Hospitality New Zealand’s national operations manager, Tracy Scott, aka, founder of the Custard Square Club.
Preliminary results are in as the search for the country’s Best Custard Square gains momentum, and vanilla icing was judged tops by purist Custard Square fans, according to Tracy Scott.
On a personal mission to find the best Custard Square in the country, Scott says, “My gut instinct was spot on – the majority of us appreciate the Kiwi Custard Square with a passion. We’ve had a brilliant response to the search and as a result, the Choicest Kiwi Custard Square Map is taking shape.”
With so many styles of Custard Squares on offer Scott devised three categories to judge the pastry delights: Purist, which features the traditional vanilla icing; Contemporary, identified by chocolate icing; and Expressionist, which is anything outside the square.
“Seventy two people responded and of those, 62 are purists and all for vanilla icing; four preferred chocolate icing; and six love Custard Squares so much they’ll take them as they come. The result: 12 to 1 in favour of vanilla icing.
Kicking off the Choicest Custard Square Map, Scott reveals some top offerings, either taste-tested by the club founder or other Custard Square crusaders. So, if you have a favourite Custard Square and think its creator deserves attention, email Tracy and they might just make the list, tracy.scott@hospitalitynz.org.nz
MUST TRYS
Gingerbirds – Mt Eden Auckland (Purist)
Eves Pantry – Botany Auckland (Purist)
Airport Café – Tauranga (Purist)
The Federal Store – New Plymouth (Purist)
Le Café Telephonique – Taihape (Purist with a hint of Expressionist with the addition of rose petals)
Brown Butter Kitchen – Ohau, Levin (Expressionist)
Bakery Stop – Silverstream Upper Hutt (Purist)
Nada Bakery – Tawa & Johnsonville Wellington (Contemporary)
Cosy Cake Shop – Manners St Wellington (Purist)
Zinnabunz Bakery – Timaru (Purist)
Postmasters Bakery – Riverton (Purist)
