Do you remember seeing the movie "Chocolat" where a woman arrives in a French village with her daughter and opens up and shop selling sinfully delicious chocolate? She captures the heart of a man through the delicacy of her chocolate. I remember thinking at the time, I want to make chocolate like that!
Movie Chocolat
At the time of that movie, speciality chocolate shops were not seen as much they are today as people are now realising that tasting and consuming a delicious piece of chocolate can be as good as fine dining. It has become a common practice to receive a small piece of chocolate on the side of your coffee and we certainly look forward to it as an added touch.
The Chocolate Gallery, Mt Tamborine
Recently and on-the-run looking for a quick coffee at Mt Tamborine, I was lucky to come across the Chocolate Gallery, home of an abundant range of the most palatable smooth chocolates I have ever tasted. Proprietor Elaine Fergus, locally known in Mt Tamborine as "Fergie" was more than happy to gauge what I liked so I could sample her exquisite cuisine, and that it definitely was. The chocolates are made from high grade converture chocolate and have won many prizes. I could easily understand why.
Cabinets full of sinfully delicious homemade chocolate
A special treat for Easter was the making of a small round shaped chocolate with the outside coating of a pale yellow tinge and the inside a strawberry mousse that became more delicious as my brain unfolded the message that my tastebuds were sending it. I am a lover of caramel and I found a square piece of caramel covered in the smoothest milk chocolate that was very much to my taste as it was not too chewy yet pliable when bitten.
Originally from the UK, Fergie has lived several years in the US before falling in love with Mt Tamborine and setting there. She said Mt Tamborine has an English feel about it.
Many items to purchase in the Chocolate Gallery
Chocolates are not the only item Fergie stocks, she has T2 varieties, numerous styles of black dolls, jigsaws depicting cups and saucers, sweets and the like. Fergie advised it's hard to keep the supply up for these jigsaws as they are just so popular and simply walk out the door. She also stocks homemade Honey from a local apiarist. There are many more items in Fergie's Shop just waiting for you to see. The Chocolate Gallery in Long Street, Gallery Walk is a must for anyone planning a visit to the mountain. Oh, and the reason I visited the Chocolate Gallery in the first place, the coffee, was great tasting too.
Local Honey for sale
A saying from a nineteen century art critic John Ruskin "Taste is the only morality, Tell me what you like and I'll tell you what you are".