L’atelier de Monsieur truffe, East Brunswick

In the dim distant past (pre-kids) my husband and I visited an adorable Frenchman at his tiny stall in the Prahran market. He was unusually passionate about chocolate and had a unique approach in treating it like coffee: stating its country of origin and caring about its ethics. His products were outstanding.

Wheeling a baby in a pram with a toddler in hand into L’atelier de Monsieur truffe yesterday I was excited to see how far he has taken that passion.

The hot chocolate: Upon my request for a hot chocolate the waiter suggested I challenge myself with a 70% house blend. I asked him if he had anything harder. "Ooooo, there is the 85% African", he said provocatively. Bring it.

Everything about it was special. The intensely bitter drink demanded slow appreciation. I could taste the care that went into the chocolate. The spoon and saucer were wood. The cup was a handle-less piece of stoneware that reminded me of my Grandma. Such a dark drink would not suit the faint-hearted, but it sent my mood sky high.

The price: $5.40 for the 85% African blend hot chocolate.

The setting: I loved it. Stylish, spacious, buzzing, fascinating and fun. The chocolate making equipment is on show and Monsieur truffe's products can be ogled in a produce corner.

Family friendly aspects: Arriving with a relatively minuscule single pram in the generous space of the l'atelier I was greeted with, "Hum, the pram is a problem". Really?

Besides this minor service blight the girls and I felt welcome. Crayons were offered, the chocolate produce section was a wonder to explore, and the kids menu was thoughtful. Toddler was beside herself (as was I) with the discovery of cute chocolate robots to take home.

Would I have another: I can't wait! There is still the 70% house blend to try, or perhaps the single origin of the day. The food was delicious and the chocolate shop is somewhere I wish to spend a lot more time. Do I have the guts to buy some 100% Venezuelan? Where were the goji berry truffles hiding? How many robots should I stash? etc.

Max Brenner, South Melbourne

I just realised I have no right to call myself a Melbourne hot chocolate connoisseur. I only just discovered Max Brenner, and what a revelation. 

Max Brenner's South Melbourne cafe proclaims he is "creating a new chocolate culture". His website says: "Chocolate is not just about taste. It is a symbol of contradicting emotions and sensations." Hear, hear! Don't I know this when I furtively dive into my 85% dark mood enhancer many times in my roller-coaster toddler + infant filled days.

There is nine (!!!) hot chocolate variations to choose from, all served in signature Hug Mugs. I was paralysed with indecision being unused to such hot chocolate choice.

I finally opted for the Danish Toffee in an effort to try something new. That was before I spotted the Suckao. I went a bit mad and had both.

The hot chocolate: The Danish toffee added to the liquid chocolate packed some extra sweetness to the beverage. It was smooth, rich and warming. It was definitely enjoyable but thoroughly over-powered by my Suckao experience.

The Suckao was fiddly and a bit of a gimmick but I loved it anyway. It was a "create your own" hot chocolate. I was supplied with a little pile of dark chocolate bits (chosen from dark, milk or white), a tiny jug of milk, a metal straw with a shovel on the end, and a little pot bellied vessel akin to a oil burner. The tea light burning underneath warmed the milk and chocolate on top as I (and my little girl) added more with my shovel and then sucked up the liquid through the straw. It was only a shot of hot chocolate but I could decide the intensity and thus went all out throwing in the lot. Heaven.

The price: $6 for Hug Mugs servings. $6.50 for the Suckao.

The setting: The South Melbourne cafe was comfortable, spacious and tasteful but ultimately too bland for me. Melbourne is full of cafes of character and this one couldn't help but feel like a cookie cutout of a chain of stores.

Family friendly aspects: The cafe offered plenty of room, a cute babychino with Max's quality chocolate flung over it, and the toddler's involvement in my Sukao's creation was a hit.
 
Would I have another: Absolutely. We are a family obsessed, reliving the experience throughout the day. We'll be heading to the city Max Brenner locations in a hope to find an atmosphere with more character to match the holistic hot chocolate experience.

 

Rowena Parade Corner Store, Richmond

You have got to love someone who puts that little extra effort into something otherwise simple.

On this thankfully picture-perfect first day of Spring, we wandered into the charming Rowena Parade Corner Store to find a pleasant surprise for a hot chocolate drinker.

The hot chocolate: Marshmallows and hot chocolates go hand-in-hand but rarely for good reason. They are thrown on the saucer and usually stolen by my toddler before I can get them in my tepid beverage that has no chance of melting them anyway.

At the Corner Store my large cup of hot chocolate arrived with a charred skewer of three half-melted marshmallows across the top. The melted goo blended sweetly with the particularly chocolaty froth on top. Someone had put in some extra effort for a lowly hot chocolate fan to flame them for me, and I certainly appreciated it.

The price: $4 for a generous sized cup.

The setting: The Corner Store is delightful. It is colourful and bright, cosy while comfortable, welcoming and relaxing.

Family friendly aspects: Popular with families, the Corner Store usually has a row of prams parked out the front, offers plenty of room inside and a courtyard out the back to spread out in.

Would I have another: Yes, I hope they keep up this little touch.

 

Brunetti, City Square, The City

It's late August and I, like just about everyone else in Melbourne, have had a gut full of winter.

Especially while sitting in Brunetti's this afternoon wearing not enough clothes being blustered by chilly winds. This outdoor cafe in City Square is always popular with tourists and folk in from the 'burbs. They are famous for their cakes and their barista is flat out producing coffee at a high standard (husband informs me). I am here to try their Italian hot chocolate in a hope it warms me enough to sit outside and pretend that spring is almost here.

The hot chocolate: Italian hot chocolate at Brunetti's is a thick, darkly coloured, more bitter than sweet fluid that comes out of a mini vat into your cup. No need for the barista to tinker with it, the mixture arrives at the cafe already prepared with ingredients unconfirmed. I opted for a squirt of cream on top which dilutes the richness a little.

The price: $5, cream optional at no extra cost. Or, you can take it as a shot for $3.30 (in an espresso cup) if such richness might be overwhelming.

The setting: Queue for your beverage in icy winds, fight flying rats (pigeons) off your cakes, huddle under ineffective heaters, consume your hot chocolate far too quickly.

Family friendly aspects: Luckily our toddler was asleep so we could beat a hasty departure due to the above mentioned setting. In fairer conditions it is a family sort of place since it is casual, accustomed to howling toddlers, and there are bits of the square to explore.

Would I have another: Probably not. Others around town do as good or better hot chocolate in a more enjoyable setting, no pigeon defeating devices needed.

 

Iris and the Secret Squirrel, Richmond

As Melbourne's obsession with indulging in tight places continues, Iris and the Secret Squirrel is a new place squeezed into a gap between two buildings.

With baby asleep and toddler showing no signs of doing the same I happened to walk past here. As I was silently brainstorming where to stop for a breather with my massive double pram the wider-than-a-doorway entrance beckoned.

The hot chocolate: It is worth mentioning as a slight cut above the plethora of ordinary ones around town. The owner uses a premium powder that includes dark chocolate, thus why I liked it. This makes for a richer drink in colour and flavour over those that are just a chocolate milk. A sprinkle of real chocolate bits on top was a tasty touch.

The price: $3.50

The setting: A long, skinny, casual and friendly space. It will be great in summer as it is outdoors and well shaded.

Family friendly aspects: Once parked other patrons could squeeze past us, just. That said, you don't venture down this alley without expecting cosy proximity to everyone else. Other patrons happily enjoyed my toddlers antics, not expecting privacy in a convivial place.

Would I have another: Yes, especially since I can get in the door.

Retrospective: The Chocolate Mill, Daylesford

About two months ago I drove for over a hour for a hot chocolate.

There were other benefits of making the drive: a unsettled newborn baby who I hoped would sleep the whole way, a need for peaceful head space without my motormouth toddler (who I just dropped off at her grandparent's), and a yearning to see the soul soothing countryside we once hoped to call home. But mostly it was the lure of a hot chocolate at The Chocolate Mill outside Daylesford.

The hot chocolate: The first time I had a hot chocolate here it gave me a head spin. I am a caffeine lightweight since I don't drink coffee but a hot chocolate has never done that to me before.

I only drink their dark chocolate version (you can choose from milk, dark, white and chili dark chocolates). It is genuine callebaut belgian couverture chocolate melted and topped with milk and froth. The dark chocolate version is not as sickly sweet as some other hot chocolates made by this method. The high quality of The Chocolate Mill's product made onsite without preservatives means it is as powerful, pure, and fresh as a hot chocolate can be.

The vessel the hot chocolate comes in truly compliments the experience. It is served in giant handle-less mugs and the staff always encourage me to mix up the chocolate on the bottom with the milk and froth on top. I wrap my hands around its sensuous shape and savour every intensely rich, creamy sip.

The price: $6. If you don't fancy driving over a hour every time you want to experience The Chocolate Mill's hot chocolate you can buy a bag to take home to make your own. Visit their online shop for prices. Beware, you'll probably end up eating up the whole packet via sly visits with a spoon rather than actually drinking it.

The setting: The Hot Chocolate Cafe is attached to the strawbale main building of The Chocolate Mill. The view is of a rustic garden and bushland. Of course, coming here to sample hand-made chocolates a major bonus to the hot chocolate experience. There are viewing windows into the kitchen and free demos at 11am and 2pm.

Family friendly aspects: There is a play ground and potentially wildlife to spot.

Would I have another: Hell yes. If we ever end up living in Daylesford I'll be there every week.

Jones the Grocer, Chaddy

I am deeply shocked that my first review is of a hot chocolate I had at Chadstone shopping centre. A place I regard as Dante's tenth circle of hell. A vast cavern of toddler tantrum-inducing sensory overload and fanatical consuming of everything same-same-but-different.

During the week my husband had an epiphany tasting some Mast Brothers chocolate. He had to buy some and the only stockist in cooee of us was Jones the Grocer. So, this morning we took the unprecedented step of meeting some friends at Chaddy for brunch.

The hot chocolate: Made with couveture Belgian chocolate it was sweet, rich and creamy. A streak of crunchy granules across the top added a pleasant texture to the froth on top. It is a big step up from the bog standard hot chocolates in most cafes, but shy of the innovative beverages others have introduced into the designer hot drink realm.

The price: $4

The setting: A stylish cafe with high glassed walls that let in plenty of light so we had full views of the car park.

Family friendly aspects: For a Saturday morning it was refreshingly uncrowded. No one seemed to care our toddlers had the run of the place. The kid's hot chocolate was the same high quality as the adult version (that said, my toddler would drink anything within a sniff of chocolate anyway).  

Would I have another: Was the hot chocolate worth a trip to hell? Not really, but when combined with the find of Mast Brothers chocolate we may be back. As a drive-by shooting visit.

For more on a unique product found in a same-same world, check out this review of Mast Brothers.

Coffee criminal

I live in Melbourne and I don't like coffee. In a city that takes coffee terribly seriously this makes me a criminal.

"I don't trust people who don't drink coffee", once stated a horrified friend (he obviously got over it). Drive by ST ALi in South Melbourne, speciality coffee experts, on a weekend and you'll see a long queue of people waiting for a hit. I just don't understand their passion.

What makes it worse is I am a full time mum living in Richmond. A new cafe pops up seemingly every five minutes around here. Most prams on the circuit (park, library, playgroups, etc) have coffee cups firmly in place on the handle bar. All mums proclaim they can't survive without it.

However, like everyone else, I love hanging out in Melbourne's fine cafes with my young family. I have to drink something while I am there. Thankfully the city is learning that us freakish cousins of coffee fanatics are thirsty for something truly great too, besides coffee.

Thus, I have become a Melbourne hot chocolate connoisseur.

I am starting this blog to chronicle my experiences hunting down seriously good hot chocolate in the city and its surrounds.