I am confident that one of my last meals will be chocolate – because I have it at least once a day and have been known to eat it for breakfast! I must admit though, I don’t have a favorite chocolate shop. What is wrong with me?? Am I a fraud who has argued in vain over about whether chocolate should be kept in the cupboard or the fridge? Perhaps I’m not such a chocoholic after all!
The Plan
There are two main chocolate shops in the Brisbane CBD. I decided I was going to work out which one would be my favorite shop by sampling the same type of chocolates from each store. I chose one each of the following: plain dark; orange; peppermint; hazelnut and cherry liqueur for good measure.
Unfortunately I then fell ill with the flu, so I didn’t eat the chocolate for four days! (Unheard of in these parts!) Oh, alright I was still on the Lindt …. I wasn’t that sick!
Anyhow, finally I started to smell things again and I decided it was time to taste the chocolates:
Chocolate Boulevard – (good for foreign lollies)
Dark buddha – 5
Hazelnut cluster – 4
Orange fish – the orange was a bit fake – 2
Peppermint – didn’t taste like mint. I couldn’t identify what it tasted of! – 1
Cherry liqueur – very runny, strong alcoholic – 2
Chocolate to Die For
(Just Chocolate) Dark – 5
Nut – oh no, white (fake) chocolate, gross! – 2
Orange – bit old fashioned, liked boiled lollies – 2.5
Peppermint – 5
Cherry liqueur – runny, alcohol still had a kick to it – 2.5
If Big M had come home from work at his usual time, he might have discovered me rolling around on the floor, clutching my tummy declaring, “I’ve eaten too much chocolate!” A sentence never uttered before in the house.
The lesson
If you ever visit a chocolate factory wear a jacket with large pockets. It’s really best not to mix flavoured chocolates. I still don’t have a favourite chocolate shop, but I will always love my chocolate dark and Swiss.
Written for Chocolate in Context’s premiere blogging event, Food Destinations #3: My Favorite Chocolate Shop.
29 October 2006 at 2:09 am
I like my chocolate dark and Swiss as well – just like your father is!
8 November 2006 at 2:59 am
My fave is Hot Chocolate in Paddington, opposite the Woolies there. I just love walking in and being completely surround by the aroma of chocolate. Their “cream” chocolates (as in Strawberry Cream, Raspberry Cream) have real cream inside. In fact, I am not really doing anything now and I should go for a drive….
9 November 2006 at 8:36 am
There is also a chocolate shop on Albert Street, but I don’t know the name of it. I can’t recall the exact location either, I’m thinking about halfway between the mall and the botanical gardens. I think it warrants a taste test visit. I have only sampled one thing there, but I was impressed. Mmmm chilli chocolate truffle. Heh, think I’ll go for a walk over there in my lunchour tomorrow. After all, it was probably six months ago when was there, so I must check the store exists. It is only fair.
15 November 2006 at 8:57 am
Update! I can confirm the existance of a 3rd choccy shop in Brisbane. The Blue Cat. It is directly opposite the location formerly known as Festival Hall. I picked myself up a hazlenut golf ball. Yummo
17 November 2006 at 7:31 pm
I’m with you, dark chocolate rules. I like the photo. The little paper collar around the truffle makes it look like Mary Queen of Scots
.
22 November 2006 at 1:52 pm
i like your scientific approach to this! i think i should set myself a similar challenge and see what i come up with.
the only problem is that london has far more than 2 shops to choose from… it could be a long project!
4 July 2009 at 9:44 am
Hmmm, that was interesting. Looks like somethings will always remain mystery.
I myself has been trying to solve the mystery of the legend that forces you to have “earn it before having it”, for a while now. Could not understand much though.
By the way, good writing style. I’d love to read more on similar topics