More cafe than chocolate

More cafe than chocolate

How much chocolate should one eat? More than a little, but less than a lot. These words, posted inside Whisk, Shanghai's renowned chocolate cafe, may be difficult to agree with for some; can there ever be too much chocolate?

However, the cafe may have a slight point, especially once you have sampled the other savory delights from its menu.
"Whisk is oriented as a chocolate cafe but has lots of other items to offer," said Alex Maze, one of the restaurant's owners.
"Many people have only heard of us because of the chocolate. So they are quite surprised when they come here and see lots of alternatives on the menu.
"It has always been chocolate and Italian food. We introduced the savory food because it is not the right time for just a chocolate shop here."
Whisk, opened last November, is not an easy place to find with its location set back from Huaihai Road. But it is certainly a place to seek out.
Looking at the menu, you are first struck by an impressive selection of coffee, ranging from the classics, cappuccino, latte and espresso, among others. But there is also truffle, iced or frozen chocolate, iced coffee cocktails and the Whisk Chococello. And that's before you even start on the Italian-inspired fare.
With a cappuccino at 15 yuan (US$1.96) and the rest of the menu at reasonable prices for large portions, it puts most standard coffee houses and restaurants to shame.
Its Italian menu is typical of any similar themed establishment, offering the usual pasta, paninis, pizza, risottos, salads and coffees. It is the attention to detail, however, that make this cafe stand out from the pack.
With its modern decor, it is designed enough to be pleasant without looking like it is trying too hard.
Whisk is a casual cafe cum restaurant said Maze, who also serves as the chef. "It is a place to be relaxed and enjoy good food at reasonable prices."
Recommendations for the savory choices start at the antipasto plate. At 60 yuan for two people it is great value and does not skimp on the trimmings.
Then there is the risotto. With five choices to select from Maze said they are a favorite of the cafe and do very well, especially at lunch time. "The chicken and mushroom is very earthy and although it is more of a winter dish it remains on the menu through popular demand. The seafood and tomato is a lighter choice for summer."
Indeed the risotto is a very satisfying choice, proving that Whisk does offer good food for a place thats specialty is not even making savory dishes.
Maze, a trained pastry chef, puts his passion for dessert to good use here with an abundance of choices available. Each dessert uses different chocolates to offer alternative flavors.
"Every dish I have developed over a period of time to cater to individual taste and preferences," said the Australian. "I am very proud of the new summer selection especially the lemon tart. However, people rarely try it as they all come for the chocolate."
Desserts range from indulgent sticky brownies to pana cotta and tiramisu. Lighter summer options include Greek yogurt, orange peel dipped in chocolate and wild blueberry ricotta.
But one thing to watch out for is that the generous portions in all the dishes may mean no room for dessert, not good considering this is the main reason to go to Whisk in the first place.
Upon exiting you can take one last look at the decadent chocolate treats displayed on thick slabs of chocolate itself. As the old saying goes, "strength is breaking a block of chocolate in many pieces and eating only one."
So perhaps that is the best way to describe Whisk, where the choice with the desserts may have to be in picking two or three. Its just a pity they don't deliver.