Unfortunately I found out today that the answer is yes. But . . .
It’s a problem that doesn’t last too long. I’m already over it!
Back in August I gave Janice a voucher to go on a Sweet Sunday Chocolate Tour and suggested that when she decided to go, I’d go with her (unless she had someone else in mind). About 3 weeks ago she phoned to book our places, to find that they were fully booked and today was the first tour with vacancies.
Something Janice never is, is late. The tour starts in the city at the Queen Victoria Building (QVB) at 10:30 am. It takes a maximum of 40mins to get to the city if it’s on an ‘all stops’ train and the station is at the entrance to the QVB. The train from here runs every half hour at 10 past and 20 to the hour. You’d think we would have been ok to get the 9:40 train, but to be really sure in case of hold-ups etc then 9:10 would be heaps of time. Janice wanted to leave at 8:40. I convinced her that we didn’t need that much lead time even though it was also the Santa Parade today. Fortunately although the trains weren’t running between Bankstown and Lidcombe, the buses keep to the same timetable so we got the bus from here to Lidcombe, got an express train (only 3 stops to Central) and arrived long before the shops opened at 10:00.
We browsed until finally meeting up with our tour guide and the rest of the participants – 12 in all (sorry make that 13 – we had a 5-mth baby along for the ride).
We started at a coffee shop in the centre of the mall where along with a cup of coffee/tea/chocolate we were served half a Florentine and given information on coffee beans – it’s history, process, etc and also the various types of coffee drinks. It was a lovely way to start our chocolate experience.
From the QVB we walked out onto Market St and along to Haigh’s Chocolates. There are only 3 Haigh’s outlets and the chocolate is so well know and tastes so beautiful that at this time of the year they have a security person on to allow only a few people into the store at any one time. (Apart from us because we were special – lol) Carmel (our Tour Guide) explained about chocolate and it’s processes to get to the stage of consumption. We were given a tray of nibs that we could get a taste of cocoa in it’s purest form – crushed beans before processing. At this stage they are quite bitter but you could still appreciate where this was going to lead. We then had a tray of samples – milk chocolate buttons (but big ones), dark chocolate buttons and a ‘Christmas Pudding’ chocolate. Although they knew there were going to be 12 of us they supplied enough for more than one taste of each button. Mmmm, dissolve in your mouth creamy smooth chocolate. Haigh’s are the only chocolate company that imports the chocolate in the ‘nibs’ stage – just crushed beans, not already processes. That way they can process them over and over and over until they make the smoothest chocolate ever without any grainy texture. We also had a voucher to get a discount on any purchases we made. I had already put my Christmas Pudding chocolate into the goodies bag we’d all been provided with, and this was only the start of our chocolate shops. We walked from there through the Strand Arcade (which Haigh’s is on the corner of) and out the other end and on to our next stop.
Carmel also shared a bit of Sydney history with us about both the QVB and The Strand which was actually incredibly interesting, stopped at a pavement landmark marking another bit of history and around past a chocolate shop which unfortunately is closed on Sundays, but we have been given a discount voucher in case we want to go back during the week. It was then on and past some of the most expensive stores in Sydney – Chanel, Bvlgari, Louis Vitton, Rolex. They all had their ’security’ doormen on duty. We did wonder if you had to show your Platinum Card to get entry! Another touch of history on the ‘legal’ buildings and St James church before arriving at Lindt. Only three Lindt stores outside Europe, all in Sydney and this one apparently the biggest. Not only a chocolate shop but also a cafe. (One of our co-tour participants said that she spotted that they sold a small triangle (quarter of one) sandwich for $10.
At Lindt we were allowed to choose a Maceron – flavour of our choice. It looked like a flattened meringue with a chocolate mousse filling. Flavours like Pistachio, Strawberry, Passion, Blackcurrant, Champagne and others. I think it’s a cross between a Macaroon and a Meringue. At this stop I bought 6 x squares of different flavours of chocolate (individually wrapped) for $1.50. That sounded like a good deal, so I also bought 2 x individual Passion chocolates. Hmm, should have asked – $2 each!!
By now I was starting to feel as if I was having a chocolate rush, straight to my head 
We headed back through Martin Place (Reserve Bank, Channel 7, and down the road the W??? Hotel – Anita has stayed there in the old converted Post Office – very very expensive) and down to David Jones (another history snippet shared about DJ’s) and into their Food Hall. Another choice of two chocolates, one of which is my all-time favourite. Cherry Liqueur with a real cherry – stone and stalk intact. Through another section of the Food Hall and out into a general food court where we were meant to get a sample of Gelatissimo. Unfortunatley they’d had a problem with their equipment and had to stay closed today. Carmel tried to find an alternative but nothing else like it, so she offered us another freebie from DJ’s. A different chocolate counter than before so a different choice to select from.
The savoury counter across from it was looking mighty good by this time. I couldn’t eat another chocolate, just yet!! Thank goodness for the goody bag.
Well although savoury sounded good, I knew I couldn’t actually fit anything more to eat in, so I swallowed and walked away.
To our final port of call. The Sheraton on the Park – right across the road from Hyde Park. Although the facade looked very modern, and all the fittings and furnishings were up to the minute, the entrance was stupendous in all it’s original grandeur. The most beautiful staircase which branched left and right with a massive floor to ceiling mirror. And they’d put their Christmas Decorations up – several gold Christmas trees. Amazing! We were led around to an area set up for us and were given the ‘drink’ menu. Well I think 10 out of 12 of us chose a Max Brenner Hot Chocolate. White Chocolate, Milk Chocolate or Dark Chocolate served in what is called a Hug Mug. A white handleless halved coffee bean shape which you drink from the ’spout’ end. Incredible. I would think Anita’s Hot Chocolate would be the closest I’ve heard to being anything like this.
If you like chocolate, and ever make it to Sydney on a Sunday, book yourself in for this amazing tour. Totally recommended, 5*+
In two weeks we’ve got our High Tea experience.
