It seems to be the season of chocolates as several city restaurants and eateries are hosting chocolate festivals, chocolate making workshops and also offering special chocolate hampers and combo treats.
Grand Hyatt Mumbai is hosting a chocolate buffet this month serving exclusive dark and milk chocolates, each made with one rare variety of cocoa bean. “We want to make our diners aware about the different types of chocolate available besides the dark, milk and white. What we get in the market are a mixed variety cocoa beans crushed together creating chocolate with no unique flavours unlike the single origins,” says Nicholas Fernandes, Pastry Chef of Hyatt Regency.
“Each Single Origin carries the aroma of flowers, fruits, herbs or spices that are typical of the soil where it was grown, from across the world like Madagascar, Java, Ecuador, Grenade, Sao Thome and Arriba. We are also using organice chocolates for all the health conscious enthusiasts,” he adds.
The Westin too has an ongoing chocolate fest — ‘Chocolicious’. “We have 40 flavours of chocolates on display. Fruity flavours like orange, mango, berry to spice flavours like cinnamon, mint, etc are on display. Also chocolates paired with nuts, liqueurs are made on a daily basis. We also have chocolate making classes every evening between 6 pm and 7 pm,” informs Sachin Mylavarapu, director, food and beverage, The Westin Mumbai Garden City.
Hotels like Marriott and Renaissance have special custom made chocolate hampers. “All the Santa stories mention distribution of chocolate as gifts. Across the age groups, chocolate is a universal gift. It brings a mouthful of pleasure with each nibble,” says executive Chef Suresh Thampy, Courtyard by Marriott, Mumbai International Airport.
Senior Sous Chef-Pastry Chef Prashant of Renaissance Mumbai Convention Centre Hotel seconds that. “During Diwali the sweets made are based more on fruits such as mango, strawberry, fennel nuts etc. At Christmas, we include more of coffee, ginger and choco in our chocolates. The Christmas special chocolates of ginger flavour only bring out the true mood of the season,” he says.
But that’s not all, ice cream brand Haagen Dazs has launched new flavour cookies and chocolates this month. While online food site DeliveryChef.in has special offers on chocolates and brownies. Mad Over Donuts too has launched a special winter combo offer where it serves chocolate brownies and hot chocolate at a discounted rate