What better way to get through the cold month of July than with a belly full of chocolate? Chef Stefan and his team at Trees Restaurant in the Townhouse Hotel have created a three-course dinner infused throughout with Von Geusau Chocolate, and optionally paired with Waterford wines.

The menu is:

Ravioli of confit duck, dark chocolate, chilli & ginger, with prawn popcorn, macadamia nuts, cauliflower purée, fermented savoy cabbage, pea shoots, coconut espuma, and a dark-chocolate-balsamic syrup. (Suggested wine: Waterford Library Collection Riesling R70 per glass)

Venison loin fried with a hint of cinnamon, butternut fondant, pickled baby beet, cranberries, exotic mushroom vinaigrette & dark-chocolate scented jus. (Suggested wine: Waterford Kevin Arnold Shiraz price per glass R85)

Dark chocolate fondant (a favourite with Townhouse Hotel diners) with rose-geranium chocolate truffle centre, raspberry marmalade, Turkish delight & vanilla-pod ice cream. (Suggested wine: Waterford Heatherleigh price per glass R50)

The menu cost is R278 for three courses (R458 with wine pairing) and R218 for two.

For those who can’t wait until dinner to get their chocolate fix, the Townhouse Hotel lounge has a variety of chocolate drinks on offer, including chocolate shooters, cocktails and decadent hot chocolates which can be pimped out with an assortment of toppings (marshmallows, Astros, peppermint crisps, cookies, honey comb) and spiked with a dash of Frangelico, Kahlua, Amarula or Amaretto.

For more information visit https://www.townhouse.co.za/