We can think of no woe that chocolate cannot cure, except maybe the remorse of having had too much of it. But that is the magic of distraction. This week at TOAD we’ve all been feeling a little under-the weather, and distraction being what we needed, we called on IxCacao (who is the Mayan chocolate deity, and not a tropical disease) to lift our spirits.
Maya la Chocolaterie: Start by ordering yourself one of their hot-chocolate blends. The Maya Spice, spiked with chilli, nutmeg, pepper and cinnamon is smooth and rich, and gives you that little sting where you need to clear your throat after. The warm chocolate fondue here is divine but deceptive. You’ll find that the little burner-bowl that it’s served in is not as deep as it looks, so the amount of chocolate you’re getting is nowhere near enough to smother your strawberries in their entirety without running out of chocolate with a few strawberries to spare.
Maya la Chocolaterie, Khalidiya Mall (02 666 7401); Dalma Mall (02 550 6746).
The Chocolate Gallery: If you’re a bit of a chocolate voyeur, we say delight in your depravity at the Fairmont Bab al Bahr. Here you can nibble on hand dusted truffles with your nose pressed against the window of the chocolate kitchen and ogle it being made. If you’ve got company you want to impress, share the love and a fondue. They’ll serve you molten dark (or white chocolate) over a miniature burner with little portions of fruit, cake, marshmallow and biscuit to dip as you please.
The Chocolate Gallery, Fairmont Bab Al Bahr (02 654 3238).
Bord Eau: Here is where you can get chocolate fine dining style, and it’s called ‘chocolate extravaganza.’ This is essentially a lump of chocolate mousse encased in a milk chocolate sphere with chocolate sauce poured over the top. Within seconds of being served it will resembled a chocolate football that’s been left out in the sun. A sticky, gooey mess, which is a lot to handle after a few courses of fine French food, but if you’re brave, sit down and demand to skip straight to desert.
Bord Eau, Shangri-La Qaryat Al Beri (02 509 8888).
Sofra Bld: Friday brunch is when Sofra whips out its big guns and puts all the other chocolate fountains in town to shame. A trio of three-tiered, chocolate-spewing volcanoes steal the limelight at the dessert station, one white, one dark and one milk chocolate. They are surrounded by all manner of sugary treats for dunking. Happy birthday.
Sofra Bld, Shangri-La Qaryat Al Beri (02 509 8888).
Take it home
If the way you devour your chocolate is quite frankly offensive (or if you just don’t want to share), be a little considerate to others; take it home. Here are some of the best places to get your hands on the good stuff you’ll want to enjoy curled up on your couch.
Chocolate Company: Chocolate Company’s most original concoction is the Hotchocspoon – which is basically a chunk of chocolate on a wooden spoon. Step1. You are meant to stir into hot milk. Step2. You are meant to lick melting chock-dollop. Step3. …well the label says step three is heavenly. With some flavours (the Speculoos in particular) you do come pretty close. The Chocolate Company also do a range of chocspread (from tiramisu flavour to almond) and gourmet chocbars made with Valrohna chocolate.
Chocolate Company products are available at Candelite, Mushrif Mall (02 650 0862).
Paatchi: If Cadbury get first prize for packaging their goods in that signature shade of purple that will forever mean chocolate, then Paatchi get second for making something moreish look sports-car-sleek. Insane! But this here isn’t about packaging, it’s about the taste factor. In that vein, our favourite out of the great variety on offer is the praline squares. They’re so chunky and rich, you can have one and it’ll tide your sweet-tooth over for a week.
Abu Dhabi Mall, 2nd floor (02 345 5419).
