The chocoholic diaries

This is as desi as chocolate gets in Pune -- a Chocolate Paan (Rs 15) after dinner. Your regular sweet paan, minus the intoxicants, has chocolate sauce poured all over it. It is then frozen and comes to you chilled with an inserted toothpick for good measure.u00a0

The chocolate that has now formed a lovely thick coating over the paan tastes great settled into a chilled layer. Pop it in your mouth as a whole and it will be a fresh burst of chocolate and paan.

We have definitely heard of Chilli chocolate thanks to Lindt. But how about a Strawberry Cheesecake Chocolate? Cocoa Cottage offers this subtly unique concoction, which works really well. Then, there is the Sea-salt Caramel Chocolate (Rs 30). Shaped like a shell, this one obviously uses good quality caramel but we wished that the salt factor would have been more prominent.u00a0

A Chocolate Affair is Pune's blessing for chocolate lovers. Apart from the orgasmic hot chocolates that they serve along with as their Churros and chocolate pizzas, try their really unusual home-made Fries With Chilli and Cocoa (Rs 80).u00a0

The fries are coated with paprika, salted and drizzled with a light dressing of cocoa powder. A Chocolate Affair serves them with a small bowl of ketchup, but if you are a true lover, ask them for a tiny bowl of their dark chocolate instead. The kiss of salty fries dipped in smooth dark melted chocolate is heaven.

Bistro at Oakwood Premier is yet to officially open its doors to the public but we managed to get a sneak peak. The menu lists a really unusual Warm Chocolate Risotto (Rs 345). It comprises of Risotto rice blended in with warm melted chocolate. While it may not be your idea of dessert but it works well. The granules of rice burst with flavour as the chocolate sauce wraps itself on your palate. This one grows on you, so don't give up if your first bite isn't the best according to you.u00a0

Say Chocolate Cheese Sandwichu00a0

The recently re-branded Cab B, has definitely done a turn-around. Among their signature products of thick shakes and ice-creams, they bring you a few unusual offerings. On the menu is a Chocolate Cheese Sandwich (Rs 50).u00a0

This includes three slices of bread, layered with chocolate sauce and cheese. This sinful sandwich is grilled to perfection till it becomes a singular gooey substance. Then it's drizzled again with grated cheese on top. The sweet and cheese combination is a killer.