A classy chocolaterie
When Wissam Shouman from Maya La Chocolaterie rang us this week and said, “You must come and review our new chocolate bar,” we agreed wholeheartedly, “Yes – we must come!” and hightailed it to Khalidiyah Mall.
On arrival two words spring to mind: classy and chocolate.
The décor is the colour of white, milk and dark chocolate. The chocolaty theme extends from the chocolate-square wall tiles, cube light-shades, to the chocolate drizzle emblem on the menu.
We laugh as we notice tri-coloured pipes attached to huge chocolate drums – the pipes proceed up the wall, along the roof and connect to huge chocolate dispensers located behind the counter – very Charlie and the Chocolate Factory!
We are seated promptly and we scan the menu items: chocolate fondue, waffles, frozen chocolate shakes, sugar-free desserts, crepes, cookies and a lot more besides. Spoilt for choice, we eventually decide on the chocolate fondue, Maya’s signature item; and waffles with pure melted chocolate, fresh strawberries and vanilla ice-cream.
Our mouth waters when we first catch a glimpse of the chocolate fondue. Velvety smooth milk-chocolate is served in what looks like an oil burner and a tea-light candle is used to keep the melted chocolate warm. We use a little silver prong to dip the marshmallows, banana slices and mini cakes into the creamy chocolate. This decadent spread is nothing short of delicious.
We also try little balls of ice-cream dipped in a sugar-free chocolate. We expect the ice-cream to fall into the chocolate, but actually the chocolate quickly hardens around the frozen dessert and it resembles a lollipop. To our surprise and delight the sugar-free chocolate is every bit as tasty as the regular chocolate. We tell ourselves that this sweet treat is so low in calories it’s practically a health food, as we help ourselves to another serving.
The Belgian waffles live up to our expectations and the dipping chocolate is divine. We learn that all of the chocolate has been specially imported from Belgium and the cookies and desserts are freshly baked each morning in Maya’s sister branch in Delma mall.
The company slogan is, ‘Chocolate for a better world,’ and we know that our world seems a better place when we are treating ourself and indulging in the finer things in life.
What? Maya La Chocolaterie
Where? Khalidiyah Mall
Cost: Most items between AED 20 and AED 40
We say: A chocolate-lover's dream
Contact: 02 666 7401
Catriona Doherty
