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.