Shocolate - La Pomme & Hazelnut Eclair

Price: $12.50 / $10.00

Rating: 4 stars / 5 stars

Return: Definitely - yum yum yum!

Atmosphere & Service

I don't live over this side of town, however I had a few things to do in and around Fitzroy so Miss Lily kindly agreed to accompany me for hot chocolate.  When I walked in, thankful to be out of the bitter Melbourne cold, I found myself in a warm and quiet environment but one that was full of energy.  Good music greeted me followed by the genuine and effortless greeting from the pony-tailed guy I presume is the owner.

The only problem with this hearty welcome is I am torn between chattily responding and devouring with my eyes the rather impressive looking desserts; but my parent's thorough upbringing ensure the desserts loose out just now.

I've covered the atmosphere in a previous review and I enjoy it airy light and space.  I settle into a comfy table and await my chocolate consuming companion, and the lovely pony-tail guy offers me water, menus and any other convenience I could want.  Fantastic service! 

I take the opportunity to go and properly spy the desserts (and the eclairs capture my interest) and the chocolates (the latter look good but pale into significance compared to the desserts).  But I must admit I am disappointed to see that the orange comes enrobed in milk chocolate, not something I am convinced of, but maybe that's just me...

And aside from the generally very good service, when we received our drinks - all beautifully presented - we also received several small squares of rather good origin chocolate.  A lovely, welcoming touch.

La Pomme

Miss Lily and I oohed and ahed for a while before she settle on this rather fabulous little white concoction called La Pomme which is described as:

Fresh vanilla mousse with roasted apple and black currant on a pain de gene sponge base.

And out it came, looking even better than it did in the display case; topped with a wee chocolate square, a big curly chocolate decoration and a sparkly smear of chocolate on the plate.

Taste & Texture

As Lily sinks her fork in we both look on in interest to see where this non-chocolate dessert from a chocolatier takes her.  On tasting it, Lily declares she hasn't had anything like it before.  Surprisingly, particularly when encased in white chocolate, this isn't an overly sweet dessert and as such is perfectly matched for a rich hot chocolate (review to come soon).  

The texture is fantastic and a little unusual, a concoction of various soft contributions, each moulding together to form a soft, sumptuous texture.

Happily the vanilla mousse is obviously made from real vanilla bean, as evidenced by those telling black seeds. The blackcurrant has a strong and authentic flavour which captures the real essence of blackcurrants. And the apples are stewed perfectly, apparently just like Lily's Mum's apple strudel - quite a compliment I believe.

But there are a few negatives, as small as they are.  The sponge doesn't have quite the presence Lily would have liked it to, and apparently some nutty liquor flavour wouldn't have gone astray in the sponge.

Summary

Overall this is a unique, distinct and very good dessert not to mention beautifully presented.  The texture is wonderful and the fact that it isn't overly sweet is a welcome balance.  This was really good, but fell short of great. Lily rated it as 4 out of 5.  From the brief taste I had I would have to agree.

Hazelnut Eclair

I have rather warm, fuzzy childhood memories of eclairs; I use to share them with my Mum (along with those rather pink match stick concoctions). At the time I felt glamorous and indulgent, hence the warm fuzzy feelings, but I haven't pursued eclairs since as I know, truthfully, hidden in the recesses of my memories, that these were faux choux pastry, with sickly, cheap chocolate tops and fake cream...maybe not so glamorous as a 30 something chocophile.

But this hazelnut eclair caught my attention; it looked phenomenal and stirred all those childhood associations - so it wasn't a hard choice for me today.

Taste & Texture

The eclair was confidently delivered by the French pastry chef himself (a nice guy from Paris) and was equally extravagant as Lily's with metallic chocolate drizzle on the plate and a big swirly piece of chocolate on top. (And yes, terrible to say but that is herbal tea you see in the background - a few weeks of hearty eating meant it was time to forego the hot chocolate on this occasion).

I don't know where to start with this - and maybe I spoil my review by saying up front - PERFECT!  I swoon at the memory of it...

The choux pastry was a true delight, it offered a little resistance and bite when I first sunk my fork/teeth into it but then it just melted in my mouth.  

The top of the eclair was covered in a sumptuous 40% Ghana chocolate (my only request for improvement could have perhaps been a darker chocolate on top, but I can hardly complain under the circumstances).  

Inside was true dessert bliss, a thick and indulgent hazelnut cream, made from hazelnuts and the aforementioned 40% chocolate.  Looking at this indulgent, naughty cream centre I groaned a little, expecting it to be somewhat sickly sweet, but not at all, not even at the end.  It was just a wonderfully flavoured and balanced centre that coupled with the choux pastry made a simple but exquisite dessert.  All finished off by a perfectly simple toasted hazelnut on top.  

Summary

Despite my love and obsession for chocolate I am not actually the biggest dessert fan, maybe because to often I am let down.  But I love a dessert that offers flavour (rather than just sugary sickliness) and wonderful texture - and this has both.  It excited me eating it, it excites me writing about it and it has me very excited about visiting Parisian patisseries on my upcoming chocolate odyssey throughout Europe.

I happily and confidently rate this as 5 out of 5 - this is a brilliant dessert.  I really wanted to get another to take home and the only thing that stopped me was the price - at $10 it doesn't come cheap (ditto with Lily's) but I would happily spend the money again to experience this.  We hadn't looked at prices when we ordered and we were a little surprised at the $12.50 price of Lily's La Pomme, it was a good treat but at $12.50 an expensive one.  But in the meantime, bring on the eclairs!

Related reviews:

Review of Lily's hot chocolate coming soon, but sneak preview - it was good...

Shocolate Hot Chocolate review  

Shocolate
3/296 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy
http://shocolate.com.au/

Reviewers: Shari & Lily
12 June 2010 

Comments

[Nick / Shocolate]

Thank you for the great review Shari and Lily.

If you do not mind we have added it to http://shocolate.com.au/reviews/

Please come in for a Hot Chocolate each of your choice as thanks, just let us know when you are on the way in - 03 9415 6556

Cheers

Nick (the pony tail guy) Shocolate