Carre Noir, Mosman

Sydney somehow, strangely has become somewhat of a chocolate capital. Sydney-siders can’t get enough of the stuff and not only were we blessed with the very first Lindt chocolate store, we had a treasure trove of chocolatiers that would make any hardened cocoa bean addict weep chocolate tears of joy. So when Anne Maree, herself a chocolate addict told me about a new kid on the block in my former suburb of Mosman I was intrigued. That night we dined with Deniz Göktürk who opened up Carre Noir in Mosman. Denis is Turkish and she came to settle in Australia after a career in finance and logistics but creativity won out in the end.

She told us a tale that had us silent about her creation, chocolate cream which she premiered in the Europain 2005 exhibition in Paris. Her chocolate cream, a stable and easy to use pastry cream that can be used  in filling, coating and shaping cakes attracted much buzz there and many companies bid in order to use it. She went with Rich’s in New York where she worked to produce the cream and it was also sent to the Culinary Institute of America and she currently holds a worldwide patent for the cream. Eager to try this, Mr NQN and I visited Carre Noir the next day.

Carre Noir literally means “black square” and was opened here on Military Road three months ago. The display is filled with chocolate eggs, macarons in pistachio, raspberry, coffee and caramel, house made cakes featuring her patented chocolate cream.

Mayan Hot Chocolate $6.50

We take a seat on the plush Louis XIVth style chairs which Deniz had custom made . We try the hot chocolate which is made by Andreas, the Italian barista. The hot chocolate features single origin chocolate shavings from Ecuador, Peru and Ghana. We choose the Mayan hot chocolate which 70%Peru chocolate shavings with cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger. It also  has a most unusual chocolate accompaniment. I ask Deniz what kind of truffle it is and she says that it isn’t even a truffle, it’s just something little that she whipped up. The chocolate is pliable and soft and it melts on the tongue and sticks to it. The hot chocolate is smooth and very thick and rich.

Macarons $2.50 each

It’s no secret that I love macarons and that these sweet little beauties are hard to make. My favourite macarons are at Pierre Herme who happen to make them strong in flavour and delicate in touch and these are lovely and delicate. My favourite is the lemon macaron which is heady in lemon. The pistachio has that almondy taste that I often find with pistachio products.

Passionfruit truffles and coconut chocolates $3 each

I love passionfruit chocolate so we try some of the truffles as well as the coconut chocolate. Deniz says that she likes making chocolates without a thick layer around it so that they melt in the mouth better and she uses Michel Cluizel chocolate which is a premium brand of chocolate. The shell is paper thin and simply serves to hold in the soft cream insides which are strong in flavour.  All of the ingredients are fresh and she uses fresh chillis and fresh peppermint leaves.

carre noir heart cake

Raspberry Heart cake $8

Inside the raspberry Heart cake filled with white chocolate cream and raspberries

We try her cake with the white chocolate cream. It sold well during Valentines day and features a diamond shaped sugar decoration. The whole cake was spray gunned with red to give it that rosey red shade. It’s filled with the white chocolate cream and raspberries and the white chocolate cream resembles a delicious chocolate mousse mixed with a whipped cream it is light and ethereal.

So tell me Dear Reader, how often do you eat chocolate? Daily? Weekly? Hourly? ;)

Carre Noir

672 Military Rd, Mosman, NSW
Tel: +61 (02) 9960 8825
Open Tuesday-Sunday 10am-5:30pm
Closed Mondays

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55 Comments | Add your own

  • 1. Maria | June 21st, 2010 at 5:08 am | #

    I’ve popped in here a couple of times now! Lovely little shop :) Yep, I eat chocolate almost daily, and my choice is the chocolate containing 99% cocoa!

  • 2. Linda V | June 21st, 2010 at 6:55 am | #

    I eat chocolate a couple of times a day, but I’m still a Aus size 6 – 8. I swear it’s good for you. Carre Noir looks like chocolate heaven.

  • 3. Amy@takentopieces | June 21st, 2010 at 7:07 am | #

    These days I bake with chocolate more than eat it on its own. I do love to go to chocolatiers, though, and do so whenever I can. They have spoilt me for regular chocolate.

  • 4. Miss Emma Louise | June 21st, 2010 at 7:31 am | #

    Looks fantastic… another place on the ‘to try’ list!

  • 5. Lisa (bakebikeblog) | June 21st, 2010 at 7:47 am | #

    oh boy – I LOVE the look of that hot chocolate!!!

  • 6. Cakelaw | June 21st, 2010 at 8:07 am | #

    What a delightful place! Everything looks wonderful, and the heart cake is perfect.

    I eat chocolate daily – of course!

  • 7. Liss | June 21st, 2010 at 8:23 am | #

    I shall not answer the chocolate question on the grounds that it might incriminate me :P

    That raspberry heart cakes looks divine, and a special treat I must have one day!

  • 8. Sydney Shop Girl | June 21st, 2010 at 8:24 am | #

    Sigh. What a beautiful store and story. Patented chocolate cream right here in Sydney. I am so there.

    I am terrible. I eat chocolate every day. After lunch at work I have a cup of green tea and some chocolate. Lately it’s been a Lindor ball or a mini sized Boost etc.

    SSG xxx

  • 9. sandra | June 21st, 2010 at 8:38 am | #

    Winter is definitely the season for all things chocolate- especially hot chocolate or chocolate puddings. I would like to eat it daily but it is more like once a week.

  • 10. Debra Kolkka | June 21st, 2010 at 8:41 am | #

    Look at that hot chocolate! Now I have to go to Sydney.

  • 11. gastronomy gal | June 21st, 2010 at 8:46 am | #

    Oh goodness, I have been eating chocolate daily at the moment- it has to stop though. I just can’t get enough! The passionfruit truffles are a gorgeous colour.

  • 12. Zina @ tastedbytwo | June 21st, 2010 at 9:09 am | #

    Wow, what a great find. I’ll have to pop in and try the macarons. That heart cake is so cute!

  • 13. Mary Preston | June 21st, 2010 at 9:10 am | #

    Must have. Must visit. Thank you for the heads up.

  • 14. john@heneedsfood | June 21st, 2010 at 9:23 am | #

    The passionfruit truffles look divine. I’ve got to say I’m not a huge chocolate eater, maybe once every few months?

  • 15. Alex | June 21st, 2010 at 9:40 am | #

    I am a weekly chocolate eater, though I’m sure a Mayan hot chocolate could change my mind :)

  • 16. Lulu | June 21st, 2010 at 9:51 am | #

    I eat chocolate as much as possible, good for the soul ;)

  • 17. Julia | June 21st, 2010 at 9:57 am | #

    I would eat chocolate hourly (waking hours only, of course…) if I could!

  • 18. Kerrin @ MyKugelhopf | June 21st, 2010 at 10:06 am | #

    mmm, now this is my kinda post ! ;) how often do i eat chocolate ? well that’s easy… daily for sure. usually a square or two in the afternoon. and there’s often a chocolately midnight snack tweet from me too!!

    i looooove tasting new brands. my current blog post is about my finds in london. julia (melanger) commented there about quizzing you on salted caramel in sydney. trend is over, huh ? looks like you have other delicacies here to tempt you !! enjoy :)

    ps – what’s up with two c’s on the macaron sign above ?! ;)

  • 19. Loll | June 21st, 2010 at 10:19 am | #

    Lorraine, your visit sounds amazing. Sadly I’ve been forced off sugar and dairy for a month, but as soon as I’m back on I’ll be there!
    (And before the enforced starvation, I ate chocolate once a day!)

  • 20. Carolyn Jung | June 21st, 2010 at 10:20 am | #

    Sydney has become the capital of chocolate for Australia? Good gracious, and I only made it to Melbourne? I totally feel deprived now, especially after seeing that thick, luscious cup of Mayan hot chocolate.

  • 21. InTolerantChef | June 21st, 2010 at 10:24 am | #

    1 square of good quality black chocolate is all I need. I take it to work with me when I know we’ll be there late. Don’t waste time with lesser brands, quality will give you the hit faster than quantity!

  • 22. Faith | June 21st, 2010 at 10:32 am | #

    I had no idea that Sydney had so much chocolate to offer! Now I know I need to convince Mike that it’s time we take a vacation…ASAP! I eat a small (usually :) ) piece of dark chocolate every day or every other day…only the good stuff though. ;)

  • 23. delicieux | June 21st, 2010 at 10:41 am | #

    That raspberry heart cake has made my mouth water. It looks SO delicious.

    As for eating chocolate, I’d love to indulge daily, but sadly I can’t. Anyway, if you have something good too often you don’t appreciate it’s specialness. Weekly is probably how often I indulge.

  • 24. food.4.two | June 21st, 2010 at 10:47 am | #

    I like! Not enough chocolate shops in Sydney, I say!

  • 25. jess (fushmush) | June 21st, 2010 at 11:02 am | #

    I too eat chocolate once a day. But I’m quite simple in my chocolate tastes and am more than happy with a cadbury freddo (usually giant size though, oops!).

    Your comments show that women really can’t live without chocolate. Most of partake daily!

  • 26. Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial | June 21st, 2010 at 11:33 am | #

    I’m a recent convert to Michel Cluizel, so it’s very exciting to find people using it as a base chocolate – most Sydney choc stores use Callebaut!

  • 27. Lilia | June 21st, 2010 at 11:39 am | #

    Living in the city, I can get access to Max Brenner everytime I want to. However, I would go there once a forthnight or once a month. Now, I heard that Colifax produce best chocolate drink and this Carre Noir cafe is worth to visit.
    Where is the chocolate cream which she patented and talked about? Is it inside the heart cake? If not, did you try it?

  • 28. Amanda | June 21st, 2010 at 12:28 pm | #

    I love chocolate, but wonderful chocolate shops – aside from our own Haighs – are thin on the ground here in Adelaide.
    I’m hoping that will change very soon ….

  • 29. Paquita | June 21st, 2010 at 1:03 pm | #

    Daily. Just a little…usually.

  • 30. Tenina | June 21st, 2010 at 1:35 pm | #

    I am over in less than a month, this is definitely on my must do list! Look at that Mayan chocolate, my hips grew 3 inches wider just drooling at the screen!

  • 31. Portuguese Kitchen | June 21st, 2010 at 1:50 pm | #

    Great place.I’d love to eat it every day but only eat it monthly.

  • 32. nurm@approximatecook | June 21st, 2010 at 2:12 pm | #

    O my Lord, those passionfruit truffles look HEAVENLY. Can go for some sweets now.

  • 33. Hannah | June 21st, 2010 at 4:01 pm | #

    Hahaha, you know my answer to this! At the very least, twice daily – yesterday I devoured an entire block of Valrhona Jivara Milk Chocolate with Caramelised pecans in twenty minutes. Squee!!

    So this post is pretty much torture for me – particularly as she uses Michel Cluizel, who is fan-bloody-tastic.

    *strangled sound of wanting*

  • 34. corrie | June 21st, 2010 at 4:12 pm | #

    yay please keep doing reviews of places up this way! yum, now what a shame I’m away this weekend but I think I need to go the following weekend to taste those yummy things!

    when I’m pregnant I eat way too much chocolate.. not daily but let’s just say I have 2 blocks of chocolate purchased today and they won’t last the end of the week! when I’m not pregnant I actually only buy chocolate for my cooking! But I like to think that the reason I have such happy babies is all that chocolate I’ve eaten!

    gorgeous photos,
    Corrie:)

  • 35. Katie | June 21st, 2010 at 7:00 pm | #

    wow… those chocs look amazing! I would have chocolate fed to me intravenously if I could…

  • 36. Moya | June 21st, 2010 at 7:21 pm | #

    droooooooooolll! That passionfruit truffle looks like pure gold!

  • 37. angie | June 21st, 2010 at 7:30 pm | #

    *Drool* Need I say more? =D Even though I call myself a chocoholic I happen to have a fair bit of self control when it comes to consuming chocolate. I think that I save myself for the occasional quality chocolate binge rather than odd wasteful bit of regular stuff =D

  • 38. Moira | June 21st, 2010 at 8:07 pm | #

    Ah, this shop is just down the road from me and I keep just walking past – however, I will now wonder in – really feel its my civic duty to do so! Thanks for the tip

  • 39. Jen | June 21st, 2010 at 8:36 pm | #

    I have chocolate nearly every day! At the moment I’m addicted to Lindt dark with sea salt. Sooo moreish!

  • 40. Karen | June 21st, 2010 at 9:22 pm | #

    That raspberry and white chocolate cake looks gorgeous! I can see why it would be popular for Valentine’s Day.

  • 41. pigpigscorner | June 21st, 2010 at 9:24 pm | #

    The little truffles are so shiny and cute!

  • 42. matilda | June 21st, 2010 at 10:05 pm | #

    I wish Mosman wasn’t so far away :-(
    I can go for days without chocolate but some days eat waaaaay too much.

  • 43. Yuki | June 21st, 2010 at 11:47 pm | #

    awww…the raspberry heart cake =) so sweet..heheheh

  • 44. Barbara | June 21st, 2010 at 11:53 pm | #

    The chairs are lovely. Masculine, but elegant. (Sorry to wander off on room elements.)

    I’m not a total chocolate freak, thank God, but if I’m going to have some they would have to be the best. (Not worth the calories to eat M & M’s and Hershey bars!)

    But of everything you have pictured here, I am swooning over the passion fruit truffles. They look absolutely divine.

  • 45. Phunk | June 22nd, 2010 at 12:48 am | #

    Ooh this is my kind of place… I’ll have one of everything!
    Love the chairs too.
    I am generally an everyday chocolate eater (unfortunately for my waistline!)

  • 46. Chocoholic | June 22nd, 2010 at 1:45 am | #

    As you may guess from the name, I need chocolate at least once a day, or my family suffers the wrath. That hot chocolate looks amazing!

  • 47. 5 Star Foodie | June 22nd, 2010 at 2:45 am | #

    So many tempting treats! I would love to taste those Passionfruit truffles!

  • 48. Blond Duck | June 22nd, 2010 at 3:51 am | #

    I’ve still never had a macaroon.

  • 49. grace | June 22nd, 2010 at 8:38 am | #

    so is that an alternative spelling for macarons, or did they goof?
    that raspberry treat looks awesome. i think i’ll have a pinch of white chocolate right now…

  • 50. Shan | June 22nd, 2010 at 2:39 pm | #

    I would usually say I don’t eat much chocolate – being dairy intolerant and very fussy about my dark chocolate – but you just caught me cheating with peanut m&ms! I’ll feel unwell later but nothing picks you up like that sugar meets chocolate hit!

  • 51. Not Quite Nigella | June 23rd, 2010 at 1:30 pm | #

    Hi Maria-Oooh you’re very hardcore at 99%! :o

    Hi Linda-You are very fortunate! That’s very impressive Linda! :D

    Hi Amy-Ahh interesting! I know what you mean. it’s hard to eat regular chocolatiers when you visit gorgeous chocolate shops! :)

    Hi Emma Louise-excellent! :D

    Hi Lisa-it was really good! :D

    Hi Cakelaw-Yes isn’t it darling? good stuff! :D

    Hi Liss-Haha ok! I understand! :P Absolutely ;)

    Hi SSG-I know, what a great story behind it. hey nothing wrong with that at all and green tea is also good for you! :D

    Hi sandra-I couldn’t agree more! It’s lovely and warming. Very restrained of you! :D

    Hi Debra-hehe definitely! :D

    Hi gastronomy gal-I eat it daily too and I should stop I suppose! :lol:

    Hi Zina-Thankyou! the macarons are good here I have to say :D

    Hi Mary-You’re welcome! :D

    Hi john-Oh I wish I was like that! :o

    Hi Alex-hehe I think it might do that ;)

    Hi Lulu-Hehe isn’t it just! :D

    Hi Julia-hehe it would certainly be scary if we sleep ate it! :P

    Hi Kerrin-Excellent! :D Hehe sounds like me! :lol: Yes that’s true it was a bit of a craze a while back. Well spotted! ;)

    Hi Loll-Thankyou! Oh no, you poor thing :( I hope you’re ok?

    Hi Carolyn-hehe next time you must come here! :D

    Hi InTolerantChef-Good stuff! Exactly, quality not quantity! :D

    Hi Faith-I know, funny isn’t it? Suddenly we had lots of chocolate! You should come over and I’d love to show you Sydney ;)

    Hi delicieux-it was mouthwateringly good! Ahh very restrained-I admire that! :)

    Hi food.4.two-hehe! :lol:

    Hi jess-Oh that’s easy to get! And sweet enough so that you would feel sated I guess! :D Hehe I know!

    Hi Celia-It’s fantastic isn’t it! :D So true about Callebaut!

    Hi Lilia-Yes the chocolate cream is inside the cake. I described it too!

    Hi Amanda-yes you never know, Sydbney a few years ago hardly had any chocolate shops!

    Hi Paquita-good on you! :)

    Hi Tenina-Oh fantastic! have fun and I hope that you like it! :D

    Hi Portuguese Kitchen-You’re very good I must say!

    Hi nurm-Oh they were divine! :D

    Hi Hannah-hehe I could have definitely guessed your answer! :D Oh you poor thing! But I bet you have a good supply of chocolate to help!;)

    Hi corrie-hehe sure! :D Oh really, how funny! I agree, I think that’s the key ;)

    Hi Katie-hehe you are too funny! :lol:

    Hi Moya-It’s divine I have to say! :D

    Hi angie-I think that’s a really good strategy! :D

    Hi Moira-you’re welcome! I hope you like it! :D

    Hi Jen-Oh I’ve heard about that one but I haven’t tried it yet! :D

    Hi Karen-I know, just that in a box and you’d definitely have won a heart! :D

    Hi pigpigscorner-they’re darling!

    Hi matilda-Aww no :( Hehe I think that can definitely happen when you find some good chocolate!

    Hi Yuki-isn’t it pretty! :D

    Hi Barbara-I know, I loved the chairs too! I have to get some more of those truffles. They were SO divine! :D I agree, life’s too short to eat bad chocolate.

    Hi Phunk-hehe I’m with you! :D

    Hi Chocoholic-Hehe do they keep a good supply on hand just in case? ;)

    Hi 5 Star Foodie-they were delicious! :)

    Hi Blond Duck-Oh no! :(

    Hi grace-I think they goofed ;) Good stuff!

    Hi Shan-hehe! I know what you mean, it’s hard to resist-consequences be dammed! :P

  • 52. B | June 26th, 2010 at 1:32 pm | #

    OH WOW.
    This has been added to my hitlist! hehe

  • 53. Fiona | June 26th, 2010 at 9:18 pm | #

    unfortunately, I technically don’t eat it any more :(

  • 54. michelle | July 4th, 2010 at 4:50 pm | #

    I’m a fellow sweet tooth and going to check out Pierre Roelofs at Cafe rosamond in Fitzroy Melbourne on Thursday. Have you been yet?
    http://www.pierreroelofs.com

    looks goooooood in the online reviews.

  • 55. Amy | September 18th, 2010 at 1:16 am | #

    Could someone advise me on where to get Michel Cluizel Chocolate products in Canberra? I’m allergic to soy as well as coeliac and finding decent soy free chocolate is so difficult (AND IT SHOULDN’T BE – IT’S JUST THAT MOST CHOCOLATE MANUFACTURERS USE CHEAP SOY LECITHIN FOR CONCHING IN EVERYTHING)!!!!

    My friend believes that chocolate isn’t really chocolate if emulsifiers are added. REAL chocolate purely contains cocoa butter, just like Michel Cluizel.

    COCOLO is average, Vivani is divine but if someone could give me some clue as to who may stock any Michel Cluizel products in Canberra, please let me know. I’d so appreciate it :D Thanks so much!!

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