Dig in: GT editor Anthea Loucas talks about the Big Chocolate Special

Australian Gourmet Traveller editor, Anthea Loucas writes about the latest issue of GT – the big chocolate special.

I like chocolate but I don’t swoon over it like some people do and I certainly don’t identify as a chocaholic.

But (and this is a big but) after working with the team on this chocolate special, I have a new appreciation for this confectionery which brings so much joy to so many.

My chocolate dessert game has certainly received a kick thanks to inspiration from Emma Knowles and Lisa Featherby in their choctacular food feature.

Chocolate honeycomb, semifreddo and, of course, the ultimate brownie are now part of my repertoire (just in time for Easter).

In other chocolate-related news, we wrap up the country’s best desserts, chocolate shops and bars, Annabel Crabb makes an argument for much-maligned white chocolate and Fergus Henderson tells of his quest for perfect chocolate ice-cream.

Also in the issue, Gourmet Traveller’s chief critic Pat Nourse reviews Noma Australia.

Has there been a more highly anticipated restaurant opening in Sydney?

I certainly can’t recall one.

Chef René Redzepi and his talented army have brought all the hallmarks of their celebrated Copenhagen restaurant, overlaid them with a warm and convincing Australian accent (native tamarind, magpie goose, crocodile fat and wattleseed are just some of the indigenous ingredients on the carte) and opened on the Barangaroo waterfront for a 10-week pop-up in collaboration with Tourism Australia and Lendlease.

It’s been 18 months in the making, tickets sold out in four minutes and there’s 27,000 people on the wait-list (yes, you read correctly) so it’s fair to say there’s some interest in the project. Does it make the grade?

Read all about it in this month’s issue of Australian Gourmet Traveller, on sale now.

The Gourmet Traveller Team

Gourmet Traveller is Australia’s trusted authority on food, travel and luxury lifestyle, bringing the latest news and trends to life through quality journalism, enticing recipes and evocative photography. For more than 55 years, it has been inspiring and informing Australians with the best in cooking, dining, travelling and shopping. Our critics bring the expertise of years of critical eating, drinking and writing to the table. Plus, as the country’s leading title in the luxury sector, Gourmet Traveller works closely with Australia’s leaders in the travel and hospitality industries to give our readers exclusive access. The Gourmet Traveller legacy is one of trust, prestige and relevance.