Experience chocolate nirvana with Ganache Chocolate high tea
High teas are no longer just cucumber sandwiches and scones. As Arno Backes, Master Chocolatier and Patissier at Ganache Chocolate says, “High tea has a different interpretation by every chef, but high tea and chocolate go together.” After experiencing Ganache Chocolate High Tea myself, I couldn’t agree more.
Stepping into Ganache Chocolate’s South Yarra store, I am overwhelmed by, you guessed it, chocolate. The recently revamped store has an industrial meets chic feel. Think exposed red brick walls, large windows, soft feature lighting, sandy wood tables and cool mint seating.
Taking my place at the table, I excitedly gazed at the spread before me. Unique hand crafted treats on vintage plates are beautifully presented as tiers. Knowing that some of these delights take days to create, I am certain that we are in for something special.
Start at the bottom tier, comprising savory options of toasties and quiches. If you’re a cheese lover like me, the pulled pork and cheese toastie, with gouda and cheedar cheese, pulled pork meat and Bechamel sauce on sour dough bread from Tivoli Road Bakery, will definitely satisfy.
On the sweet side, you won’t be stuck for sugary options. Arno’s favourite item on the high tea menu is the Parisian tea cake. I confess my envy knowing that Arno eats it everyday for breakfast. The cake has a beautiful sweet honey flavour, thanks to Ganache’s own rooftop beehives.
The selection of macarons are bright and delicious. I highly recommend you try to the lavender macaron, which is spread with rich ganache rather than buttercream.
The most popular item on the menu is the hazelnut fan slice. It’s a scrumptious layered dessert of hazelnut sponge, whole roasted hazelnuts, hazelnut praline, pailleté feuilletine and soft milk chocolate mousse.
Enticing us further is the luscious brownie mousse slice, a selection of individual praline chocolates and honey comb sticks. Despite leaving room for dessert, or in this case skipping dinner entirely for a Ganache Chocolate high tea, I am completely satiated.
Wash it all down with a tea, coffee, hot chocolate or a specialty cocktail. My pick is the Urban Cocktail, reminiscent of a luscious chocolate milkshake.
If you’ve come to love these delicious cocktails just as much as I do, you can purchase two cocktails for $13 every day between 5 and 7pm for Happy Hour.
While you’re in store, give in to your temptations by browsing the 500 retail products on display, including the milk chocolate blocks, Easter graffiti eggs and the chocolate popcorn.
With high tea season fast approaching, now is the perfect time to grab your friends and indulge in a Ganache Chocolate high tea experience. At only $35 per person, or $45 with a cocktail, you can enjoy high tea any day of the week between 12-5 pm, with vegetarian and gluten free menus available. The best part? No bookings are required for small groups, so you can waltz in after a day of shopping with friends and get your chocolate fix.
Ganache Chocolate
250 Toorak Road, South Yarra
(03) 9804 7485
http://www.ganache.com.au/