights…go figure…

So it was 3 days in Dumfies and Galloway, 4 nights accomodation and 2 days travelling ... no wonder you needed a custard/vanilla slice or two

[Guller Bull]

JD Robbo - where did you get to?

We have lived in D&G for 20+ years.

[jdrobbo]

So it was 3 days in Dumfies and Galloway, 4 nights accomodation and 2 days travelling ... no wonder you needed a custard/vanilla slice or two

Now, now… it’s late, you’re tired, it’s past your bedtime and you’re starting to show off (a common saying used by my mother from 1990-2000 approx)

[jdrobbo]

JD Robbo - where did you get to?

We have lived in D&G for 20+ years.

If I tell you, will you reveal the answer to my vanilla slice quandary?

Only kidding, we’ve stayed in Balcary Bay for the last two summers but also stayed in Ross as well. Already booked to go back next year. Love it there.

The bakery was in Dalbeattie

[Bosscat]

Now, now… it’s late, you’re tired, it’s past your bedtime and you’re starting to show off (a common saying used by my mother from 1990-2000 approx)

and mine but 30 years earlier circa 1963 to 73

[jdrobbo]

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[jdrobbo]

and mine but 30 years earlier circa 1963 to 73

Hahaha

[Bosscat]

IMG_8845.jpegIMG_8844.jpegIMG_8846.jpegIMG_8847.jpeg

I am not keen on Custard/Vanilla slices but for views like that I would eat quite a few ... what a beautiful place John ... can see why you go back

[Guller Bull]

Know it well jd- we live just down the road at Carsethorn.

We stock a butcher in Dalbeattie called Carsons with our puddings as well as Colvend shop.

We often go swimming at Red Haven Beach (opposite Balcary)

[jdrobbo]

Know it well jd- we live just down the road at Carsethorn.

We stock a butcher in Dalbeattie called Carsons with our puddings as well as Colvend shop.

We often go swimming at Red Haven Beach (opposite Balcary)

It’s a beautiful place…a hidden gem…even when the weather is crap

[Eloise Laws]

Back in the day (when I was at school) BSK bakers made the best kind of Vanilla Slice, full of lovely smooth creamy custard….Oddies make a good one, but the filling is different, more of a ‘set’ custard

[DCWat]

I’m going to ask a silly question… Did you not consider getting one from the back and comparing the two? Running all those kilometres, you could easily have had both

I’m intrigued as to the difference - to make custard, you flavour it with vanilla so surely a vanilla slice would be just the same as a custard slice.

Perhaps you need to book again for half term to find out the answer sooner!

[Guller Bull]

And it has been for the last 4 or 5 weeks!

Sat out in the sun earlier this evening in the garden for the first time in weeeks. Been the same everywhere

Would never leave D&G now, it’s just perfect and home.

[Tricky Trevor]

Scottish bakers.
Customer, after looking in the window, “excuse me,is that a macaroon or a merengue”.
Baker, “no, you are correct it’s a macaroon”.

You can’t beat the oldies.

[jdrobbo]

Know it well jd- we live just down the road at Carsethorn.

We stock a butcher in Dalbeattie called Carsons with our puddings as well as Colvend shop.

We often go swimming at Red Haven Beach (opposite Balcary)

I’ll be sure to try Carsons next year. I’ll look Red Haven up too. We discovered Dalbeattie Forest this year…perfect for our cocker!

[Guller Bull]

I’ll be sure to try Carsons next year. I’ll look Red Haven up too. We discovered Dalbeattie Forest this year…perfect for our cocker!

Give me a shout next time you are up jd and I’ll give you some off grid spectacular pointers.

[chekhov]

So today, on the way home, we decided to frequent the bakery again.

Surely, jdrobbo, a frequented bakery is one you visit multiple times not just on one or two occasions?
Otherwise it was an excellent and interesting post about one of my favourite confectioneries.

[welsbyswife]

We just had a week or so in the Galloway Forest Park, near a tiny place called Glentrool. Beautiful part of the world. Had a day out to the southern tip of Scotland on the Mull of Galloway. Tremendous view across to the Lakes, IoM and Norn Iron.

[jdrobbo]

Surely, jdrobbo, a frequented bakery is one you visit multiple times not just on one or two occasions?
Otherwise it was an excellent and interesting post about one of my favourite confectioneries.

You could well be right!

I’m still none the wiser about what those Scottish ladies would’ve brought out for me!!

[RammyClaret61]

Scottish… who frequent bakeries! Come on JD, narrow it down even a little!!

[fatboy47]

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These appeal to me.

[Bosscat]

Screenshot_20230801_115831_com.android.chrome_edit_430595294134816.jpg


These appeal to me.

Didn't Johnny Craddock close the show where his wife Fanny Craddock had been making Doughnuts with the immortal line " Thank you for watching and I hope your doughnuts turn out like Fanny's"

[Guller Bull]

Right Jd, I need the name of the bakery or at least whereabouts in Dalbeattie it was!

Within the next week I shall go into said establishment and get them to explain themselves. Can’t have them picking on the easily confused and thinking they can get away with it.

[Quickenthetempo]

I'm a little disappointed in this thread. I thought it was going to be about some sort of pie you had tried up there.
A haggis or white pudding variant.

As for the Vanilla Custard debate. Maybe they don't have Custard tarts up there? And we call them Vanilla slices not to confuse with a Custard Tart?

[jdrobbo]

Good point!!

[jdrobbo]

Right Jd, I need the name of the bakery or at least whereabouts in Dalbeattie it was!

Within the next week I shall go into said establishment and get them to explain themselves. Can’t have them picking on the easily confused and thinking they can get away with it.

Marchbank Bakers, High Street

[ŽižkovClaret]

Surely you should have got one from the counter, and one from out the back. For science!

[jdrobbo]

Surely you should have got one from the counter, and one from out the back. For science!

Indeed. Regrets, I’ve had a few, but then again, too few to mention…

[Guller Bull]

Marchbank Bakers, High Street

On it Boss! Will report back in due course!

Surely that tart Custard would know the answer to this conundrum?

[ŽižkovClaret]

I have similar pinings for a stewed rhubarb topped pork pie i had from Booths once and never saw again. It was bloody gorgeous

[jdrobbo]

On it Boss! Will report back in due course!

Surely that tart Custard would know the answer to this conundrum?

The wife recommends the toffee yumyums

[dougcollins]

My dad was a baker, and made these. He called them ‘Custard Slices’ - but the custard contained vanilla, so I would suggest either name is acceptable and appropriate.

[jdrobbo]

My dad was a baker, and made these. He called them ‘Custard Slices’ - but the custard contained vanilla, so I would suggest either name is acceptable and appropriate.

I would agree but those ladies definitely had them down as very different pastries!!

[jdrobbo]

Oh now we have a problem,

Visiting the parents in Trawden and they bought me a ‘Bavarian Slice’ from Wildes Bakery in Colne. Delicious but with the exception of a very thin layer of jam, it was a vanilla slice…or do I mean custard?

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[IanMcL]

Neither is for me, however, intrigued by the thread, this is what I have found.

Is A Custard Slice The Same As A Vanilla Slice?

A custard slice is a dessert that consists of a layer of custard between two layers of puff pastry, often with a fruit filling.

A vanilla slice is a dessert that consists of a layer of vanilla custard or vanilla pudding between two layers of puff pastry, often with a fruit filling.

[Tricky Trevor]

I’ve followed this thread from the start and have no idea why. I hate cold custard, hot on a dessert love it.

[jdrobbo]

[jdrobbo]

Neither is for me, however, intrigued by the thread, this is what I have found.

Is A Custard Slice The Same As A Vanilla Slice?

A custard slice is a dessert that consists of a layer of custard between two layers of puff pastry, often with a fruit filling.

A vanilla slice is a dessert that consists of a layer of vanilla custard or vanilla pudding between two layers of puff pastry, often with a fruit filling.

They sound veeeerrrrrryyyy similar to me

[IanMcL]

They sound veeeerrrrrryyyy similar to me

Looks like it depends on your penchant for vanilla!

They may have been so sophisticated in the bun shop, that they were aware of the difference!

[jdrobbo]

Looks like it depends on your penchant for vanilla!

They may have been so sophisticated in the bun shop, that they were aware of the difference!

Time will tell. Guller Bull is doing his market research for me soon

[IanMcL]

Never has there been so much intrigue!

[ayrshireclaret83]

My local bakers “The Kandy Bar” in Ayrshire has vanilla slices

Pastry, fresh cream a very thin layer of strawberry sauce topped with pink icing

No custard at all

[Guller Bull]

There will be pictorial evidence ( if I can find how to post a picture)
There will be "straight from the bakers mouth!" conclusive evidence.
There will be shameful advertising.
And if I can blag it - tastings!


Might try and get there tomorrow!