Gone Chocco

Since moving to Melbourne, it had been a long time between (hot chocolate) drinks that I’d visited Bracegirdles.   Until recent times, it was mostly Haigh’s and Swiss Glory that got all the accoldates in SA, but Bracegirdles started winning awards for their chocolates and their cafes were always packed. 

Bracegirdle is actually the surname of owners Sue and Garry. No, they don’t resemble hobbits, but when I first met Gary I didn’t check his feet too closely – mostly because he was so busy to stand still. He and wife Sue set up the business because of their passion for great chocolate, top notch coffee and to create the ideal atmosphere in order to enjoy the experience.  “We want people to feel as though they’re guests in our own house,” which is why the main dining area has a fireplace, comfy chairs and a heritage home feel about it. This passion for their business also extends to each other – they wanted to work together but ironically they are now each managing a shop on opposite sides of the city and busy establishing another one in Beresford’s winery at McLaren Vale. 

On this visit I took my daughter Sapphire, my best buddy Jill and her daughter Lana. As first time visitors, all three of them inhaled the smell of fresh coffee (made by South Australia’s Barista of the Year) and warm chocolate when we walked in.  The three of them ordered hot chocolates, and I asked for a mocha

The girlies also had two chocolates each – Africa (70%) and Lillypilly for Sapphire and a milk chocolate kangaroo and rose cream for Lana.  They shared none of them, but proclaimed them delicious, as were their drinks. Jill had the lemon tart and kept murmuring, “Oh my God, this is delicious, I need to bring Kent and boys here for the hot chocolates, now I know why it’s full of people at all hours of the day….”

As for me, well how could two mere chocolates suffice? I needed four:

Two are their current biggest sellers:

Lemon Hazelnut – the lemon flavour arrives first, then a refreshing taste of fresh cream with hazelnut emerging at the end. Divine.

Atomica (coffee) – this isn’t as strong as some coffee chocolates are, with caramel reaching equal dominance with the delicate coffee tastes, which worked perfectly.

And two others that appealed to me:
Cherry Surprise – No gross glace cherries in sight, but filled with moist coconut and a very distinct hit of cherry liqueur. This aint for kids, so that leaves more for us adults to enjoy.

Crunchy Peanut Butter praline – I’ve been craving this since tasting – and loving – it last year and it never disappoints.  Creamy peanut butter and chocolate is a pairing that I used to think only belonged to trailer park troglodtyes, until I tasted it. This version is particularly good.

So there you go, neglected South Aussie readers – finally, some chocolate that’s available in your neck of the woods!