{Weekend Wanderings} Coffee and Chocolate Expo

Good Saturday morning to you, I hope you're keeping super warm and snuggly today, this cold front is really making itself known!




Last night I donned my warmest winter woolies and headed off to an event that I have been dying to go to for years, the annual Chocolate and Coffee Expo! Yes, I know, it sounds like heaven on earth...and oh boy it was.

I was lucky enough to get tickets at The Motherland's album launch back in April.

There are two expo's per year, one was held at the Suncoast Casino in Durban at the beginning of May and Monte Casino hosted the Johannesburg one, which will be running until Sunday the 19th of July.

As per usual with my Weekend Wanderings series, there are tons of pictures and overly enthusiastic descriptions of the day ;)

As you step foot into the expo you are immediately hit with the warm aromatic scents of the various coffees happily brewing, waiting for you to try them.As with any expo, there are neat rows of exciting stores showcasing their heavenly treats. So in my ever orderly fashion, I started on the one end and worked my way around. As I walked past each stall I couldn't help but think this is how Charlie must've felt in Willy Wonker's Chocolate Factory that very first day.

(Nutella Crepes from Rather Tart)

There is so much more that is offered than just chocolate or coffee, you can try your tastebuds with some Turkish Delights, or why not a Nutella crepe made right before your eyes? There's brownies and cookies the size of my head and a variety of candies that would surely brighten anyones day. With chocolates infused with Strawberries, Chilli's, Coconuts and Limes, you can find a chocolate taste for just about anyone really!

(Chocolate Shoes from Ganache)

Chocolate not your thing? There's cheeses and cured meats, Thai food and the best possible chicken strips and chips served in bamboo baskets from Something Fresh!

(Distilled fruity spirits from Qualito)

Besides the hundred's of interesting varieties of coffee's on offer, you can buy a taste of Brazil from the ladies selling zesty Caipirinha's. You can head over the Qualito for some fruity infused spirits or a daiquiri or two! Not into the fruity side of beverages? Why not make your way to Whiskey Rebels and try out a number of whiskey's.

(The Motherland)

There really is something for everyone at this expo. After you've purchased your treats and nursed your beverage, you can head outside to the Cocoa Mokka Music Lounge and enjoy some locally grown tunes to perfectly compliment the experience.

(Chocolate Creations from Zanoni)

If you're into a more hands on form of entertainment, you can venture to the Coffee Theatre where you can learn the in depth history and art form that is coffee. Each film runs for just over an hour and you can take part in a cupping session right after. Or head over to one of the Chocolate or Pairing workshops. Fancy yourself a Barista? Theres's a competition just for you to show off your masterful skills.

This expo is really one for any chocolate or coffee lover, it's exceptionally well organised and with such a variety of stalls to excite your imagination, it's an absolute treat on a chilly winters day!

There are two days left of the expo (Saturday the 18th and Sunday the 19th), so if you're looking for something to do this weekend, why not toddle down to Monte Casino...your tummy will thank you!

For more info you can click here

Until next time