Choc-a-rock!

A string of re-branding and marketing strategies has brought forth a newer avatar of Cad B. The first signature store of the newly-christened Cafe Chokolade opened on FC Road on August 9. “We have had a total makeover,” says Ameet Pahilani,MD of Cafe Chokolade. “While the name has changed for all outlets across India,this Cafe Chokolade will be the only signature store,with a different interior set-up and a new style.”

Cafe Chokolade sports a relaxed brown and white ambience. It has a small lounge area apart from the upper and lower seating arrangements. For starters,we tried out the signature chocolate thick shake,the Chokolade B (earlier called ‘Cad-B’). Priced at Rs 40 for a small glass,and Rs 55 for a large one,the shake has a new taste,with a bitter tinge to the chocolate. Ditto for the new Hazel Chokolade thickshake. Priced slightly higher at Rs 65 for a small glass and Rs 90 for a large one,this one,made of chocolate,ice-cream and Hazelnut paste,reminds you of Ferrero Rocher chocolates.

On offer are also home-made ice-creams. We tried a scoop each of the Choco-Chip,Kulfi,Mango and Roasted Almond,all priced at Rs 35 a scoop. The Mango and Choco-chip tasted delightfully fresh.

The best of the chocolate treats was the Chocolate Sandwich (Rs 35). Dripping with chocolate on toasted-buttered bread,it is definitely not a dish for the calorie watchers (for that matter,none of the dishes here are!). The Cold Coffee (Rs 50) and the Black Coffee (Rs 60) were a tad disappointing but then they aren’t part of the core products that Cafe Chokolade serves.

The pricing of the dishes is one of the most attractive factors,given that the target customers are the young students from colleges in the vicinity. On the whole,the fare lives up to all cravings for the bittersweet appeal of dark chocolates.