"I invite you to watch, smell, taste and feel my love story"
When I first enter Max Brenner, the Hallmark-esque phrase is the first thing that I notice.
Printed in gilt lettering, it graces the dark-chocolate wall of the chocolaterie, invoking a nostalgic, homely feel that flawlessly compliments the shop's other distinctive feature: the smell.
Wafting from a marble countertop where chefs clad in spotless white uniforms manipulate and mould the googey substance, comes the
IRRESISTIBLE,
DECADENT,
SENSUAL
PUNGENT
aroma of melted chocolate.
It fills the small shop in every form- sweet and creamy, dark and rich, bittersweet and tangy.
Chocolate is everywhere.
Tonight's feast consists of a simple set menu: no set entree, main and dessert (I mean, it's all dessert, isn't it?), but a triad of three dessert-style dishes. Yum.
The first is a small ramekin of melted chocolate. I guess it's to get our palettes used to the night's gastronomic frivolity, but it seems nice and simple.
It's nice and sweet, but after one mouthful, it seems a little TOO sweet.
A more bitter chocolate might have been a better- and less overwhelming- introduction to the meal.
STILL, it is really good chocolate. Rich and creamy, indulgent and delicious. It's truly a
mazing. It just might have been better towards the middle or end of the night.
The main, though, was really something to write home about! Two types of fondue- milk and dark, served with fresh strawberries, marshmallows, banana slices and cubes of banana bread.
Self-explanitory: it was awesome. I've never had banana bread with chocolate before, but it was delicious. As lovely as the milk chocolate was, the bittersweet dark chocolate really brought out the sweetness of the accompaniments. Dark chocolate and strawberries=my new favourite combo!
Last, but certainly not least, was the start of the night. Chocolate pizza with bananas and marshmallows. Yep, it really was as amazing as it sounds. Check it out here, under "sweet icons". Also served was the pizza with a crunch, which contains caramelised pecans and cornflakes instead of
banana and marshmallow. With this weird Javanese creation in mind, I gave it a wide berth, but those in our group who had it very much enjoyed it.
The banana pizza was to die for, though. Those of you who've had the pleasure of eating crepes with banana and Nutella (if you have been to Germany or have family over there, chances are that you have), will know how awesomely the flavours go together. Take that and add marshmallow. I know, I know. Ladies, get in line.
+ I really liked how we were served similar ingredients throughout the night (bananas, marshmallows). The dishes were tied nicely together.
- All in all, though, the night seemed a tad lacklustre after all the hype of Max Brenner that floats around Brisbane. I guess I was expecting something a little more spectacular (truffles, mousse?) after what I'd seen on the website, but, hey, it's still chocolate! And damn good stuff at that.
Max can be found at shop 1.1 and 1.2 Stanley st Plaza, South Bank QLD 4051.
Opening hours are 8am-11pm Mon-Thurs
8am-12am Fri-Sat
8am-11pm Sun
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