Sun Sep 15 02:23:49 UTC 2024: ## Hell’s Gate Roadhouse: A Slice of Heaven in the Outback
**Remote outpost in Australia’s far north serves up award-winning vanilla slices, attracting travellers from across the country.**
Hell’s Gate Roadhouse, a remote outpost in Australia’s rugged Gulf Country, may sound like a desolate destination, but it’s actually a haven for weary travellers seeking a taste of heaven. This family-run roadhouse, located 50km from the Queensland-Northern Territory border, is famous for its incredible vanilla slices, attracting tourists from far and wide.
Chef Jan Slottje, who has been running the kitchen for four years, has been baking thousands of these creamy delights, delighting travellers with their flaky pastry and custard filling. Despite the success of her signature dessert, Jan admits to never having tasted one herself. “I don’t love vanilla slice, and I don’t need to have a piece,” she says. “I can lick the beaters and the bowl.”
Her dedication to crafting the perfect vanilla slice has earned her a loyal following. Visitors rave about the quality of the pastry, with some even declaring it the best they’ve ever had. One traveller, Dave Pritchard, described the vanilla slice as “even better” than his mother used to buy him.
The roadhouse, situated on a 171,000-hectare cattle property, is a popular stop for those traversing the Savannah Way, a 3,700km route stretching from Cairns to Broome. During the dry season, travellers from around the world stop by for a rest, refuel, and of course, a taste of Jan’s legendary vanilla slice.
Despite the scorching outback heat, Jan manages to maintain the perfect temperature for her baking, creating a dessert that is both satisfying and refreshing. While every chef has their own secret recipe, Jan suggests that the key to a perfect vanilla slice might just be worth a trip to “hell and back” to experience it at Hell’s Gate Roadhouse.
First Piper 