Bar 9 Belgian

Merkel and Myrtle returned to Bar 9 recently for breakfast. Merkel ordered the Belgian hot chocolate and was served the drink in an elegant pottery mug. It was topped with with a brown forth and sprinkle of chocolate powder over one side of the mug. The chocolate could have been richer but was unmistakably Belgian. The cost was $4.80.

Fiefys Mug of Chocolate

I returned to Fiefy's recently. The warm weather was good for sitting at the tables outside her hole-in-the-wall coffee shop at 45 Pirie Street. This time I had a Mug of Jaffa Hot chocolate for $4.90. The orange flavour was good and a marshmallow was provided. The drink combined dark Belgian chocolate with real orange zest.

The Ed Castle

The Edinburgh Castle Hotel is its full name but it usually abbreviated to just Ed Castle on 233 Currie Street. It is another of the many historic hotels in Adelaide. Merkel and Myrtle were here with friends recently. While they have a reasonable meals menu, there is no hot chocolate. So Merkel had to go down the street to the C Coffee outlet on West Terrace and take his drink back to the Ed Castle.

The C Coffee outlets have been reviewed here before. They do a reasonable hot chocolate for a takeaway drink. It is reasonably rich chocolate topped with a creamy froth. The cost is $3.20.

Tasty Bakehouse

We found a little bakery called Tasty Bakehouse in the backstreets Forrestville recently. It can be found at at 66 Leah Street. The Tasty Bakehouse is doing a trade as maker of cakes and buns but also does pies, quiches and hot beverages. It is not much of an eat-in venue but has one table outside overlooking the tram track.

The hot chocolate was only $2.50 but was served in a paper cup without anything the stir the drink. It was topped with a white froth and liberal sprinkle of chocolate powder. The drink was creamy enough and not too sweet but it should have been more chocolaty.

Galaxy

Galaxy is small Café and Gallery on East Terrace just few doors away from the corner of Rundle Street. The Café is tiny with a few tables inside and out. Some impressive artworks hangs from the walls and if I you are willing to take the stairs I believe there is a gallery and lounge upstairs. The shop specialises in Frappes and smoothies and does a short menu of menu. The menu is written out on what seems to be scraps of paper. Merkel was accompanied by Mytrle and Miss Kimbers from the Fruit and Mixed Veg blog.

Hot chocolate did not seem to be on the menu but there was an iced Belgian chocolate which caught Merkel's eye. This came in a tall glass and was a deliciously cold drink. The chocolate was not completely liquid but included chocolate ground into bits so the texture of the drink was gritty. It mixed into a smoothie with a thick consistency. The iced chocolate was not much to look at but it was good to drink and cost $6.50.

Au Martin Calme, Raspberry

Merkel and Myrtle returned to Au Matin Calme in Hutt Street to meet fellow blogger Miss Kimbers who does an excellent blog called Fruit and Mixed Veg. The Au Matin Calme in Goodwood Road has discontinued and is now is on the disappearing hot chocolate venues list but the Hutt Street venue still is going strong.

A new raspberry hot chocolate was on the menu. It was served in the normal "Un Tasse de Caffe". The raspberry flavour was good but like the orange flavour hot chocolate they do, the drink would have been better with darker, less sweet chocolate flavour. The drink is topped with a white froth and is a creamy Belgian chocolate drink. The cost was four dollars.

One Ate Five, Vienna

Merkel return to One Ate Five on Victoria Square recently.  The motto on the window is appealing "Think inside the Square".  The normal busy trade from Eynesbury College was missing because of school holidays.  Merkel tried the Vienna hot chocolate which had whipped cream and chocolate powder on top.  It was served in a glass and had a dark chocolate favour which went well with the cream.  The cost was $3.70.

American Candy Stand, Lindt

A Lindt hot chocolate is on the menu at the American Candy Stand in Norwood Parade. I had to try it since the Lindt hot chocolate at Just Tickled Pink (JTP) had been wonderful. The hot chocolate came in a tall glass and saucer with a marshmallow and sprinkle of chocolate flakes on top. The drink was a good rich Belgian chocolate flavour but the presentation was a bit disappointing compared with JTP. The cost was $6.00.

Café Presto

Café Presto is in the Arkaba Shopping centre and has a good view through the big glass windows of leafy Parkside. The cafe serves breakfast, lunch and coffees. I had an iced chocolate there on a warm day. The drink came topped with a scoop of ice cream, a squirt of whipped cream, a sprinkle for chocolate powder and a squirt to chocolate syrup. Chocolate syrup had been used to make the drink and it looked decorative through the walls of the tall glass. While white milk looks better through the glass walls I prefer the taste of chocolate milk and it is difficult to stir in the chocolate until the cream and icecream on top has been dealt with. Still, the chocolate syrup was not sickly sweet like many types of syrup. It was a refreshing drink for $5.50.

Lunch Club Iced

Merkel returned to the Lunch Club at Unley Shopping Centre during the hot weather over the Christmas break. He had an iced chocolate for $5.50. It was served in a tall "CocaCola" glass and was topped with a scoop of creamy vanilla icecream and a squirt of whipped cream. There was some syrup as added to the chocolate milk which looked good through the glass but was a little sweet.

Impressa Café

After extensive renovations to the Unley Shopping Centre a new Café has replaced the Lunch Cutters café. Impressa is more upmarket than Lunch Cutters and part of the serving bar has been replaced by an area for more tables. The décor is excellent and the menu includes some more substantial meals.

The hot chocolate comes in a white ceramic cup and saucer, topped with white froth and a sprinkle of chocolate powder. The pink and white marshmallows served with the drink were a little more tasty and colourful than the usual marshmallows. The drink itself was creamy but could have been richer.

Ciobar Gusto Classico

Merkel visited Rio Coffee in Stepney recently to do some Christmas shopping and found a packet of Cameo Ciobar hot chocolate. The writing on the packaging was in Italian, but the photo on the front and the phrase "denso e cremoso" suggested this was the thick Italian hot chocolate that Merkel enjoys at Cibo and some other good cafes. The packet was $4.95 and included 5 sachets.

To make the hot chocolate just add the sachet contents to 125ml of milk and heat. This makes a fairly small cup of chocolate but the result is a good viscous hot chocolate. The flavour is good and similar to the Cibo Cioccolato Italiana.