28 February 2017
Sydneysiders and Melbournians are constantly fuelling the friendly rivalry that exists between Australia’s top two cities. Sporting prowess, football codes, liveability and housing affordability are frequently debated, as are fashion, shopping, food and coffee. Spurred on by this friendly rivalry and my growing curiosity of the Melbourne chocolate scene, I’ve decided to throw chocolate into the debate. And to heighten the experience, I’ve set myself the challenge of exploring the city’s top chocolate attractions in a day – my version of the “Amazing Race”, involving chocolates.
Hubby has kindly agreed to join me on this challenge, strategically mapping out the tram routes in advance. Bless him? So, at the ungodly hour of 5am on a Saturday morning, we set off for the first flight out.
Our first stop is the hip suburb of East Brunswick, to unmask the secrets behind the red door that is East Elevation. A cafe at first glance, bright and airy with a blend of original features including the high vaulted ceilings, concrete floors and unmasked brickwork, until one walks through and sees the antique cocoa press and roaster through the custom built glass walls.
East Elevation cafe is also home to the Monsieur Truffe chocolate factory and a small retail section of its bean to bar creations. If you time your visit well, you can enjoy a meal, sip on custom-made hot chocolate and shop for artisanal single origin and flavoured Monsieur Truffe chocolate bars while witnessing its production in real time – a one-stop chocolate destination.
I’d recommend the 80% dark single origin Dominican Republic hot chocolate for the connoisseurs out there, enjoyed with a single origin bar like the limited edition Samoan 67% cacao.
Next up, we go in search of a hidden gem amongst the many fruit, vegetable, poultry, meat and flowers stalls, in the Prahran markets. Cioccolato Lombardo is a tiny, unassuming chocolate destination that has evolved from a cart to a stand-alone shop within the market.
Tad, its owner and chocolatier, has developed a loyal following of his handcrafted ganaches, pralines, rochers and truffles, made in the minute on-site kitchen using Felchin Swiss couverture chocolate. The chocolate sourdough bar, with inclusions of crisp sourdough bread and available in milk and dark, is also a crowd pleaser. There’s sadly a no photo policy within the shop so I can’t share the extent of the chocolate range here.
Our next destination is best described as a modern day Hansel and Gretel candy “house”. At Burch & Purchese Sweet Studio, this fairy tale is brought to life courtesy of Darren and his team. With interiors bathed in pastel pink and white, and decked out in cakes, tarts, chocolates, biscuits, spreads and ice cream as far as the eye can see, it’s no wonder that Burch & Purchese is a revered sweet tooths’ destination. Why, even the walls are decorated with edible art made of chocolate and intricate sugar work.
If you’re here for chocolate, although it’s easy to be swayed by the tantilising array of other sweet offerings, check out the vibrant bars like matcha green tea in white chocolate with raspberries, explosive raspberry popping candy in white chocolate and single origin 66% Madagascan dark chocolate flavoured with tonka bean and pieces of dried pineapple and banana chips.
There’s no mistaking the purpose of our visit to Xocolatl (Mayan for chocolate). I’ve read about the handcrafted beauties here and am keen to get my hands on them. The retail outlet cum cafe in Toorak is one of three and the newest for this family owned chocolate business built on passion for creating ganaches, pralines, truffles and gianduja, made from fair trade Belgian couverture chocolate.
The most difficult decisions that one has to make are simply which flavours and how many to purchase. They all look equally as tasty with inventive flavour combinations like botrytis jelly, cardamon, mascarpone and raspberry, basil and champagne, and olive oil and sea salt.
It’s over to South Melbourne next to feast my eyes on jewel-like sweet creations. Bibelot, meaning trinkets or ornaments in French, is most befitting a name for this establishment featuring Chez Dre’s sugar mastery. One can’t help but be mesmerised by the perfectly tempered, glossy chocolate ganaches and pralines, colourful macaroons and impeccable sheen on the cakes and tarts, all glinting like gems beneath the squeaky clean glass display cases.
The chocolate creations here extend to tablettes or bars in white, milk or dark, bite sized chocolate treats, chocolate fudge and house-made gelato ready to be drizzled with dark or milk chocolate from the perpetually running chocolate taps. A true haven for the chocoholic.
The last stop that we manage to fit in, in this “Race” against time, is a purveyor of artisan hot chocolate. Located in North Melbourne, Mork Chocolate Brew House processes and blends imported cocoa beans on-site to produce cacao liquor and cacao powder, the starting materials for their exclusive range of hot chocolates, chocolate ganaches as well as small treats of cakes and tarts.
There’s even a house-made cocoa flavoured soft drink. The Cacao Cold Brew is both light and freshening. Plus, the young at heart chocolate connoisseurs may be interest to hear about the new limited release 60% dark chocolate milk, a twist on the childhood treat with a touch of decadence.
Six chocolate destinations later, we are both exhausted but exhilarated. Did we triumph in this “Amazing Race”? Having covered six shops in six different suburbs spread across Melbourne, by tram and on foot, and making it back to the airport in time for our flight home, I certainly think so!
Now, more importantly, which city do I think reigns supreme in the chocolate arena? Sydney, as much as I love you, your chocolates, more predictable weather and world class beaches, I’m afraid I have to hand this one to Melbourne…..for now!
