Red Cacao Belgian

Merkel and Myrtle returned to the Red Cacao in Stirling recently.  This time Merkel was keen to try the Belgian hot chocolate after being impressed by the single origin hot chocolate last time.  The hot chocolate was served in a mug with a complementary piece of chocolate.  It was topped with a forth and chocolate shavings.  It was served on a wooden platter.  Merkel chose to have a goji berry protein ball with the drink.

This was a creamy hot chocolate with a unmistakable Belgian chocolate flavour.  This was very pleasant and well presented.  It cost seven dollars.

Arena Coffee and Juice Lab

Arena is a still in the Citi Centre arcade off Rundle Mall.  Citi Centre is set up like a food hall with many table serving the surrounding food stalls.

The hot chocolate is served only in takeaway cups.  But the drink has good creaminess and froth and a liberal amount of chocolate.  It is a fairly sweet drink but is probably the best available in the Citi Centre.  The cost was $3.50 for the medium size.

Red Cacao

I think I have a new favourite Hot Chocolate Venue.  It is Red Cacao in Stirling.  This is a chocolate shop and cafe which doubles as dessert bar on Friday nights.  Myrtle and I visited there recently for lunch.  It is a little shop back from the main road in the Stirling shopping centre (Shop 3, 41 Mount Barker Rd).  It has a limited range for savouries and desserts but the main reason for visiting are the coffees, chocolates and of course hot chocolates.  The surroundings were comfortable and the service was friendly.

I had a number of Belgian hot chocolate to choose from including dark chocolate, milk chocolate, orange and chilli flavour, but my choice was the dark Peru single origin hot chocolate.  A mug cost $7.00 and cup cost $3.50.  It was served on wooden board with a complimentary ganache.  The drink was topped with a light froth and some chocolate flakes.  The hot chocolate was dark, unsweet, creamy and delicious.

Hudsons at Damien on Fisher

There is a new Hudsons at the Living Choice retirement village at 123 Fisher Street Unley.  This is open to the public seven days a week.  It shares the accommodation with the Damien on Fisher restaurant.  The cafe is in the impressive foyer of Living Choice.

This Hudsons provided proper glasses or cups for diners rather than just take-away cups.  Drinks are available in small, regular and large sizes.  The cost was $3.80 for a regular size.  I have been a couple of times now and the presentation was different both times. First time the drink was provided in a cup and more recently a tall glass with a handle and marshmallows.  Their Belgian flavour dark chocolate is excellent and the drink is rich and frothy. 

Bean and Gone

Bean and Gone is a new coffee shop at 241 Street Unley.  They have renovated the old Pulteney Street Cafe so that it is unrecognisable.  The plaster has been chipped away and the bricks of this old building have been exposed giving the cafe a rustic but classy feel.

The hot chocolate came in a glass and saucer.  The drink was decorated with intricate latte art and came with a marshmallow.  This was a rich and frothy drink and cost $4.00.

Ambrosini’s

Ambrosini’s is a fine dining North Italian style restaurant.  It is located at 136 Magill Road Norwood.  This is a bright comfortable restaurant.  The food is good and the service is attentive.

The hot chocolate was described as “Cioccolata Calda”  thick hot chocolate.  Merkel had expectations that this would be a thick Italian hot chocolate like those available at Cibo.  Unfortunately it was just a good standard conventional hot chocolate.  It was still rich and creamy but not the thick variety.  The cost was $5.50.

Scrabble Mug and Hot Chocolate

I bought this at a trading table recently.  It is a large mug with scrabble tiles on it with a hot chocolate, marshmallows and a candy cane inside it.  This was made by Park Avenue Foods and was well presented, wrapped in cellophane and tied up in a pink bow.

The hot chocolate was light milky Swiss style drink and there was enough in the sachet for two cups.  The mini marshallows would have been good if I had got to them before their use-by date.  They were a bit hard but I soaked them in the chocolate anyway.

I liked the concept, even if I would have preferred the chocolate to be richer and darker.

BraceGirdles, Short Chocolate

BraceGirdles has opened a new shop at 289 Cross Road, Clarence Gardens.  The chocolate shop has taken bought the charming venue, form a herb and garden place.  It is chalet style house with high ceilings and exposed beams.  The usual Bracegirdles menu is available with various savoury snacks of chocolaty desserts.

Merkel chose the short hot chocolate, which is styled after the short black coffee.  It is a shot glass with pure melted chocolate served with a dollop of cream, chocolate buttons and a marshmallow.  This was a delicious treat.  The cost was $5.00.

Steven ter Horst, Spanish

Merkel saw the Indian Film “The Lunchbox” with friends.  This was a well-crafted film showing some interesting aspects of Indian culture.  The story focussed around the preparation of food which of course involved Indian spices. 

 

After the film Merkel and friends adjourned to the Steven ter Horst Chocolatier Café in Rundle Street.  Merkel chose the hot chocolate with Spanish spices of cardamon, cinnamon and nutmeg.  The hot chocolates at Steven ter Horst are small but have an intense chocolaty flavour which goes well with spices.  

Bocelli

Merkel returned to Bocelli on the corner of Hutt Street and Wakefield Street are still doing the Italian Hot Chocolate.  This is still a popular venue.  The hot chocolate was served in an Orange cup and saucer with no cream or froth.  This is a no-nonsense thick Italian Hot Chocolate with good flavour for $4.20.

Jam on Fullarton

Merkel and Myrtle visited Jam on Fullarton for a late lunch recently.  This is a small café on Fullarton Road just North of Greenhill Road.  It overlooks the South parklands.  The Café has a few tables on the first floor and a few tables outside under Umbrellas on the ground floor.

The hot chocolate came in a Vittoria ceramic cup and saucer.  It was topped with a white froth and a plenty of chocolate powder.  This was and average quality hot chocolate for an average price of $3.60.

Adelaide Oval

I attended the showdown between the Adelaide Crows and the Port Adelaide Power recently.  This was and excellent game, especially if you were a Crows supporter.  Of course, I went in search of a hot chocolate and found a little coffee and hot chocolate stall, with Farmers Union advertising on it.  The drink was topped with a good froth and a sprinkle of chocolate powder.  The cup was made of good quality recyclable cardboard.  It was a creamy and sufficiently rich but at $5.90 was an expensive takeaway drink.

San Churro Chocolateria, Upstairs

Merkel and Myrtle returned to San Churro Chocolateria inGouger Street.  We were ushered to the upstairs part of café by Rick, our friendly waiter.  Merkel had not been to this part of the shop since it was the Petty Sessions café in about 1994.  Merkel had the thick Spanish hot chocolate and requested whipped cream and marshmallows as extras.  The cream goes well with the thick style hot chocolate.  The cost was $5.95 for drink plus $1.30 for the cream and marshmallows.

Signores

Signore’s is in Adelaide Central Plaza off Rundle Mall.  The Café is near in lower ground food court opposite the new Bar 9 stall which took over from a T-bar outlet.  Merkel was alerted to this café through an article in the Adelaide city messenger on hot chocolate.  Signore’s provide sandwhiches, pizzas and Italian meals.

A number of different hot chocolates were available at Signore’s.  This included a good looking Vienna hot chocolate, a mint hot chocolate and a white hot chocolate.  Merkel chose the chilli hot chocolate.  This was thick Italian style hot chocolate in a Rio Blend 64 cup and saucer.  This was a delicious chilli hot chocolate.  Signore’s is worth a visit for the hot chocolate alone.

Royal Hotel

The Royal Hotel is at 180 Henley Beach Road, Torrensville.  Myrtle attends the quiz nights there on a regular basis and Merkel occasionally joins her.  The meals are good and the staff are friendly.  On this evening Merkel felt his knowledge of Zodiac signs was good but his recollection of the singers of James Bond themes was seriously flawed.

Merkel ordered the hot chocolate from the dining room bar.  This was a creamy milk chocolate flavour topped with a bubbly froth.  It was served in a glass mug and saucer.

Albion Hotel

The Albion Hotel is at 423 Churchill Road Kilburn.  It is a big hotel with gaming and television screens and has a good dining room where Merkel and Myrtle enjoyed a meal with friends. 

The hot chocolate came in a tall glass with a handle.  This was nicely presented and had chocolate syrup drizzled down the inner walls of the glass.  The chocolate was rich and tasty but drink was too sweet and got sweeter towards the bottom of the glass.  The cost was $3.90 for a cup or $4.50 for a mug.

British India

The British India is fine a Indian restaurant with dark wood panelling and plush décor. Merkel had a banquet there featuring a range of tasty curries and other delicacies.  The table service was friendly and attentive.

Hot Chocolate was not on menu as there is more emphasis on the range of teas they provide.  The waiter provided a hot chocolate in a glass mug and a fine china saucer.  It was topped with a white froth and a sprinkle of chocolate powder.  The drink was too sweet and otherwise unremarkable.  The cost was $4.00.

Columbian CoffeeHub/Café 227

As with the last review of this location at 227 North Terrace, the name of the Café is a little ambiguous.  The most visible signage shows the name of the coffee suppliers which is now “Columbian Coffee Hub”.  This has changed from Lavazza in the previous review, which now provides the Café with a distinct difference from other Cafes.  It provides a range of Columbian coffees and sweet treats.

 

Merkel was pleased to see that hot chocolate drinkers had not been forgotten given that chocolate is also South American tradition.  Aztec hot chocolate, Chilli hot chocolate and plain hot chocolate were on the menu.  Merkel chose the Aztec hot chocolate which came in a black ceramic cup and saucer.  It was topped with bubbly froth and a sprinkle of chocolate powder.  The drink was spiced but did not have the kick of a chilli hot chocolate.  It was pleasant drink which was not too sweet.  The cost was $4.50.

Koko Black, Chilli

Merkel and Myrtle visited the new Koko Black Salon at the Rundle Street entrance of Adelaide Arcade.  This shop used to be a jeweller.  Instead of the glass cases displaying precious jewellery there are now glass cases showing off some wonderful hand-made chocolates.  Koko Black is nationally network of chocolate Salons and provides a fine chocolate experience.  It provides chocolates, desserts and various beverages including of course, hot chocolates.  The table service was attentive and friendly.

 

Merkel ordered the chilli hot chocolate which came with a warning from our waitress about its fiery nature.  The drink came in a large cup and saucer with the Koko Black brand.  It was topped with froth and multi-coloured latte art.  The drink was indeed fiery but I have had stronger.  The Belgian chocolate was delicious but not particularly dark or bitter.  The drink cost $6.50 and a complimentary chocolate of the day was provided with our meal.

Jenny’s Gourmet Bakery

Jenny’s Gourmet Bakery has been around in various forms for a long time at its location at 81 Glen Osmond Road, Eastwood opposite Bar 9.  The note on one of the displays says that a bakery was on the site in 1910.  Merkel and Myrtle returned there recently for a hot chocolate and a cake.  The shop has been renovated since last time.  There is plenty of seating out the front and under verandah with hanging mirror balls to the side of the main shop.

The hot chocolate came in a white ceramic cup on a black saucer.  The saucer had two marshmallows.  The drink was topped with brown froth and a semicircle of chocolate powder.  The flavour was rich and not too sweet.  The cost was probably $3.40.