*I dined as a guest of Koko Black. All opinions are my own.
Koko Black introduced its new Summer Oasis menu and kindly invited me to check it out. I’m a huge fan of Koko Black and always book into its Winter Evenings of Indulgence each year. At 4pm on a Sunday, the cafe located at the Canberra Centre was nearly full. We snagged an indoor table by the window.
Our waiter mentioned there is currently a strawberry and mint iced tea on the menu (forgot to see the price). This sounded great on a hot day. Freshly cut plump strawberries, mint and plenty of ice. Not too sweet, I could have easily ordered another.
One thing that caught my eye from the summer menu was the Mango and Vanilla Ice Cream Spectacular (usually $9.50) so this was a must try for me. A glass filled with caramelised coconut crumble, two scoops of Koko Black’s vanilla bean ice cream and a sweet wafer stuck on top comes out, along with a small jug filled with mango coulis. Our waitress said she could pour it in for us but I preferred to do it myself (and get those before and after shots).
The mango coulis is super refreshing and tastes so much like the fruit. No artificial colours or flavours here. The mango is stewed first and sugar slowly added to it. It really does taste like a summer oasis. I also loved the crunchy crumble at the bottom.
Another new item on the summer menu is the chocolate hazelnut cluster (usually $10.50) which has a dark chocolate hazelnut brownie on the bottom topped with chewy milk chocolate caramel and Gianduja cremeux. A thin layer of hazelnut meal is sandwiched in between. The cremeux was like a sensational thick mousse. Absolute heaven to sink my teeth into and just the right portions of each element. The milk chocolate hazelnuts sitting on top dusted with icing sugar are also a yummy treat. This is great shared between two (a bit too sweet and rich to finish off on your own).
I can never walk out of Koko Black without glancing and drooling over the chocolates in the long display cabinet.
It’s so tempting to get something!
The individuals chocolates are pricey at a minimum of $2 each. But you can always control yourself and just get one..or two. From top and left to right, I chose the raspberry chocolate dome (I think is the name?), mango and vanilla (with mango puree ganache), sienna strawberry in milk chocolate, caramel mousse and the chai tea.
I couldn’t fit in the gorgeous looking raspberry chocolate dome dessert that’s on the menu, so the raspberry chocolate dome chocolate to have later was the next best thing. Close up shot of the inside below. Yum!
Service is always great here and I love that staff ask whether you want tap water as soon as you sit down. Prices aren’t too steep – around the $10 mark for a wonderful dessert. I believe the menu will be changing bi-annually now with just a summer and a winter menu. Plenty of time to order more of that Mango and Vanilla Ice Cream Spectacular.
Thank you Koko Black for the experience!
Foodgasm 9/10
Price 8/10
Service 9/10
FPJ score 26/30
