When presented with an opportunity to meet a local Canberra chocolatier that specialises in unique handmade truffles, bars and all things cocoa; the So Frank team eagerly agreed.

Truffles: Hand made in Canberra

We met Stuart Strutt-Shotton in his home in Lyneham where he lovingly hand makes his outstanding Enigma Fine Chocolates.

His passion is infectious as he talks about the ingredients he uses. Stuart creates single origin chocolates and treats his offerings much like coffee roasters and purveyors do using different strengths from 50% cocoa, right up to 100% from either Madagascar, Dominican Republic and Grenada.

Chocolate taste testing

The emphasis for Stuart when creating flavours is emphasising the taste of the chocolate itself – so he mainly uses a water-based ganache rather than adding cream or butter. This makes the flavours more refreshing and avoids fatty residue on the palate.

A trained chef, Stuart has worked for many years in upmarket London, Melbourne and Canberra bakeries and restaurants. Most recently, he has worked in Autolyse in Braddon and is currently at The Glasshouse Café in Civic. He works the café by day and works on his passion, chocolates by night.

He currently creates a rotating range of truffles and chocolate bars; experimenting with different flavours, his creations include ‘Lamington Truffle’ (vanilla sponge ganache and Valrhona 65% Kallingo single origin from Grenada finished in desiccated coconut) and “Peanut Butter and Jam on Toast Truffle” (raspberry puree reduction and peanut butter ganache made from all natural peanuts and sea salt, then layered in a truffle shell and coated in 40% cacao).

Lamington Truffle: Hand made in Canberra

The Chocolate bars are either ‘clean’ bars to highlight the chocolate itself, or flavoured varieties including Butterscotch Popcorn (milk chocolate) and Chai Spice (white chocolate).

What you need to know:

Stuart will be selling his delicious chocolate creations for the last time this year at the Old Bus Depot Markets on Sunday the 25th of October. So get in quick and try either a Chocolate bar for $5 or some Truffles – 1 for $2 , 3 for $5 or 6 for $10.

Or for special orders visit https://www.facebook.com/enigma.chocolates