I need a doctor, call me a doctor...
As you guys may or may not know, I gave up chocolate for Lent. That's 40 days of giving up something I love and over-indulge in. I was actually quite fine with controlling myself so far.. "out of sight, out of mind", but as the countdown to Easter shortens, its been getting progressively worse! and @leannemark has not been helping!! (see #frockyeah's "Emergency Chocolate" and Parisian Macarons!)
So, this is what I've been doing at work: Brainstorming how to break my choco-fast. These are some of my favourite ideas so far (taken from timeoutdubai.com). PLEASE help me decide!! and No, I cant do all.
As you guys may or may not know, I gave up chocolate for Lent. That's 40 days of giving up something I love and over-indulge in. I was actually quite fine with controlling myself so far.. "out of sight, out of mind", but as the countdown to Easter shortens, its been getting progressively worse! and @leannemark has not been helping!! (see #frockyeah's "Emergency Chocolate" and Parisian Macarons!)
So, this is what I've been doing at work: Brainstorming how to break my choco-fast. These are some of my favourite ideas so far (taken from timeoutdubai.com). PLEASE help me decide!! and No, I cant do all.
Chocolate afternoon tea
Spend the afternoon deliberating life’s pleasures over a variety of chocolate cakes, brownies and scones with home-made chocolate spreads and jams, plus six different perfectly petite finger sandwiches. Wash down all that chocolate with a variety of soothing herbal teas – or, for die-hard chocolate fans, hot chocolate. The experience can be enhanced with a cocoa-inspired spa treatment, which includes a full-body massage, a chocolate body scrub and a chocolate lotion finish.
Afternoon tea Dhs85 per person; spa package and tea Dhs345. Axis, Hilton Dubai Jumeirah, The Walk at JBR (04 318 2530).
Chocoholic rating: 4/5
Spend the afternoon deliberating life’s pleasures over a variety of chocolate cakes, brownies and scones with home-made chocolate spreads and jams, plus six different perfectly petite finger sandwiches. Wash down all that chocolate with a variety of soothing herbal teas – or, for die-hard chocolate fans, hot chocolate. The experience can be enhanced with a cocoa-inspired spa treatment, which includes a full-body massage, a chocolate body scrub and a chocolate lotion finish.
Afternoon tea Dhs85 per person; spa package and tea Dhs345. Axis, Hilton Dubai Jumeirah, The Walk at JBR (04 318 2530).
Chocoholic rating: 4/5
Chillled valrhona chocolate fondant
In a restaurant that spoils its diners with a menu overflowing with diverse, intricate and inventive dishes, it’s little surprise that the valrhona chocolate fondant brings the three-course set menu or six-course ‘Menu Prestige’ to a wonderful conclusion. The fondant is encased in an intricately wrought honeycomb shell; you’ll almost feel guilty cracking into it. But your remorse won’t last long – the rich, cool chocolate that oozes out from its centre is divine, and its taste is enhanced by the shards of sweet honeycomb that get caught up in the flood.
Verre menu Dhs395; Menu Prestige Dhs495. Verre by Gordon Ramsay, Hilton Dubai Creek, Deira (04 227 1111).
Chocoholic rating: 5/5
In a restaurant that spoils its diners with a menu overflowing with diverse, intricate and inventive dishes, it’s little surprise that the valrhona chocolate fondant brings the three-course set menu or six-course ‘Menu Prestige’ to a wonderful conclusion. The fondant is encased in an intricately wrought honeycomb shell; you’ll almost feel guilty cracking into it. But your remorse won’t last long – the rich, cool chocolate that oozes out from its centre is divine, and its taste is enhanced by the shards of sweet honeycomb that get caught up in the flood.
Verre menu Dhs395; Menu Prestige Dhs495. Verre by Gordon Ramsay, Hilton Dubai Creek, Deira (04 227 1111).
Chocoholic rating: 5/5
Spicy chocolate soup with white chocolate granite
If you’ve bored of your standard milk chocolate dessert and are after something spicier, here’s your fix. Although dressed as a soup, don’t expect a bowl of liquid chocolate. What you’ll find is a moist dark chocolate truffle-laden pudding capped with some intricate chocolate work, and a pouring of chocolate sauce bedded on a slab of refreshing raspberry sorbet. The hints of chilli and South American spice, and the mix of textures and temperatures, all work beautifully. It’s heavenly and devilish all at the same time.
Dhs60. Asado, The Palace Address, Downtown Burj Khalifa (04 428 7899).
Chocoholic rating: 4/5
If you’ve bored of your standard milk chocolate dessert and are after something spicier, here’s your fix. Although dressed as a soup, don’t expect a bowl of liquid chocolate. What you’ll find is a moist dark chocolate truffle-laden pudding capped with some intricate chocolate work, and a pouring of chocolate sauce bedded on a slab of refreshing raspberry sorbet. The hints of chilli and South American spice, and the mix of textures and temperatures, all work beautifully. It’s heavenly and devilish all at the same time.
Dhs60. Asado, The Palace Address, Downtown Burj Khalifa (04 428 7899).
Chocoholic rating: 4/5
Mississippi mud pie
Seafire’s recommended dessert (this and the key lime pie) is served with a river of near life-changing milk chocolate sauce. The heavy pie boasts the texture of a crumbly brownie and is packed with chocolate drops, topped with creamy white chocolate mousse atop a digestive biscuit-style base. Even the most experienced chocolate fans should expect to be electrified. We just don’t want to think about the calories.
Dhs45. Seafire, Atlantis, The Palm Jumeirah (04 426 2626).
Seafire’s recommended dessert (this and the key lime pie) is served with a river of near life-changing milk chocolate sauce. The heavy pie boasts the texture of a crumbly brownie and is packed with chocolate drops, topped with creamy white chocolate mousse atop a digestive biscuit-style base. Even the most experienced chocolate fans should expect to be electrified. We just don’t want to think about the calories.
Dhs45. Seafire, Atlantis, The Palm Jumeirah (04 426 2626).
Chocoholic rating: 5/5
T MINUS 4 DAYS B*TCHES!!!!
