By Pamela Nandi | Sep 01, 2018

July 7, is celebrated as the International Chocolate Day – a day to indulge in your favourite chocolate treats. As I am not a die-hard fan of candy chocolates except the white ones, but few of the chocolate delicacies explored so far in Kolkata simply touched my heart in terms of taste, presentations, innovativeness.

Chocolate Tea (Karma Kettle)
Chocolate Margarita (Masque Bar and Lounge)
Bakery Treats – The Oberoi Grand and The Lalits Great Eastern
Chocolate Macarons (Yahuatcha)
Ben and Jerry ice cream with brownies (Hard Rock Cafe)
Rich Rum Chocolate Mousse (My Big Fat Belly)
Hazaron Khwahishen Aisi (Thousands of Wishes) (Gabbar’s Bar and Kitchen)
Handcrafted chocolates (ITC – Fabelle)
Tiramisu (Serafina and The Hyatt Regency)
Chocolate Rosomalai Mousse (Starbucks)
Whole Lota Cho-co-lat Franken Shake and Chocolate Pops (TGI Fridays)
Chocolate filled Croissant (Chilis Bar and Grill)
Assorted Chocolate Pastries from (Paris Cafe, Cocoa Bakery and Kookie Jar)

They are not only classic and rich but also reflected some of the special moments during the course of my gastronomical journey.

To start with such a moment, a throwback to my food journey started in Sep-2016 as a food critic in Zomato. The dream came true on receiving the cordial invitation from Zomato to join the lavish lunch spread at the city’s finestworld cuisine destination @ Threesixtythree, The Oberoi Grand for foodie meet. It was a great pleasure to meet and talk to their legendary executive chef Mr Sourab Banerjee.

A box of handcrafted boutique chocolates came as a gesture from the house of The Oberoi Bakery – rich and creamy taste sensation. BIG THANKS to Zomato and The Oberoi Grand Team.

How about starting your day with chocolate  – sipping a cup of chocolate tea over a healthy breakfast. The chocolate tea ‘Maya‘ is black tea blended with chocolate and cranberries from the boutique Tea Room – Karma Kettle that promotes a healthy lifestyle. Mesmerised with the aroma and the taste.

Chocolate Tea by Karma Kettle

The super tasty rich  Chocolaty Brownies from Karma Kettle is a perfect pair to go with a hot cuppa.

Chocolaty Brownies by Karma Kettle

If your morning beverage takes higher preference over the cold ones,  the  American iconic coffee chain – Starbucks is ready to treat with its signature cold beverage – Frappuccino (blended with chocolate flavoured sauce) through its freshly brewed roasted coffee beans by using the highest quality arabica coffee as the base.

Frappuccino by Starbucks

The chain surprised the bong sweet lovers by launching the fusion dessert – Chocolate Rosomalai Mousse, where East meets West. Rasmalai wrapped in a chocolate mousse mix. Will drive you crazy due to its taste and texture. A classic breakfast bite to pair with its handcrafted beverages.

Chocolate Rosomalai Mousse – Starbucks

A snacky morning or an evening bite to the signature MACARONS from the house of YAUATCHA PATISSERIE which comes with an extensive collection of fine flavours with its tastes from sweet, nutty, little tangy is simply a bliss and the best macaron served in Kolkata. My heartfelt thanks to the YAUATCHA team for gifting the box of premium yummy flavoured MACARONS – chocolate ones grab a special corner in the box.

Macarons By Yahuatcha

Scoops of Ben and Jerry’s super premium rich gooey ice cream on blocks of muddy dense chocolate brownies served by the rock ’n’ roll-themed chain – Hard Rock Cafe is an irresistible combination on a hot sweaty afternoon.

Muddy chocolate Brownie with Ben and Jerry’s ice cream by Hard Rock Cafe

The bittersweet indulgent dessert – Chocolate Rum Mousse by My Big Fat Belly is an indulgent dessert will never fail to impress you after quick western bites.

Chocolate Rum Mousse By My Big Fat Belly

Fabelle, a one of its kind luxury experience of handcrafted chocolate creations that activates your senses like never before.

Fabelle chocolates are ITC’s premier offering in the luxury chocolate space. Made from cocoas sourced from the most exotic cocoa growing regions of the world.

Handcrafted chocolate creations from ITC – Fabelle

To break your hunger for mid-day meal, The American dining chain – TGI (Thank God It’s) Fridays has launched the most luxurious shake, I have ever tasted. Whole Lota Cho-co-lat Franken Shake – milkshake housed with Friday’s Brownie, Hersey’s Kisses, Maltese, chocolate doughnut drilled with chocolate sauce. from is dangerously delicious.

Whole Lota Cho-co-lat Franken Shake By TGI Fridays

Not to forget the soft dense fudgy Sizzling Brownies with chocolate sauce and vanilla ice-cream on a piping hot sizzler plate with the fizzling sound is simply a bliss at TGI Fridays.

Sizzling Brownie By TGI Fridays

The chocolate pops filled with ice cream coated with roasted nuts from TGI Fridays is truly a rich indulgent dessert to end your meal on a sweet note.

Chocolate Pops By TGI Fridays

Chocolate Pops By TGI Fridays

The collection of fine desserts from the house of – The Oberoi Patisserie & Delicatessen was joyous to fulfil my craving for sweet tooth on the occasion of Brothers Day lunch at the most renowned Thai restaurant in Kolkata – Baan Thai, The Oberoi Grand.

Chocolate Cube (amazing presentation) – Sticks of chociand

Chocolate Cube by The Oberoi Patisserie & Delicatessen

Chocolate Cube by The Oberoi Patisserie & Delicatessen

Devil Wich Fins – Belgium chocolate ice cream cake topped with hot cream.

Devil Wich Fins by The Oberoi Patisserie & Delicatessen

There is a saying – ‘We eat with our eyes first’ and Gabbar’s Bar and Kitchen has elegantly presented this from their dessert course platter – Aakhri Manzil (The Last Floor) in the name of  Hazaron Khwahishen Aisi (Thousands of Wishes) which perfectly reflects the sweet art in terms of presentation, innovative techniques and taste. The gooey chocolate mudpie served with vanilla ice cream and Oreo soil.

Hazaron Khwahishen Aisi (Thousands of Wishes) – Gabbar’s Bar and Kitchen

My reason to choose one-stop destination for delectable dessert buffet spread is always Eden Pavillion – The Luxury ITC Sonar.  Chocolate Mango Linear – an ultimate combination of rich and rare summer delight.

Chocolate Mango Linear By Eden Pavillion – The Luxury ITC Sonar

Another classic Italian dessert – Chocolate Salami filled with chocolate, pistachios, almonds and a touch of rum.

Chocolate Salami By Eden Pavillion – The Luxury ITC Sonar

My visit to the classic Italian restaurant – Serafina remains incomplete without digging into the city’s best fluffy, creamy Tiramisu served. The rich players in the game are the coffee, mascarpone cheese and cocoa.

Tiramisu By Serafina

The hearty Tiramisu served as one of the items from the outstanding classy array of exotic Italian food by the lavish 5-star Italian fine dining La Cucina – The Hyatt Regency Kolkata during Jonnie Walker Gourmet Experience touched my buds.

Tiramisu By La Cucina – Hyatt Regency

Satiate your taste buds during an afternoon ‘Hi Tea‘ with the classic French Delight, Opera Pastry made with layers of almond sponge cake soaked in coffee syrup, layered with ganache and coffee buttercream, covered in a chocolate glaze. from The Bakery – The Lalit Great Eastern.

Opera Pastry By The Bakery – The Lalit Great Eastern

The creamy filling and fudgy frosting on the top of whipped chocolate with layers of caramel crackers – Double Chocolate Eclairs always grabs a cornerstone of the patisserie world.

Double Chocolate Eclairs By The Bakery – The Lalit Great Eastern

Indulge your lazy weekend over a Sunday brunch by pampering your buds with light, buttery flaky French-style Croissant filled with rich delicious melty chocolate and drizzled with chocolate sauce. An iconic delight served by the American casual dining restaurant chain – Chilis Bar and Grill.

Chocolate filled Croissant By Chilis Bar and Grill

Molecular Gastronomy at its best. How about chilling out on a lazy evening over your favourite cocktail  – classic chilled Chocolate Margarita in a bustling bar, rocking crowd and of course good finger licking foods served by Masque Lounge and Bar.

Chocolate Margarita by Masque Bar and Lounge

My tale on the hocolate journey will remain incomplete without narrating my love for the assorted chocolate pastries – mouth-wateringly delicious from the 3 noted boutique \bakeries – Paris Cafe, Cocoa Bakery and Kookie Jar.

Assorted Chocolate Pastries By Paris Cafe

Assorted Chocolate Pastries By Cocoa Bakery

Assorted Chocolate Pastries By Kookie Jar

Cheers !!!