Melbourne's sweet love affair
Warm up this winter at Melbourne's cosy and atmospheric chocolate shops, where hand-crafted sweets, rich hot drinking chocolate and jewel coloured lollies brighten the day.
Koko Black
Shop 4, Royal Arcade, Melbourne, Ph: (03) 9639 8911, www.kokoblack.com
Since 2003, Koko Black has been hand crafting exquisite chocolates in Melbourne's historic Royal Arcade. Here visitors can watch as Koko Black chocolatiers work couverture into an incredible array of truffles, moulded pralines and bars, in the finest European tradition. Other Koko Black stores can be found in Carlton, Camberwell, Chadstone and the recently opened second city store in Collins Street.
Hot Chocolate Coffee & Chocolate Bar
Level 3, Shop 318, Melbourne Central(located within BlueFire), Ph: (03) 9663 6466
1, 439 Docklands Drive, Waterfront City, Docklands, Ph: (03) 9642 1818
www.hotchocolate.net.au
A chocolate and dessert specialist, Hot Chocolate serving 'real' hot chocolate - that is, pure quality chocolate melted down and served as a deliciously rich hot beverage. Also on offer is home made ice cream, sundaes, desserts including chocolate molten pudding and warm chocolate tart.
Patchi Chocolates and Gifts
Shop 203, Level 2, Melbourne Central, 211 La Trobe Street, Ph: (03) 9654 2880
www.patchi.com
Since 1947, Patchi has hand-made chocolates and French confections that have become world-renowned. Each piece of this exquisite hand decorated chocolate is a true work of art. The chocolate beautifully gift wrapped and a thoughtful selection of European art-glass and crystal are also on sale.
David Medlow Chocolates
26 Howey Place, Melbourne, Ph: (03) 9654 5396, www.davidmedlow.com
David Medlow Chocolates has just opened its first Australian concept store in Howie Place, a gorgeous fairy-box space with beautifully displayed wares. David Medlow Chocolates specialises in pectin jellies, which come in intense flavours of real apple, berry and lemon and can be encased in chocolate too. All of the 98 chocolate lines use pectin in various consistencies to form the delicately flavoured centres, including the liqueur range which uses pectin to retain the true flavour of the liqueur, wine or port without crystalising. Many of the products are also gluten free.
Langham Hotel's Aria Lounge
One Southgate Ave, Southbank, Ph: (03) 8696 8888, www.langhamhotelmelbourne.com.au
For a scrumptious chocolate afternoon tea experience, visit the new Chocolate Bar at the Langham Hotel's Aria Lounge. Featuring a chocolate fountain, freshly made chocolates, and unlimited visits to the Chocolate Bar, the dark and decadent afternoon tea experience is held every Saturday and Sunday afternoon.
cocoa-le-art chocolates
356 Little Collins Street, Ph: (03) 9642 4277, www.cocoa-le-art.com.au
Hand-made in Melbourne by Swiss Chocolatier Silvano Widmer, the cocoa-le-art collection combines the best European chocolate traditions – Belgian dark chocolate, made in a Swiss style with soft centre ganache fillings, and high-end French presentation.
Chocolateria San Churro
277B Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, Ph: (03) 9419 9936, www.sanchurro.com
At this is a Spanish inspired chocolate store the churros, or Spanish doughnuts, take pride of place. Cooked to order and served with melted couverture (white, milk, or dark), they are a decadent indulgence. Melbourne's most expensive chocolate can be found here – the Truffa del Oro, which costs $490 for four truffles. Each truffle contains 70% Venezuelan single origin chocolate, Moet & Chandon Vintage champagne and is enveloped in 23 carat edible gold.
Cacao
52 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda, Ph: (03) 8598 9555, www.cacao.com.au
Cacao is an impressive café/retail outlet dedicated to all things chocolate. The huge display cabinet offers a great selection of moulded, filled and jelly chocolates, which can be purchased individually or in mixed boxes. If your timing is right you'll be able to see chocolates made in the store.
Xocolatl
123 Maling Road, Canterbury, Ph: (03) 9836 3100
Maling Road's Xocolatl is one of Melbourne's newest purveyors of handmade chocolates. The hazelnut crunch bars are pretty impressive, with fingers of crunchy nutty wafers covered in milk chocolate. You'll want to try the hot chocolate here, especially the Spanish version flavoured with cinnamon and vanilla.
Coco Loco
219 High Street, Northcote, Ph: (03) 9482 7033
This new business has been impressing chocolate lovers with its truffles, hand-made from certified organic and Fairtrade cocoa from the Dominican Republic and Bolivia. All truffles are created using 70% cocoa and Coco Loco's own cashew nut milk, which is great for people who prefer dairy free chocolates.
Lizzy's Chocolate Creations
172 Koornang Road, Carnegie, Ph: (03) 9568 0689
There are chocolate creations a plenty at this Carnegie store. Kick off with a hot chocolate made the way it should be, melted down couverture blended with hot milk. The Quetzalcoatl range of truffles includes the aptly named chilli bomb, the aromatic cinnamon and the beautifully textured Turkish rose. Also there are chocolates for the boys - soccer and football chocolates.
Monsieur Truffle
Stall 118, Prahran Market, Commercial Rd, South Yarra, Ph: (03) 9866 2922
Thibault Fregoni's stall at Prahran Market sells intensely flavoured yet well balanced chocolates. The softly spoken Frenchman has a background as a pastry cook and his chocolate creations are just as delicious – try the passionfruit, raspberry, native pepper, marzipan or orange truffle.
Savour Chocolate and Patisserie School
126 Weston Street, Brunswick East, Ph: (03) 9380 9777
www.savourschool.com.au
Courses at this chocolate and patisserie school include Chocolates & Pralines, Truffle Making and Chocolate Sculpture. These hands-on courses enable students to take home a selection of European style chocolates professionally packaged at the end of lessons. Learn tempering techniques, how to cut praline, hand dip ganache and mould chocolate.
The Chocolate Lover
St Kilda Road, Melbourne, Ph: (03) 9419 5344, www.thechocolatelover.com.au
The Chocolate Lover is a Melbourne-based chef whose passion for creating delicious chocolate has turned into a successful business. Pierre Stinzy, a French chef brought to Australia to head the kitchen of Melbourne's famed Mietta's for more than three years, initially only made truffles to give to his friends but as their popularity spread he decided to set up a school.
Chocoholic Tours
Ph: (03) 9686 4655, www.chocoholictours.com.au
Chocoholics, sweet tooths and travellers alike can discover Melbourne's world of chocolate and desserts, and experience hidden charms of the city's streets, lanes and arcades, all in one tour.