Single origin chocolate fondue! Taj Coromandel, Chennai ups the ante on traditional hot chocolate for Christmas 

Look out for Raspberry-flavoured Ruby chocolate to caramel swirls of Gold
Chocolate fondue selection with all the fittings
Chocolate fondue selection with all the fittings

It’s not every day you get to swim in chocolate. Even better, at Taj Coromandel’s Tea Lounge — you get to handpick purebreds in the world of cocoa — single origin choices that range from Raspberry-flavoured Ruby chocolate to caramel swirls of Gold. All flowing from a thick and luscious, seemingly never ending well of warm fondue. 

We find out from pastry chef Ravi Varma that the idea behind this was to up the ante on traditional 
hot chocolate drink people tend to gravitate to at this time of year. 

And of course, as he shares with us (as we indecisively go back and forth between macaroons and marshmallows) , “to do something out of the ordinary”.

Dipping and swirling strawberries (incidentally sourced from a hydroponic farm) in 80.1 per cent Bitter dark chocolate with beans sourced from Ghana turns out to be a combination we return to, once we have exhausted our chocolate options. And, the pistachio ladyfinger from La Patisserie (the hotel’s cake shop) doused is perhaps our favourite side, from an array of others that include home baked Scottish shortbread, vernier cakes and even hand rolled chocolate fudge.

Raise a toast
With premium wines and champagnes available on reservation, we can imagine nothing more luxurious than sipping on champagne and dipping into streams of single origin chocolate. We are recommended
GH Mumm Cordon Rouge, Reims, France
(INR 1,250 a glass) and Brut Moet et Chandon, Brut Imperial Epernay, France (INR 1,500 a glass).



We give our palate a quick taste of something savoury as the chef rolls out a flurry of high tea snacks (order separately) including slivers of Duck breast on sourdough and a Chettinad Veg Puff stuffed with Potato Ghee Roast. But as we predict, it isn’t long before we find out way back to our chocolate pool of wonder. 

INR 1,000 plus taxes for fondue with accompaniments. Pair with servings of tea or champagne (requires prior reservation). Savouries are priced at INR 225 upwards. On till December 31.

sonali@newindianexpress.com | @brightasunshine
 

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