Simple joys are what we’ve all been relying upon in recent times. Walking into the heart of Alliance Residency located right next to Baypride Mall on Shanmugham Road, is sure to give you a rush of childish elation. Jars filled with chocolate buttons and lollipops in flashy wrappers will lure you into the tiny kiosk with glass facades called Marine Drive’s Chocolatier.
“When I wanted to get into entrepreneurship after 12 years in the IT industry, my mind immediately jumped to chocolates. I aspire to become a chocolate artisan in the long run,” says owner John Joy, who gives off a Willy Wonka vibe, minus the eccentricity.
Forms of indulgence
Saying one is spoilt for choice is an understatement while in the outlet which offers milk, white, and dark variants. I pick and choose, careful not to go into a sugar coma resulting from overindulgence. The center filling in the raspberry-stuffed treat I bite into is pleasant and people who love fruity notes will sure enjoy their banana and lychee alternatives.
“We’re currently working on expanding our product range (which has 26 varieties) to include fudges,” says the 34-year-old, as I try a crunchy bar embedded with roasted almonds. Don’t be scared to try out a rum-flavoured piece even if you’re a teetotaller. A wash of the artificial alcoholic taste is overtaken by that of the dark cocoa after a few nibbles.
The quirkiest thing you can have here is a chocolate pazhampori—a hitherto unfamiliar sensation for my palate, with distinct sweet notes of a melted chocolate coating and ripe banana.
Open from 11 am to 8 pm