The Vanilla Slice War of 1770: A Year in a Town and Its Sweet Victory
A town where history doesn’t just come alive, it serves dessert, too.
The year 1770 was full of quirks and peculiarities that even the most serious historian might find amusing. Marie Antoinette, known for her sweet tooth and eventual tragic fate, married Louis XVI in this eventful year.
Joseph Priestley, an English chemist, proposed using rubber to erase pencil marks, a simple yet revolutionary idea.
In 1770, Hungary witnessed the last speaker of the Cuman language pass away, marking the loss of another ancient tongue.
But amidst the gloom, this year also saw the birth of William Wordsworth and Ludwig van Beethoven, whose contributions to literature and music would echo through time.
In Australia, the town of Seventeen Seventy was named after the year Captain James Cook and the HMS Endeavour crew landed in Queensland, ushering in a new chapter of history.
Every May, the town hosts an annual festival, including the famed Vanilla Slice War, where cafes compete to create the best version of this creamy treat.
Phil Geck from the 1770 Marina Cafe has been crowned champion of this contest twice, adding a touch of whimsy to the town’s historical charm.
For a slice of life served with a side of history and dessert, look no further than 1770.
