THE PLACE
Snuggled in a lush walled garden on the Fort Aguada road in Candolim, Café Chocolatti is a paradise for English treats and other global favourites. Away from the beach, yet, set in the midst of the tourist bustle, this elegant café offers a charming haven from the busy street just outside its garden walls.
The main facade which houses the reception, the kitchen behind it and the shop, overlooks the verdant graden. Flowering and tropical fruit trees conceal the café space from the chaos outside. Seating is simple and elegant, in an alfresco setting- with well spaced out tables under garden umbrellas.
The cafe has been elegantly designed as an extension of the owners' villa premises.
THE FOOD
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Almost all dishes on the menu are home-made, and created with love, which is evident when sampling the plethora of salads, sandwiches, mains and desserts served with hand-made accompaniments on offer.
As its name suggests, Café Chocolatti is especially famed for its home-made chocolates and chocolate desserts, with their decadent chocolate brownie garnering its own following.
Besides its delecatble desserts, a highlight here is the English cream tea offered all day that features the freshly baked scones served with homemade strawberry jam, crafted of locally available fruit. Another house favourite is the all-day Breakfast menu, served with typical English accompaniments like baked beans, bacon, sausages, fried tomato and mushrooms.
The café’ additionally serves up light meals and salads, featuring popular plates such as Falafal, Thai salad, waffles and an assortment of French style crepes, both sweet and salty. The menu offers dedicated sections for Salads, Quiches and Paninis made with freshly baked ciabatta.
With fresh juices, other refreshers like ginger lime concoctions, vanilla lassi, freshly brewed aromatic coffees and tea, it is easy to see why this café has won the heart of many of Goa’s residents and tourists.
The café houses a small bakery with an array of take aways to choose from - chocochip cookies, chocolate truffles, chocolate pastries and lmuch much more.
THE STORY
Nazneen Sarosh had been visiting Goa occasionally - on work and on vacation. A native Londoner, Parsi by birth, she was enticed by the its vibe here and by her Goan husband to be, Ricardo Rebelo, on one of her holidays in 1996.
A speech therapist by profession, she was far from anything associated with the culiniary industry. However, Nazneen always had a passion for cooking, especially, baking; regularly serving home-made chocolates and brownies to friends and family, who encouraged the couple to set up shop.
Café Chocolatti began as a small store about a decade ago serving chocolates and brownies. Growing into its present form only in late 2006, the café has seen a loyal and growing clientele since.
