Searching for the perfect chocolate on a Saturday, we drove down to Balmain to try Adriano Zumbo Patissier and Cafe Chocolat.
Quite simply, I’m in love.
The two stores are located within metres of each other, and both serve glorious things that will make you swoon. Our advice? Visit the patissier first and pick up savories and cakes, then take it to the Cafe Chocolat to sit down and order drinks. The patissier doesn’t actually serve drinks or have tables, so if you do it any other way, you will be in a bit of a mess, like we ended up in.
All of the cakes at the patissier look so amazing we don’t know what to try.
We settle on a Charles de Jour to share, and two quiches ($5.20 each) and a sausage roll to get the savory stuff in before the sugar overload begins.
Back at the cafe, the patient staff have our drinks on hold. We score a large table – and begin the feast.
Old school drinks menu. I had a butterscotch shake. Totally delicious, but not big enough.
Inside – the chocolate.
I took a few home for Alec to try, but the consensus was while they were lovely, the big draw card here is the desserts.
Macaroons – I tried Chocolate Orange, Chocolate and Chocolate Caramel – the Chocolate Caramel was by far the best. I will get it again! ($2 each)
Cute interior at the Cafe Chocolat.
Food – ready for go time!
Lisa’s cherry hot chocolate. It was far too heavy and sweet – it didn’t help that the day was about 30 degrees either!
Happy girls with the nom nom food.
Love the chandelier.
Finally – the Charles de Jour! Tart pate sucree, vanilla ganache, vanilla creme chantilly, vanilla water bursts and vanilla glacage.
One of the most amazing things I have tasted in my life.
For some reason we ordered a chocolate brownie as well ($6). In retrospect we should have ordered something more exotic, but we lost our heads for a few minues.
Leaning tower of chocolate! Nuts, chocolate, mirangue.
Adriano Zumbo Patissier
296 Darling Street,
Balmain
(02) 9810 7318
Mon – Sat, 8am – 6pm
Sun 8am – 4pm
Adriano Zumbo Cafe Chocolat
Shop 5, 308 Darling St
Balmain
(02) 9555 1199
Open 7 days, 7am – 6pm
