Jack McColl
Herzog
Food in Lit
1 October 2021
My encounters with Caramel Slices: Childhood to Now
The perfect dessert contains multiple layers of flavors and textures. The three different layers in this certain dessert are all applied to create different flavors which will excite your taste buds. A coconut base holds the treat together while at the same time producing a baked dough-like flavor that covers your whole tongue. Then, the caramel, a rich, but sticky center which at the time seems like it would fall apart; yet, it’s golden brown crispy top proves it is baked. To top it off the dark chocolate topping allows for contrast in the dish as it moves from baked layer to a frozen, hard chocolate top. The dessert is very complex and takes hours of a delicate procedure to confirm it comes out in one piece. This complete dessert was about to rock my world.
The first time I had this, it was a hot, disgusting day in Bangalore, India. I reached over the counter and plucked a small piece of this caramel delight off the cutting board. I can’t completely recall who made it; however, it was visually appealing to my eye. It glistened in the table light and I couldn’t resist. Once I grasped the slice, I brought the delicate treat that could crumble with the pressure of my hand to my open mouth. As my teeth broke the three layer dessert up, it began to melt in my mouth. I fell in love with this so-called “caramel slice” and I craved more. As my arm reached over the counter for a second piece, my mother told me off so I could save more for the guests. I listened to what she had to say, I waited until our guests left in order to take the rest.
In order to postpone my craving, my mother refused to make more. It wasn’t for another two years until I had it again. This time, it was even better. I was in a whole different country this time - Spain, in fact. I had just arrived back in my suburb from school. My best friend's house was built alongside ours and our doors had been a few feet apart. I knocked on his door to get him out of the house before walking into mine. We were planning to watch Spongebob in Spanish, while words came from the speakers next to the t.v, I sat there confused, not understanding certain words. However, while we walked past the kitchen counter I noticed something unusual: A clear casing allowed me to peek through to see the with chocolate topping. The bottom half was not visible. As I slowly creeped up to the container, I realized what I had been blessed with. The dessert that I had been craving for years had appeared right in front of me. As I opened the box, it glistened under the table light, the caramel was baked on the top yet clear throughout the sides. I was curious who the person who gifted the caramel slice was, It wasn’t until later that day that I found out it was my mother who made it. She informed me that it was made to celebrate my dad being transferred to the U.S to continue his work. This disappointed me and I felt empty as I did not want to leave the place I called home. It was saddening, but as I was still at a young age, I had no say.
It wasn’t until I was nine years old until I had this delicious treat again; however, the different combinations of flavors and textures excited my taste buds yet again. It was Christmas Eve of 2014 and we had just finished exchanging presents at our family friend’s house in New Fairfield. This time, I was expecting the caramel slice as I watched my mom prepare it the night before in the kitchen as I continued finishing my homework on the counter top, I couldn’t stop grinning. I began to dig into the dessert and finished four within the span of 30 seconds, my temptation was being tested and I gave in. That night, no one could stop me; however, after around ten I was finished and I could not lift up one more. That was a night to remember.
Throughout the years, the dessert continued to improve. With the development of my taste buds I enjoyed it each and every time my mother made it. I could tell she would make it out of love as she wished to see my smile glisten white. I only first made it myself last week and yet it did not turn out how I wanted it to:, the base was too thin, and the caramel was not sweet enough. The complex components that must go into the dish to make it come out properly is extremely stressful. After making it and revealing the end product, I came to realize how much effort had to go into making this and I felt grateful towards my mother as I respect how much she puts into making this for me. To be fair, I believe that the true reason it came out better when my mother made it was due to the hours she had put in and how careful she would be in order to make the best caramel slice for me.