Marmalade Café, Italian

Merkel and Myrtle returned to the Marmalade Breakfast Café in Edward Street Norwood recently. The breakfast service was prompt and Merkel chose the thick Italian hot chocolate. The hot chocolate was served in a glass and saucer with a large marshmallow in the saucer. The drink was topped with a white froth. The hot chocolate was not as thick as a good Italian hot chocolate and the flavour was strongly of hazelnuts. While a hazelnut hot chocolate was on offer this was not what was ordered. The marshmallow tasted stale. The hot chocolate cost $4.50.

Steven ter Horst, Chilli

Merkel and Myrtle returned to Steven ter Horst on Unley Road for a couple more of his special chocolates and a hot beverage. On one of the advertising cards available in the shop it recommended patrons try the chilli hot chocolate which was not on the menu board. Merkel did not need any more encouragement. The chilli hot chocolate was served in a black ceramic cup with a brown froth for $5.50. The Belgian chocolate flavour was unmistakable and the chilli had just the right amount of punch. This is now an excellent hot chocolate venue.

A'Vila

A'Vila has recently taken over from De Luca's on the Park. It is still a little coffee shop between the Crowne Plaza and the Griffin's Head on Hindmarsh Square. The Décor has changed with som bold colourful murals on the wall. Focaccias and other sandwiches are available for lunch.

The hot chocolate came in a brown ceramic cup with the Campos coffee logo proudly emblazoned in drinker facing position. It was topped with with a froth and plenty of chocolate powder. The taste was creamy but not as rich as I would have liked.

Free

Merkel visted Free recently This is the gluten free and sugar free shop with the motto "The best things in life are free". The hot chocolate came in a huge colourful mug for $3.50. It had a Bubbly froth and had a good chocolaty unsweetened taste.

Rosey's

Abrieaux Café has been taken over by new management aftet its short run taking over from Serves You Right. The new Café is known as Rosey's and has only recently opened. The bookcases are gone and the décor has changed. The Café has a modern uncluttered look with some innovative design ideas such as lolly jar light fittings and flowers were in abundance. Your reviewer is not sure what the menu will look like but the focaccias apparently proved popular on the first day.

The hot chocolate was served in grey ceramic cups with a white froth and sprinkle of chocolate powder on top. The chocolate flavour was good but not rich enough. The milk and froth were creamy and the costs was $3.50.

Aria

Aria bar e ristorante is a fine dining restaurant serving the Air Apartments at 220 Greenhill Road Eastwood. This restaurant is the on the first floor and provides a view over the parklands and Greenhill Road if you sit near the big glass windows. They are open for Breakfast on Fridays and Saturdays which when Merkel and Myrtle visited.

The hot chocolate came in a ceramic cup and saucer and was topped with a white forth and sprinkle of chocolate powder. The drink was weak and watery and cost $3.50.

There was a time in Adelaide when instant coffee was popular and restaurants served coffee that was fairly poor by today's standards. There has been a transition over the last 30 years to better coffee pioneered possibly by the Italian restaurants. We can only hope that the same transition will occur for hot chocolates. This may then result in a drink that provides the richness and originality that a true hot chocolate lover enjoys served more consistently in Adelaide Cafes and Restaurants.

Caffe L'Incontro

L'Incontro has got more popular over the last couple of years and its tables now take up most of the picturesque Gays Arcade just off Adelaide Arcade. It provides a range of authentic Italian meals and makes its own Focaccia bread.

Merkel returned to try the Cioccolata in Tazza which is the L'Incontro name for thick Italian hot chocolate. This is the most pleasant lunch venue in Adelaide to enjoy and Italian hot chocolate. The cost is four dollars and it is served in a ceramic cup and saucer with biscotti.

Do Duck Inn

Merkel visited Do Duck Inn again to recently and discovered it has change much over the last couple of years and it has its own website. This Café is on Exchange Place next to Pranzo.  The décor has changed and it has a modern, comfortable look.  The standard hot chocolate has gone up in cost but it is still only three dollars and there was no wrapped chocolate this time.  The drink was more chocolaty though.

Zedz

Your reviewer returned to Zedz in the North East corner of the Adelaide Central Market. The Turkish bread sandwhich tasted good, no doubt made from fresh market produce. The hot chocolate this time came in a glass and saucer. Varied colourings of chocolate were evident through the glass walls. The drink was topped with a white froth and a dark chocolate button was provided in the saucer. The chocolate had a spicy flavour to it possibly cinnamon or chilli and was good and rich.

Mac Factory Revisited

Merkel and Myrtle returned to the Mac Factory upstairs at 190 Hutt Street. The shop has been open about six months now and a few more of the fixtures and fitting are in place than last time. There is now the option of sitting on the balcony overlooking Hutt Street. The Macarons are still the big attraction of this venue.

The hot chocolate has changed also. The hot chocolate is servedf from a mixer and is richer and not as sweet as last time. It is a rich dark flavour similar to other good Italian hot chocolates but perhaps not as thick as some. The cost was $3.50.

Festival of Ideas

The festival of ideas is on again this year with a theme of planning for uncertainty. The festival organisers have put together a great programme this year. The venues are around Adelaide University and the Adelaide central business district. Merkel and Myrtle attended an entertaining discussion on "Every Marriage is a Minefield" by author and psychologist Christopher Ryan in the Town Hall. This was followed by a talk by Larissa Behrent, aborignal professor of Law at Swinburne University of Technology. This was a thought-provoking insight into the impact of legislative reform on aboriginal and other disadvantaged communities.

Merkel found a hot chocolate at Mind Food Café outside Bonython Hall at the front of the Adelaide University. The cup was compostable and biodegradable but the hot chocolate was also pretty disposable. It was too watery and there was not enough chocolate.  Still it was nice to have somewhere to sit after a talk and view the books on sale from festival speakers.

QC Vienna

Merkel and Myrtle returned to QC on Angas recently. This time Merkel tried the Vienna chocolate for $3.80. The drink was served in a glass mug with plenty of whipped cream on top and a sprinkle of chocolate powder. The trick with Vienna beverages is to drink them or take a photo quickly because the cream melts after too much delay. Merkel took long with this photo.  The flavour was chocolaty and of course, creamy.

Semphore Music Festival

Merkel and Myrtle visited the Semaphore Music Festival over the weekend. This had blues and country artists at many venues around Semaphore. One of the main attractions was the free entertainment on the foreshore. The stage was a large truck and a number of vendors were positioned around the grass area selling food and beverages. This was relaxing way to spend a sunny afternoon.

Merkel tried hot chocolates from two vans. One was selling fruit "jooce" and donuts. The hot chocolate was $3.50 and came with a dunked marshmallow but the drink was weak and inferior. The hot chocolate from the Fair Espresso van was much better. For $4.50 for a regular or $5.50 for medium, Merkel received a creamy rich hot chocolate that was apparently fair trade and organic. It had a good froth on top and was even decorated with a streak of chocolate powder. Merkel had the classic hot chocolate this time but recently the the van was at the Unley Oval for a football match where Merkel tried their Italian hot chocolate. This was also a good hot chocolate but not as thick as the best Italian hot chocolates.