KEY POINTS:
Just call me Marie. Marie Antoinette that is. As I sit here in my French parlour in my couture gown and Christian Dior slippers nibbling on a chocolate macaroon, I realise that life can't get any better than this.
"Let them eat cake," I call out to my ladies-in-waiting and then I realise I have been dreaming. As reality sets in, I realise I'm not in France but at the Lindt Cafe in Sydney.
With its smooth, sophisticated European look, one would think that you were in a French parlour but I'm actually standing in a former restaurant and bank.
With queues that rival a rock concert, trust me, it pays to be patient for a seat.
I had heard rumours that the hot chocolate and macaroons were the best in Sydney, so I thought I had better see if these rumours were correct.
There are only three Lindt Cafes in the world and, thankfully, Sydney has all of them. The Lindt Cafe in Martin Place is about to celebrate its first anniversary, the second cafe is based in the tourist mecca Darling Harbour and the third cafe has just opened in the heart of the city in George Street.
While my friend and I prop ourselves up at the Espresso Bar, we watch the barista create magic and it's hard not to fall into a trance with the smells and sights that surround us.
The clientele is mixed, with corporates getting their sugar fix during the week, and shoppers and tourists on the weekend. The menu is creative and diverse, and if you don't have a sweet tooth, don't worry as there is an array of sandwiches, tarts and salads on offer. Of course the main reason people come here is for the chocolate.
My friend and I decided to try the two-person degustation plate. It's the perfect way to sample all the goodies they have on offer.
Luke, the cafe's manager, reminds me of a modern day Willy Wonka, as he tends to our every whim.
His enthusiasm when talking about chocolate rubs off and, before we know it, our degustation plate has arrived.
While it is recommended for two people, it would be enough for a small army.
Our plate consists of truffles, macaroons, hazelnut chocolate pieces, cake, icecream and fudge sauce.
Bliss! We have to pinch ourselves to see if we are really about to sample this small piece of heaven.
The chocolate truffles are gooey and moreish at the same time, but a perfect accompaniment to a coffee or hot chocolate. I had been warned about the macaroons but they shaped up to be everything I had imagined.
Crispy on the outside and soft and fluffy in the middle, it's hard not to fall in love with this baked meringue and ganache filling. The macaroons come in eight different flavours and the milk and dark chocolates are their best sellers.
I am left wanting more, so we decide to move on to the chocolate hazelnut pieces.
As we start to rub our bellies, we realise that we are only half way through this sumptuous collection of chocolate.
Our next challenge is a slice of the St Moritz cake. These cakes are available as a slice or you can buy them whole, which I recommend for the next special occasion.
If this is your first time and you are looking for something that incorporates milk, dark and white chocolate, the St Moritz is for you.
As I take a deep breath and raise the fork to my mouth, I am bewildered by the different flavours that assail my taste buds. With layers of the three chocolates, separated by almond cake topped with a Lindt chocolate tablet, I have to hold on to my seat firmly for the explosion in my mouth.
The taste is eclectic and velvety in one and I can't help but feel disappointed as I eat the last morsel.
Is that everything? Not yet. As we make our way through the vanilla bean icecream, topped with hot fudge sauce, we wonder if we can take much more.
Next we move on to our hot chocolate. I would like to call myself a connoisseur. I have sat in cafes around the world sampling hot chocolate, so I know my standards are quite high.
With the hot chocolate coming in milk and dark, and with rumours of a white hot chocolate soon to surface, we know we were in for a treat.
Served on a platter, a jug of hot frothy milk and a pot of pure hot Lindt chocolate awaits me. "Tres bon," I call out to the patrons sitting on either side of me as I take a sip of the steaming hot blend. For diet conscious people, this may not be a wise choice but, if you need a little bit of luxury in your life, I highly recommend it.
The hot chocolate is not just the best in Sydney but I rate it as the best in the world.
Once you finish your meal, it is worthwhile taking home a souvenir. Lindt Balls are the ideal gift and they come in eight different flavours.
Your chocolate experience doesn't have to end here. Once a month, the cafe holds chocolate appreciation evenings.
Will I be back? Yes, tomorrow.
