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.

Café Presto

Merkel and Myrtle returned to Café Presto in the Arkaba shopping centre recently.  Merkel ordered a mug of hot chocolate.  It came in a saucer with a marshmallow topped with a brown froth and liberal sprinkle of chocolate powder.  The drink was creamy and had a rich milk chocolate flavour.  It was served in a ceramic mug and saucer with a marshmallow in the saucer.  The cost was $4.20.

Red Berry Espresso

Red Berry Espresso is a little coffee roaster and coffee shop just off Greenhill Road at 1A L’Estrange Street, Glenside.  There are tables inside and outside but most of the space is taken up with bags of coffee beans and the coffee roasting machine.  There is not much in the way of savoury food there but there are also cakes and biscuits.

The hot chocolate came in a white ceramic cup on a black saucer.  It was topped with a brown froth and a white dollop of latte art.  The chocolate was rich enough but too sweet.  The cost was $3.50.

Scrabbling for Hot Chocolates in Sydney

Merkel and Myrtle visited Sydney for the national Scrabble championships recently.  Their Scrabble performance was unremarkable but another South Australian, Daniel Piechnick, became the national champion.

While in Sydney, Merkel took the opportunity to try some new hot chocolates.

 

Il Buco

This is an Italian restaurant in Burwood with great food and great service.  The hot chocolate was not particularly special.  It came in a glass and saucer and cost $4.00.  This was adequate for a café.

Lindt Hot Chocolate Café

This café on Darling Harbour is a haven for chocolate lovers.  The hot chocolate came as an empty cup, a jug of frothed milk and a jug of wonderful liquid chocolate.  Merkel was free to mix his chocolate and milk to his desire, and the result was a great chocolate experience.  The cost was $7.00.

Chocolate del Mondo

Chocolate del Mondo has three stores in New South Wales.  Merkel attended the one on Burwood Road, Burwood.  This is a chocolate café which provides chocolate from all over the world.  It features a map or the world and the chocolate varieties that come from different countries.  It also creates the impression of chocolate dripping of the ceiling and walls.

Chocolate del Mondo is the sort of place Merkel would revisit many times if he lived in Sydney.  He ordered the Italian hot chocolate, which came in a tall glass topped with whipped cream and chocolate powder.  It was thick and delicious and cost $5.95.

Fifty3 Café

Fifty3 is shop 53 of the Mitcham Square shopping centre.  It replaces Greco Crepe Connection in the area for the shopping centre under the cinemas, positioned in the middle of the arcade.  There is some stool seating and normal chair seating.  They focus on their coffees but do snacks as well.

The hot chocolate came in a black ceramic cup and saucer with a marshmallow.  It was topped with a brown froth and a semicircle of chocolate powder. The taste was dark, rich and not too sweet.  It is the best hot chocolate in the Mitcham shopping centre.  The cost was $3.50.

Wattle Park Bakery

The Wattle Park Bakery is at 460A Kensington Rd Wattle Park in a small shopping centre.  It sells its award winning pies as wells as cakes, quiches and other goods.  There is stool seating inside and normal height tables outside.

The hot chocolate came in a modest size glass on a black Fairtrade saucer and a glass.  I am not sure whether the hot chocolate was Fairtrade.  There was plenty of creamy brown froth and a sprinkle of chocolate powder on top.  The drink was a pleasingly rich dark chocolate flavour.  It cost $3.70.

The Spot Café Bar

The Spot is a new breakfast and lunch venue situated at 56A King William Road, Goodwood.  It is right next to the Red Door Bakery.  It does a range of breakfasts and speciality burgers and focaccias for lunch.  There is plenty of seating.  The old shop has been tastefully renovated.  The retro incandescent bulbs are a nice touch.

 

The hot chocolate came in a big black ceramic cup and saucer.  There were three mini-marshmallows provided.  It was topped with plenty of creamy froth and a sprinkle of chocolate powder.  There should have been more chocolate in the drink as the flavour was fairly weak.  The costs were $3.50, $4.00 or $5.00 depending on size.

San Churro, Iced

Merkel and Myrtle returned to Chocolateria san Churro after an evening at the French film festival at the Palace Nova Cinemas.  It was a warm evening so Merkel chose the iced chocolate.  The photo here suffers from Merkel being too eager to have a drink.  The photo was taken after part of it was consumed.  Some of the whipped cream and the chocolate flakes on top have gone along with some of the drink.  Check the San Churro website for a better photo.  The iced chocolate was served in a tall glass with chocolate sauce patterns visible through the glass walls.  There was vanilla ice cream in the drink.  The chocolate sauce was a good rich flavour and not too sweet, but there was not enough of it.  The drink on the whole was very milky.

Oriel Café Bar

The Oriel Café Bar or the OCB can be found in the shopping centre at 365a Kensington Road, Kensington Gardens.  This is a big café with friendly table service and an extensive menu. 

 

The beverage list boasted an OCB hot chocolate made from melted chocolate with marshmallows, so this was the one Merkel had to have at $4.50.  The other hot chocolates were a cup for $3.60 and a mug for $4.30.  The drink was served in a tall glass with plenty of froth and a sprinkle of chocolate powder on top.  The two marshmallows were big and fresh and worthy of comment.  The drink was nice dark chocolate flavour, better than most standard hot chocolates but not up to the standard of some of the Belgian hot chocolates around town.  

Loose Caboose

The Loose Caboose is a café and coffee roaster on First Street Hindmarsh just behind the Governor Hindmarsh hotel.  The old Bowden Railway Station has been renovated into a marvellous eating area inside and outside.  The high ceilings and variety of timbers on the floors and tables create work well and the view over the train track reminds everyone that they are in an old railway station.  The menu offers breakfasts and lunches which take basic meals done in a very classy fashion.  I had sardines on toast for $19.50 but that included sour dough bread, a whole can of sardines (the can was served on the plate) and a salad featuring heirloom tomatoes.

 

The hot chocolate came in a blue ceramic cup and saucer.  The drink was topped with a white froth, a sprinkle of chocolate power and a latte art.  The chocolate flavour was dark and interesting.  It had a good level of sweetness but should have been richer.  The cost was $4.00.

Lenzerheide

Merkel and Myrtle returned to the Lenzerheide recently.  This is one of Adelaide’s finest restaurants.  The food and service did not disappoint.  We were there to celebrate the birthday of Daniel Piechnick who provides his food reviews in The Feed Report and is South Australia’s Scrabble champion.  We indulged in a fixed price menu which was delicious.

The hot chocolate was not a high point of the Lenzerheide experience.  The drink was well presented in an insulated double-sided glass like at Dolce and Co.  A pink and a white marshmallow were provided in the saucer.  It was topped with a white froth and a sprinkle of chocolate powder.  The chocolate however was not rich or tasty enough.  I had an excellent chocolate covered crepe for dessert which clearly demonstrated that Lenzerheide understand how to provide a good chocolate flavour.  It was unfortunate this skill was not applied to its hot chocolate.  

Uber Food

Uber Food is a little café and catering company at 51a Kensington Road, Norwood.  It is open for weekday lunches and has four tables inside and two outside.  It serves a range of light meals and specialises in gourmet Hot Dogs.  Merkel had a special surf and turf hot dog which included prawns which was tasty.  There are plenty of photos on the wall of Uber Chef Tina and various celebrity chefs.

 

The hot chocolate did not seem to be on the menu but Merkel ordered it anyway.  The cost was $4.00 for a cup or $5.00 for a mug.  It came in a fine china cup and saucer.  It was topped with a froth and a sprinkle of chocolate powder.  This was not a great hot chocolate.  It was not creamy or chocolaty enough.

Duthy Street Deli

I returned to the Duthy Street Deli to have lunch with my sons recently.  This café has been serving good food for many years now, since it took over the old corner delicatessen.  There is still a short but exotic menu of breakfasts and lunches and the service is prompt and friendly.

The hot chocolate came in a mug and saucer.  It was decorated with a white froth and a semicircle of chocolate powder.  The taste was dark and chocolaty.  The costs were $4.00 for a cup or $4.70 for the mug.

Black Olive Café

Merkel and Myrtle visited the Black Olive Café is at 4 Kensington Road, Rose Park recently, not far from the Britannia roundabout.  The Cafe provides plenty of seating inside and outside and provides prompt table service.  The licensed Café provides a range of meals including salads and sandwiches.

The hot chocolate came in a big red ceramic cup and saucer.  A marshmallow was provided.  The drink was topped with a froth and a sprinkle of chocolate powder.  The drink had a good milk chocolate flavour and cost $4.40.

One 60 Café

One 60 is the new Café at 160 Fullarton Road, Rose Park, which used to be

Urban Bistro and prior to that the the Queen Victoria Hospital.  It is a great location overlooking the old Victoria Park Racecourse.  One 60 provides table service for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  My Thai beef salad was a tasty lunch.

The hot chocolate came in a tall glass with a handle and a saucer.  It was topped with plenty of froth and a sprinkle of chocolate powder.  The milk chocolate flavour was good.  The cost was $4.50.

UR Caffe

This little Café is at 117 Melbourne Street a few doors west of First Pour.  It has exposed brick walls and a random mix of furnishings.  Merkel and Myrtle were sitting at table made from a door and packing crates.  The staff are friendly and quick and they have a good range of brunches such as eggs and salads on the menu.

The hot chocolate at UR Caffe looked quite special.  It was a Belgian hot chocolate in a large, slightly elliptical, drinking  bowl and saucer.  The drink was topped with a wonderful piece of latte art.  While the Belgian chocolate flavour was rich and creamy the drink was a little too sweet for Merkel's taste.  This would have been a great chocolate experience if there was less sugar in the mix.  The cost was $6.00.

Grill House Café

Grill House Café and Cevapi at 466 Grange Rd, Fulham Gardens is a Greek style café.  Lamb on the spit is served on Saturdays and Sundays.   There were also grilled meats, burgers, chips and Greek desserts available.  Cevapcici and bureks were also available.  A burek is pastry with various fillings.

The hot chocolate was very decorative.  It came in a Griffiths ceramic cup and saucer.  In the saucer were two tasty marshmallows.  The drink was topped with a white froth and spider web chocolate syrup design.  The syrup was fairly sweet and the chocolate flavour was unexceptional compared with the presentation of the drink.

Hey Jupiter

Hey Jupiter is a little Café in Ebenezer Place in the East End Market area just around the corner from the Chocolate Bean.  It has eclectic décor featuring a wall of mirrors with some of the notable entries in the wine list written on them.  This is a breakfast and lunch place with good service and delectable lunches.  There is seating inside and on Ebenezer Place.

Merkel was pleased to see Callebaut Hot Chocolate list on the menu.  The Belgian chocolate came in a black mug and a saucer with a paper doily.  This Hey Jupiter crockery collection seemed fairly random but the paper doily was a nice touch.  The dark Callebaut chocolate was delicious.  It was topped with a brown froth and sprinkle of chocolate powder.  The cost was $5.00.  This is yet another good hot chocolate venue that Merkel can recommend.

TramStop4 Café

TramStop4 is at 5 Aroha Terrace, Forrestville which presumably is also tram stop 4 on the Adelaide to Glenelg tram line.  This is a small Café but that been impressively decorated.  There is plenty of art work and childrens play area out the back.  It has a short lunch and breakfast menu featuring some standard and gluten free options.

The hot chocolate came in a ceramic mug with insulation to stop the fingertips from getting burnt.  This came on a saucer with an heirloom teaspoon.  One teaspoon featured the Fairstar ship on which Mytrle emigrated to Australia.  The hot chocolate was creamy and rich and only cost $3.50.

Le Carpe Diem Café Creperie

Carpe Diem was a Latin phrase used by Horace in about 23 BC meaning “Seize the day”.  Here the phrase has been put amongst some French words to refer to a French crepe restaurant at 230 Grenfell Street.  The restaurant features French-speaking waiting staff and a range of savoury and sweet crepes.

Merkel ordered the standard hot chocolate which was $4.00.  It came in a ceramic cup and saucer and topped with a white froth and sprinkle of chocolate powder.  This was a good rich dark chocolate flavour.

Merkel then noticed that there was a Chocolate Venois on the menu made with Belgian chocolate, so he ordered this for dessert, as you do if you are a hot chocolate connoisseur.  The drink came in a ceramic cup and saucer topped with a big squirt of whipped cream, and a second jug of hot chocolate for refills.  Myrtle requested a second cup so she could assist Merkel in consuming this jug of hot chocolate.  She was refused by an intransigent staff member.  Good chocolate is something to share.  This policy of not sharing a jug of hot chocolate was inexplicable.  Of course the chocolate was shared.  The chocolate was Belgian but should have been darker and richer to offset the cream.  The cost of the Chocolate Venois was $5.50.