Lizzy's Chocolates - Hot Chocolate

Tasted: Dark Hot Chocolate 

Price: $3.50

Rating: 3.5 stars 

Buy again: Yes, it's pretty good, local and good value

I've been living in Carnegie for more well over a year and keep meaning to pop into Lizzy's Chocolates which is just around the corner, but strangely have never quite made it.  But I had a sunny day off work and it was due time I made my visit.

Despite my slackness about visiting, I have come across Lizzy's on a number of occasions, at festivals and being sold in other chocolate stores.  I'd also read some previous reviews, one of which extolled the friendly and chatty nature of the owners, I figured Monday afternoons are probably quiet so I was looking forward to a good chocolate chin wag as part of my visit.

Atmosphere

So off I went...I entered and was served very promptly - a little too promptly.  Don't get me wrong, the girl who served me was lovely but as soon as I had closed the door I was being asked how she could help me - but I needed (and wanted) to peruse what Lizzy's had to offer before being forced into answering that.  And there is a lot on offer so said perusal time is a necessity.

I had intended to partake of a hot chocolate so ordered this which gave myself time to look around as it was being made.  I personally chose the dark hot chocolate but there is also milk and chilli along with iced chocolate.) 

I must admit I find the small store a little overwhelming - there's a lot of chocolate items in here, and of all types.  And for most this would be manna from heaven but I am very particular, some would say (and have said) fussy or even snobby, but whilst there are numerous goodies it didn't speak to me of refinement or artisinal chocolates.  I do concede this may just be me, I really do expect a lot of people would be over-joyed by the offerings but for me it was a little unrefined and same-same.  A lot of products kind of reminded me of those on offer at The Chocolate Box.  But I do stress they aren't bad at all, just my aesthetic and appreciation lies elsewhere.

So moving on...back to the service, I was impressed that the girl serving me automatically took my drink outside for me when I mentioned I wanted to sit in the sun - which avoided me clumsily trying to carry a drink and open a door, a definite recipe for clumsy disaster.

Sight

The hot chocolate looks good however on my first taste, and the first taste is almost always about the froth, I found it rather disappointing.  The froth is too airy and lacks any density or creaminess - and there is nothing better than a good hot chocolate with a creamy decadent froth.  Atop my hot chocolate is a generous sprinkling of what looked like powdered chocolate, however from a chocolatier I would have liked to have seen actual chocolate shavings.

So the start wasn't too crash hot and I admit going forward I wasn't really expecting much.

Taste & Texture

But what a wonderful thing when you have low expectations and they are well and truly exceeded!  

I believe that Lizzy's make their hot chocolate from melted chocolate (Belgium so I assume most likely Callebaut) and it shows.  In fact some of the chocolate spilt on the side of my cup and it thickened a bit as I sat which I could then eat - yummy.

The hot chocolate offers up lots of flavour although I am not sure that I found much that was overly dark about it but that's okay as at least it is very chocolatey.  

The texture is a little thin, but the flavour makes up for that although as I continue I realise that the drink is a little sweeter than I would have liked, particularly as I get towards the end.  

Otherwise, serviettes would have been nice.  Ditto a glass of water.

Summary

This was a good hot chocolate that was full flavoured but maybe a little over-sweet.  A better froth would go a long way to making this a better hot chocolate.

I also find the atmosphere a little odd.  It's almost like the hot chocolate business is a side business for Lizzy's and it isn't setup for true cafe culture and I don't feel there is much opportunity to linger.  But I would still say this was a good hot chocolate and I will be returning for more, particularly given it is my local.  

I rate this as 3.5 out of 5.