The French Lettuce — Restaurant in Melbourne

Arrogance and poor manners in their purest manifestation.

We completed an online enquiry form on their website indicating our interest to stock their cakes in our new cafe.

One week later we have not heard from anyone so we called them. The girl that answered the phone spoke at a 100 miles per hour and we did not understand a darn word she said. However, she was eventually helpful and gave us the name and phone number of their sales representative, Mr Hudson Brown.

We called Hudson and told him we would like to arrange a catch up to discuss the range of available cakes and prices. He was initially receptive and interested.

Whilst we were speaking to Hudson we asked him why no one has called us in response to our initial enquiry a week earlier. He responded rudely by saying "the enquiry was not lodged through us and if you do not want to stock our cakes then I am not fussed". This response shocked us because (1) an online enquiry on their website IS an equiry through them and (2) to tell a potential customer that you are "NOT FUSSED" whether they stock your product or not indicates commercial arrogance and definitely poor upbringing.

If any of our staff ever said that to any of our customers or suppliers we would dismiss them on the spot.

We do not know how good French Lettuce's cakes are because we have never tried them. However, based on today's interaction we can safely attest to the awful nature of their mindset and staff's manners. Such behaviour reflects a dreadful organisational culture....

Ok ... I have finally found the original source of the best vanilla slices in Melbourne. And I am grateful. I actually ordered a giant slab vanilla slice "cake" as a Birthday cake. It would normally have made up nine individual very generous slices, so the slab was about ten inches square. Pretty much as an afterthought, I also purchased a couple of tubs of what turned out to be probably the most delicious ever raspberry coulis to serve on the side. Well when I transported the cake box with its untouched (it was hard but I managed not to finger scoop in transit) "cake", we all ooh'd and ahh'd about the giant slice, and then tumbled about four punnets of glowing ruby strawberries on top of that mouthwatering slab and then after pouring that divine raspberry coulis over all we pounced upon and devoured it.

And we intend doing it again. And again. PS Their other cakes and cake decorations etc looked seriously excellent as well. But my taste buds just keep stumbling to a stop at those amazing vanilla slices. I'm sorry I did not get any photos to show you the vanilla slab in its berried and coulis'd glory but we were too intent on our own gluttony to stop to take pictures. Version 2 I managed to remember to get shop window photos this time. And the cake decoration is both original and beautiful. Check out the photos. (The vanilla slices are still the...

On a Saturday afternoon a steady stream of customers pour into this artisan partisserie on a quest for their delectable offerings. Reputed for their vanilla slice, the beautiful cakes displayed in the window and inside cater for weddings and special occasions.

While there was a range of savoury pies, the only heated ones were vegetarian. That's a good enough excuse to choose two desserts - their famous vanilla slice and a baked cheesecake.

There's a reason why the vanilla slice has been voted the best in Melbourne. A delicate top layer pastry dusted with sugar blends beautifully with the sensational pastry cream - light, balanced vanilla flavour that makes for happy taste buds. The baked cheesecake was moist, delicious and deeply satisfying, without the heaviness so common in baked cheesecakes.

The tiny patisserie seats 12 intimately inside with a couple more tables on the footpath. I think the lady serving me was on her first shift as she could barely explain what the different desserts were, had to ask before she could answer anything and appeared really tentative. Her concept of cleaning the table was only to remove the dirty dishes, leaving all the crumbs from the previous diners. The other lady seemed much more helpful and approachable to her customers, so I will put that down to...