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.