Coco Chocolate, 30 Dec 2009

After enjoying a quick brunch at Ripples Milsons Point we still had some time up our sleeves so we went for a bit of a wander around Kirribilli to look for somewhere to continue our catch-up conversation. By accident we stumble upon a romantically-decorated place called Coco Chocolate and, when there’s chocolate involved, the girls and I find it hard to refuse.

The small store is inviting, homely and decorated in suitably dark chocolate brown furniture. A contrasting cream-coloured, retro-styled Smeg fridge sits in the corner. There is a rectangular communal table in the centre as Coco Chocolate not only sells chocolates but also serves chocolate drinks, cakes and biscuits. At the back of the store a display cabinet holds blocks and blocks of differing varieties and sits adjacent to a shallow tub with magazines for patrons with time to spare and sit.

The store really is an oasis from the hustle and bustle of the outside world, possibly made more apparent with its serene coolness on this hot, humid and sunny afternoon. After circling the inside of the store like vultures a few times over, we decide to take a seat and treat ourselves to some sweet things.

There is a white, woven wicker tea tray sitting in the middle of the communal table holding a bottle of water spiked with refreshing mint leaves and some glasses. I am completely taken by the glasses with their frosted bird and tree patterns but unfortunately an enquiry with the store assistant doesn’t yield any answers as to their origins. Wifey enjoys an iced chocolate but unfortunately it’s not as chocolately as we’re expecting.

Now for the sweets! Of course we cannot order two of the same thing so Mistress goes for the pistachio shortbread which is short, crumbly, full of almonds as well as pistachios, and is coated by a layer of dark chocolate on the back. I’ve ordered the triple choc fudge cookie which I suspect is a Byron Bay Cookie by appearance but unfortunately it’s a bit dry. The choc chunk cookie which is also possibly from Byron Bay is much nicer but we all agree that the pistachio shortbread is the hands-down winner of the three.

A couple of months after visiting Coco Chocolate I happened to be reading Vogue entertaining + travel Australia, which had the following to say about the store: “One look at her pretty packaging and a bite of her organic chocolate and you'll be straight across the bridge to Coco Chocolate in Kirribilli. After 10 years of sweet success in the UK, chocolatier Rebecca Knights-Kerswell returns to tempt us with her range.” (Vogue entertaining + travel Australia, December/January 2010, p.20). I didn’t come away with any chocolate that day as I wasn’t heading straight home afterwards and was worried about issues of melting. I did however treat myself to these sugared violet petals which are due to become the decoration for some cute little cakes.

Coco Chocolate

Shop 12, 3a-9b Broughton St (near cnr Bligh St), Kirribilli NSW

Tel: (02) 9922 4998

Opening Hours:  Mon-Sat  10am-6pm

                        Sun  10am-2pm

happy eating!