Winter 2019 seems to be proving it’s around with a vengeance with plenty of cold and snow across Victoria, in south-eastern Australia. What better to do than rug up and enjoy a lovely mug of hot chocolate. You don’t even have to make it yourself, if you head for any (or all) of the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie’s three outlets for the Hot Chocolate Festival.
Hot Chocolate Festival
Victoria’s most decadent food event is back this August. The month long Hot Chocolate Festival covers some of the best locations in the state – the Surf Coast, Yarra Valley and the Mornington Peninsula.
Where to warm your soul
The Hot Chocolate Festival 2019 is not hard to find. You can enjoy one round and take another with you as you visit the other fun spots nearby. The outlets at Yarra Valley and Great Ocean Road have all-day cafes, but the one in Flinders is focused on just chocolate and ice-cream. If it’s not too chilly, there’s a lovely grassy area outside, or head for the beach down the road.
Yarra Valley Chocolaterie
This is the original chocolaterie, opened in 2012. It’s about an hour east of Melbourne, in Victoria’s premier wine making region.
Find Yarra Valley Chocolaterie at 35 Old Healesville Road, Yarra Glen, Vic 3775.
Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie
Head South from Melbourne towards the Great Ocean Road. The Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie is on the Surf Coast, 20 mins from Geelong. Find them at 1200 Great Ocean Road, Bellbrae, Vic 3228.
Mornington Peninsula Chocolaterie
This is the smallest outlet of the three, but be assured, the chocs at Mornington Peninsula Chocolaterie are still ‘to die for’. They’re located in the charming seaside village of Flinders, about an hour or so south east of Melbourne. Find them at 45 Cook Street, Flinders Vic 3929.
When?
The Hot Chocolate Festival is on from 1st – 31st August 2019. Yes! A whole month to indulge.
What’s on offer?
With 31 days to cover, the European Chocolatiers at each destination have come up with 31 Hot Chocolate Festival flavours. You’ll find them on a revolving menu of eight new creations each week during August. So whether you prefer premium milk, dark, white or ruby, made with couverture chocolate and artisan ingredients, you’re spoilt for choice. Don’t forget to ask where the ruby chocolate comes from. The answer may surprise you!
You can enjoy a Hot Chocolates from AU$7.50. Choose from a line-up with tempting names like Mocha Margarita, Hot Shoey, Troll Magic or Mad Chocolatier. Try ‘A Girl’s Best Friend’ made with ruby chocolate & rose champagne. Or how about a ‘Green Goddess’ with kale and coconut. If you can’t decide, this year the Hot Chocolate Festival has introduced new hot chocolate tasting flights to help you choose.
All ‘limited edition’ hot chocolates in the Festival’s line up are served with an extra shot of milk, dark or white melted couverture chocolate and a giant handcrafted marshmallow.
Other warming ideas
Sign up for a Hot Chocolate Tasting Session for AU$20 per person. Sip and savour eight different hot chocolate flavours, then create three ‘hot chocolate spoons’ to take home and whisk into hot milk to continue the decadence. You’ll have 50 different ingredients at your fingertips to make your spoons something special.. Bookings are necessary for this 45-minute hosted tasting sessions.
Each Chocolaterie is open every day 9am-5pm and you can enjoy free tastings and watch the Chocolatiers at work. The showroom has
of hundreds of different chocolate varieties and freshly churned artisan ice creams on sale and at the Yarra Valley and Great Ocean Road outlets you can enjoy all-day dining in their cafes.
For more information, contact the owners, Ian and Leanne Neeland, Phone +61 3 9730 2777 or [email protected]
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