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.