Happiness in a cup

By Cheranka Mendis

Tucked away at the end of Barnes Place is total happiness in bright white porcelain mugs and tall glasses. Offering the creamiest and thickest chocolate one can imagine to drink, Cioconat is on the cards to become a hot favourite among all chocoholics in the vicinity.

Having stumbled upon the place through friends who could not stop gushing about how good it is, Weekend FT took time off this rather slow week to visit this cosy wonder. And it did not disappoint. In fact, we were rather thrilled by the many chocolate wonders that were laid before us and the plethora of sweets that sat waiting, bright coloured and shiny, in transparent boxes for people to pick up.

Cioconat Lounge, the latest of a global franchise of outlets located in the Middle East and Italy, offers high-quality chocolate, related beverages and essences to its customers. Importing all ingredients from abroad, the plan is to deliver the same quality offered at their outlets abroad in Sri Lanka without cutting any corners and we have CEO of Cioconat Lounge Rumy Mohamed to thank for this.

Mohamed, who has lived in Dubai for over ten years, used to frequent these coffee shops regularly and when the coffee culture picked up in the Middle East, it was his idea to bring the same quality to Sri Lanka. “There are plenty of coffee shops in Colombo. However the quality of what we offer here is unmatched and once a customer visits us, we are sure of them stopping by again and again. Our motto is ‘don’t do different things but do things differently.’” Having opened its doors on 31 March, the response has been overwhelming, he said. “So far, so good.”

There are many things that are unique about Cioconat. With its interiors designed to radiate an European aura, as Mohamed explained, the area is spotless and spacious with lots of comfortable nooks and cosy chairs. “We want to present something unique. And that is not with just the food and the beverages. It’s the total experience.” Keeping in line with this vision, the staff is well trained and the kitchen is handled by a Chef whose previous work experience includes Atlantis Hotel, Dubai.

Even though their core business consists of chocolate beverages, the lounge also offers a variety of cakes, muffins and other baked products, a line of savouries inspired by Italian cuisine, tea twists and a shisha lounge as well.

In the chocolate beverage category, there are a total of 36 flavours to try out from, he said. With the chilly weather that is present these days in the evenings, the hot chocolate at Cioconat is a must try. Coming in two flavours, the traditional comprises of 40  per cent cocoa and fresh milk and the ‘essence white’ comprising of 18 per cent cocoa butter and fresh milk; the chocolate is thick and creamy and it is practically like drinking chocolate, no milk added.

Cioconat authentic Italian chocolate comes in 30 flavours and includes the classic flavours such as traditional chocolate and dark chocolate, aromatic flavours enriched with intense essence of hazelnut, mint, almond, pistachio to white flavours, fruit flavours and passion flavours etc. For those who count calories, the Lounge offers Cioconat light, chocolate with 30 per cent less calories.

Espressos, cremosito, granite, slush in four flavours - watermelon, mint, strawberry and raspberry, coffee specialities such as ‘Caffe Ginseng’ which includes coffee and various other ‘healthy’ ingredients and a 100 per cent cereal coffee with no caffeine categorised under ‘Orzo coffee’ on the menu and their designer drinks ‘caffeteria alla moda’ ‘Naami,’ ‘Eva’ and ‘Cindy’ (the former two being speciality espressos and the latter being a cappuccino) are also available at the Lounge. Milkshakes and mocktails are also on the menu.

For the tea lovers, there is ‘tisana’ made from herbal mixes and single herb infusion beverages as well.

Open from 7.00 a.m. to 11.00 p.m., there is a special breakfast menu to pick from. Then there are cakes – cheesecake, carrot cake, brownie, chocolate fudge and chocolate domino and fruit tarts, bagels, pastries, sandwiches and soups to chose from.

Italian dishes such as pizzas, a hot pick among the customers according to Restaurant Manager M.M.M. Affan, and Margherita, Bolognese, caizone, con polla, marinara, polo funghi are included on the savoury range of goodies. A selection of desserts and fondue served with ice cream, marshmallow, sponge cakes and fruits and a vertigo which comes in a three layered dish that can be taken out at each level is a must try, he added.

One must also not forget to take home a bag of gummy bears or sour worms from the purchase corner of the lounge.