Chocolate World

Chocolate World in Adelaide Arcade, between Caio and Coffee Spot, is still doing good Belgian hot chocolate. The little chocolate shop provides a few more flavours than last time your reviewer visited. There is chilli, vanilla, spicy chai and jaffa on offer. I tried the Cardoman flavour hot chocolate. The chocolate is dark and rich and topped with froth and a sprinkle of dark chocolate powder. There is still only a paper cup offered with no stirring implements, but if readers want a good hot chocolate to take away and savour in the adjoining arcades this is a good choice for the expense of four dollars.

Big Table

Big table is a stall in the Adelaide Central Market. It is up at the Southern end of the market near Atlas Corner and Zuma's Caffe. There are plenty of baguettes and other sandwhiches available for lunch. Big Table has stools around the outside of the stall so patrons can use the counter space as a bar to eat at.

The hot chocolate comes in a mug and saucer. Two marshmallows are provided. The top of the drink is well decorated with a design in the white froth and a semicircle of chocolate powder. The chocolate is an unsweetened dark flavour and was a good chocolate taste. It ties with Lucia's for best hot chocolate in the Central Market.  The cost was $4.20.

Salad Choice

Salad Choice is a busy lunch time venue providing a range of fresh salads and rolls. There is a table and bar inside the shop and a few tables outside under cover. Salad Choice is at 19 Grenfell Street, Adelaide.
The hot chocolate was only $2.95 but came in a paper cup with the Sonora Coffee brand. The drink was topped with a brown forth and a sprinkle of chocolate powder. The flavour was rich and dark and not too sweet.

Black Wattle Iced Chocolate

Merkel returned to the Black Wattle Café where the hot chocolate is described as "Swiss Hot Chocolate" and the iced chocolate is "Iced Swiss Chocolate". The iced chocolate comes in tall glass. It is topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and plenty of chocolate powder. There was no whipped cream or chocolate syrup on this one. The flavour was chocolaty enough, without being a great deal different from chocolate milk and lacked a little presentation pizazz. The cost was $4.80.

Returning for Iced Chocolates

Merkel and Myrtle returned to Ink Café recently. This time Merkel tried the iced chocolate. This iced chocolate was reasonably chocolaty. It was topped with whipped cream, too little vanilla ice cream and a dusting of chocolate powder. The cost was $4.80.

Merkel returned to the Deli at the Hilton to compare iced chocolates. It was served in a very similar tall stemmed glass to the one at Ink Café. The topping of whipped cream and a dusting of chocolate powder was also similar. Rather than the uniform brown colour of the Ink drink the Deli drink was variegated with white and brown streaks. This looked nice but suggested a very milky drink. The ice cream in iced chocolates varies significantly. The Deli drink had a couple of scoops of vanilla icecream. The Ink Drink had barely any. Some iced chocolate has chocolate ice cream or gelati which contributes to the chocolate taste. The Deli drink was made with chocolate syrup which was not as sickly sweet as most chocolate syrup but did not make the drink chocolaty enough. The cost was $7.00 although the Ink iced chocolate was the better drink.

The Coffee Spot

The Coffee Spot is in Adelaide Arcade at the other end from Ciao Coffee Bar and just near the Rundle Mall entrance to the Arcade. There is seating inside the shop and on the mezzanine. There is also seating at big tables in the centre of the Arcade. The Coffee Spot also has sandwiches and snacks through the day.

The hot chocolate came in glass which was hot to touch with plenty of creamy froth and a sprinkle of chocolate powder on top. A white and a pink marshmallow were served in the saucer. The hot chocolate was a light Swiss style and was spiced with little cinnamon. The cost was $3.50.

Perfect Cup, North Adelaide

The Perfect Cup has four outlets around Adelaide. Your reviewer has visited the outlets at the Adelaide Central Market and Grenfell Street. The North Adelaide café is attached to the Meridian Hotel on Melbourne Street. The menu and service is more like that of a restaurant than the Café at the other two outlets. The emphasis is on main meals rather than snacks and sandwiches. It is a nice place to sit and watch Melbourne Street through the glass walls.

The beverage menu is different from the menus at Grenfell Street and Adelaide Central Market. There was no Dutch or Swiss hot chocolate to choose from. There was just a standard hot chocolate and a marble hot chocolate. The standard hot chocolate was served in a glass that was hot to touch on a saucer with a pink and a white marshmallow. It was topped with a white froth and a semicircle of chocolate powder. The drink was too sweet and not chocolaty enough. The cost was $3.60.

Lime 2

Merkel and Myrtle returned to Lime 2 again recently. This is pronounced "Lime Two" even though it is on Hindmarsh Square as distinct from "V²" which is "V Square" on Victoria Square. It still has a good view of the square although there is now a barrier between the serving area and the eating area.

The hot chocolate was pretty much as it was last time. It came in a Vittoria glass with a wire handle. It came with a saucer and a pink marshmallow in the saucer. It was topped with a creamy froth and a sprinkle of chocolate. The drink itself was not as sweet this time and cost $3.60.

Yum Sing Express

Yum Sing Express is a fast food outlet for Asian food. There are two outlets in South Australia. Merkel and Myrtle visited the one on Holdfast Walk off Moseley Square, Glenelg. This is just around the corner from the Cibo outlet.

Merkel was attracted by the sign advertising "premium hot chocolate" for $2.50. Unfortunately it was dreadful and did not warrant finishing. It was too sweet with little evidence of any chocolate and was served in a paper cup.

Joani's Espresso Snack Bar

At 263 Kensington Rd, Kensington is Joani's Snack Bar a few doors south of the Chelsea Cinema. This snack bar does breakfasts and has seating inside at wooden tables and outside.

The cost of a hot chocolate is $3.40. It comes in a glass mug and saucer. The drink has a brown froth and a dusting of chocolate powder on top. Some drizzling of chocolate syrup makes a pattern on the inside of the glass. The hot chocolate was a little sweet but the flavour was not too bad.

Shorts 2011

This year the Shorts film festival was held in Norwood Town Hall. Last time it was at the old Queens Theatre in Playhouse Lane and C-Coffee was a sponsor. This year, 1645 Coffee were providing the coffees and hot chocolates. This is a new company who roast their own coffee at 30 Sunbeam Road, Glynde. The hot chocolate did not benefit from being in a paper cup but it was rich and creamy enough. It cost $3.00.

As I attempted to turn film critic last time, I'll summarise this year's Friday night screenings:

Zero
This was a well-made animated movie with some serious themes about prejudice. The animated string dolls were expressive and poignant. The narration was smooth and probably intentionally paternalistic.

Daddy Daddy
This was story about a little girl Emily, looking for her father who she believes is in Texas. She lives near a recognisable Adelaide railway track and sets off on her pushbike for Texas. The stars of the show are Emily, Adelaide suburbia and a homeless man that Emily encounters on her adventure.

There had Better be Blood
Part of the theme of the night was about teenage struggles. Anyone with two children who bicker in the back of the car would relate to this story. There story is a bit implausible but finishes with a shocking twist.

Ronan's Escape
This story about bullying was predictable but nonetheless disturbing. The shot of the country school bus travelling over a brown land with a huge blue sky is amazing and is featured in the trailer for the Short Festival.

This is Not an Art Film
This was a discussion between a filmmaker and producer that was played for laughs. It was an amusing idea and no doubt had resonance with the filmmakers at the evening.

Minnie Loves Junior
This was my favourite for the night about a young girl trying to attract the attention of an even younger boy. The faces of the indigenous children are expressive and charming with little need of dialogue. The seaside setting provides scenic backdrop for the story.

Vinyl
This was interesting study of the difficulties of a Sudanese boy in multicultural Sydney. The plot was not of much consequence. The series of incidents helped build a picture of an unfamiliar life through the eyes of the lead character.

A Moment of Grace
This was a more experimental South Australian film by Dimitrios Pouliotis. Effective use was made of high speed cameras to slow the action to standstill at points. The main character contemplates life, the universe and everything in a split second.

Flight
This film supported the theme of teenage struggles by depicting the release that skateboarding brings to the main character. The film had an edginess as if something momentous was about to happen. In the end it was more a film to stir emotions than to depict any particular events.

The Foal
This is an exploration of how a young girl deals with death as she tries to care for a dead foal. Olivia Quinn puts in remarkable performance as Chloe.

It's Just Gary
The evening finished on a whimsical note with the story of a nobody called Gary who takes steps to increase his public profile with amusing consequences. On the way the film makes some pertinent points about our celebrity culture. This was an upbeat film with a big cast of characters and plenty of action.

Dunks and Unley

On the corner of Dunks Street and Unley Road is a new Café which also sells second hand furniture. There are a couple of different areas to sit. Patrons can sit out the front under the umbrellas or sit in the furniture shop amongst some decorative tables and chairs. This represents and interesting synergy of businesses.

The hot chocolate came in a similar cup and saucer to Barnacle Bills. The saucers were triangle, the base of the cup was square and the top of the cup was circular. The drink was topped with a brown froth and sprink of dark chocolate powder. The rest of the hot chocolate was a milk chocolate rather than dark chocolate flavour. The cost was $3.30.

Chocolate Bean, Chocolate Soup

Merkel and Friends attended a good Australian film, "Griff the Invisible" recently. Griff and Melody are two excruciatingly awkward individuals who find something in common in their alterntive views of the world. The writing by director Leon Ford is clever and original. The performances by Ryan Kwanten and Maeve Dermody are quirky and believable.

After the film the group retired to the Chocolate Bean. This time Merkel had the dark chocolate soup. This was a cup of rich melted Belgian Chocolate served with whipped cream. This was a delight and cost $6.50.

Cookie Man

Merkel Marmaduke was attending a football match at AAMI Stadium and took the opportunity to visit the West Lakes Mall for a hot chocolate before the match. The Cookie Man booth is Kiosk 15 in the centre of one of the open areas on the other side of the mall from the food hall. Cookie Man has six outlets in South Australia and more in other Australian States and specialise in biscuits and coffee.

The hot chocolate was $3.40 and came in a mug and a saucer. Two tasty biscuits were provided in the saucer. The mug had the Cookie Man logo on both sides like the Coffex cup at Caffe Primo. The hot chocolate was good and creamy and was finished with a white froth and sprinkle of chocolate powder.

The Bean Hit

Bean hit is a little Café on the first floor the the David Jones building. It is part of the Adelaide Central Plaza but it is up the escalator rather than on the ground floor or in the food court. It does some light meals and has a few tables near the David Jones entrance.

The hot chocolate comes in a ceramic cup and saucer with a marshmallow. The drink is topped with a pile of froth and a dusting of chocolate powder. The drink is a bit sweet and milky rather than creamy but only cost three dollars.

Un Caffe Bar, North Adelaide

Merkel Marmaduke visited Un Caffe Bar at North Adelaide recently. It is at the entrance of the North Adelaide Village Arcade at 81 O’Connell Street, North Adelaide. It offers a good view over the street.

The hot chocolate is presented with a line of dark chocolate sprinkled on a white froth. It is a creamy and good dark flavour. There presentation is consistent with the other Un Caffe venues visited by Merkel and the cost is $4.20 for a small cup; Too small for a thirsty hot chocolate lover. The Un Caffe logo is in the outside drinker facing postion.

Caffe Primo, Tea Tree Plaza

This is a big place and has Nice Décor with padded walls, big windows and brushed metal trimming on the doors and windows. The usual good range of Caffe Primo meals is available. Although it is part of the Tea Tree Plaza shopping complex Caffe Primo is open when the rest of the complex is closed, which is when Merkel Marmaduke visited one evening.

The hot chocolate was served in Coffex coffee cup which has the logos everywhere. The Coffex logo was on both sides of the outside of the cup (viewer facing and drinker facing) and it had the logo in the centre of the saucer. The hot chocolate was $3.50 and was topped with a white froth and sprinkle of chocolate powder. The taste was rich enough but a little sweet.

So Fresh Cafe, Return

So Fresh is a comfortable café in the foyer of Naylor House on Pulteney Street. It is most notable on this blog for its deployment of redundant umbrellas. There is not much risk of wind or rain although apparently the sunlight through the glass roof can get a bit harsh. The prices on the noticeboard are different to those on the menu. This is probably because the board is bolted to wall one story up and a little hard to change.

The hot chocolate comes in a colourful mug for $3.90. It is advertised as a swiss hot chocolate. It is a rich and reasonably sweet flavour. It is topped with a bubbly froth and a liberal sprinkle of chocolate powder on top.  The marshmallows were missing on this trip.

The Iced Chocolate is also $3.90. This is the same as the hot chocolate which makes for an expensive hot chocolate but a low cost Iced Chocolate. It is a very milky iced chocolate but it looks good with plenty of whipped cream on top with a dusting of chocolate powder. It also comes with a scoop of vanilla icecream and chocolate syrup on the inside of the glass walls making a variegated pattern.

Namaste

The Namaste Nepalese restaurant is one of the few places in Adelaide selling Goat Curry but it also does a range of other curries and tasty delicacies. There is plenty of seating in a maze of rooms in the house and enclosed back verandah. Namaste is located at 41 George Street, Parkside and is popular enough to require booking on busy nights.

The hot chocolate was serverd in a tall glass with handle on a saucer with a paper doily. The drink was finished with a white froth and dusting of chocolate powder. It was too weak for your reviews taste but only cost three dollars.

Deli at the Hilton

Your reviewer returned to the Hilton Hotel in Victoria Square for lunch at the Deli bar and found a Haighs Hot Chocolate on the beverage menu. Haighs is arguably South Australias most famous chocolate manufacturer. The hot chocolate came on small metal plate (not quite a silver platter) with a mug of hot chocolate and a glass of mineral water with a lemon slice. There were also two white marshmallows on the plate. The mug was branded on both outside positions with "Hilton Breakfast".

The hot chocolate was topped with a white froth and liberal sprinkle of chocolate powder. The drink was a rich, tasty, dark chocolate flavour. This was a good hot chocolate experience and a cut above the standard offering. The cost was $4.50.

Barnacle Bill, Colonel Light Gardens

There are 19 Barnacle Bill fish and chip shops in South Australia. Merkel and Mytrle went to restaurant at 582 Goodwood Road, Colonel Light Gardens for lunch recently. It was a fairly new shop and clean bright in its white and blue décor. The service was friendly and seating comfortable.

The hot chocolate was served on a ceramic cup with a triangular saucer. The cup had a square base and circular at the top. But they were well enough engineered to fit together well. The drink could have been more chocolaty but it was pleasant with seafood lunch. It was topped with a white froth and a liberal sprinkle of chocolate powder. It cost $3.00.

Aroma Café , University of SA

The seating for this Café is in a path between two larage buildings under a number of umbrellas on CityWest Campus of the University of South Australia. This is pleasant when the weather is good and fortunately it was when Merkel & Myrtle visited.


The hot chocolate was $3.00 and came in a tall glass mug with a handle. It was topped with a white froth and sprinkle of chocolate powder and a pink marshmallow was provided in the saucer. The drink was pleasant but not particularly chocolaty. The presentation of the hot chocolate seems to vary significantly between this and the Aroma Cafes at Light Square and North Terrace.

McLaren Vale, Visit 2

Merkel and Mytle returned to McLaren Vale after their visit more than 12 months ago. The weather was much more amenable to drinking hot chocolates and they stayed overnight at the Serafino winery resort.

Woodstock Wine Estate

Woodstock is a winery is located on Douglas Gully Road, McLaren Flat. It provides cellar door tasting and lunch seven days a week. The restaurant is the Coterie which is nestled amongst large gum trees and has comfortable seating indoors and outdoors. It provides friendly table service and reasonably exotic menu featuring local produce.

The hot chocolate came in a tall ceramic mug on a saucer. It was topped with a white forth and a sprinkle of chocolate powder. The drink had a dark chocolate flavour was not too sweet. The mug of hot chocolate cost four dollars.

Serafino

Serafino is a resort, cellar door sales and winery on Kangarilla Road, McLaren Vale. It is just opposite the Oxenberry Cellar Door Sales which feature the McLaren Vale Bracegirdles outlet. The Serafino Restauranut provides and excellent view over gum trees and the lake which features ducks, geese and a fountain. The table service is excellent and the food is delicious.

The hot chocolate was unfortunately not up to the standard of the rest of the meal. The drink came in a coffee cup and was topped by a thin froth. The flavour was sweet and milky. It costs $3.50. Hot chocolate fans should save their tastebuds for the Belgian hot chocolate at Bracegirdles over the road.

Koffee'n Snax

This is an unpretentious snack bar on the main road of McLaren Vale. There is seating in the main shop as well as an outside verandah area to the side.

The hot chocolate came in a large LaVazza coffee cup and saucer. There was a heap of froth on top and a dusting of chocolate powder. A marshmallow was provided in the saucer. The drink had a milk chocolate flavour and cost was $3.50.

Strathmore Hotel

Merkel was at the Strathmore on North Terrace for the presentation night of the mighty Goodwood Roos cricket club. The group dined in the first floor Balcony Restaurant overlooking the Adelaide Intercontinental Hotel opposite. The Stonegrill steaks were a popular choice allowing patrons to cook their meet to their liking on the hot flat stones delivered to the table.

The hot chocolate was $3.90. It was served in a tall glass with handle and saucer. A delicious Lindt chocolate truffle was provided in the saucer. The drink was topped with a creamy white froth and decorated with a chocolate syrup web design. The drink was not too sweet despite the use of the syrup. The flavour was one of rich milk chocolate.

Crema on Jetty

Crema is next Europa Ristorante at number 10 Jetty Road, Glenelg. This a busy café open seven days a week serving pizza, breakfasts and Italian food. There is plenty of artwork on its walls some are on display for the nearby Glenelg Art Gallery. There is plenty of seating insided and outside although tables and chairs seem to be packed together too tightly inside making it difficult for patrons and staff to move between them.

The hot chocolate came in a glass mug that did not quite fit its saucer and therefore was wobbly. The cost was $4.20 for the standard hot chocolate or $4.70 for the Vienna hot chocolate. The standard hot chocolate had a good milk chocolate flavour. It was topped with a white froth and a sprinkle of chocolate powder and came with a marshmallow.

Panini Brothers Bakery

The Panini Brothers have three bakeries around Adelaide. Merkel and Myrtle had lunch had the Barkery at the Glynde Plaza, Felixtow. They sell pizza's, cakes and do a good calzone.

The costs was only $2.90. The hot chocolate came a small red ceramic cup and was creamy and chocolaty. The drink was topped with white froth and chocolate powder.