Here's how Gujarat eats its chocolate

It is being widely speculated that from death by chocolate, we’ve reached a point where the world will probably witness the death of chocolate by the year 2020, say recent studies.
And with just a few years left to enjoy this indulgent delicacy, major chocolate makers are said to be substituting cocoa butter with vegetable fat and enrobing their chocolate varities with nuts, wafers and more.Ahmedabad too offers some of the most mindboggling varieties of chocolate specialties, unique to the city. From adding shredded cheese to and chillies to chocolate to some thick cold cocoa off and chocolate pizza and sizzler, here’s a look at everything you should try before the stocks run out, and the chocolate substitutes.
Chocolate sizzler
Crumbly chocolate brownies with a generous helping of delicious toasted nuts slathered in a ladleful of hot chocolate sauce served with a side of gorgeous, dripping icecream, it’s the closest you can get to chocolious heaven. Pity that, we might just have to say goodbye to this all-time favourite comfort food for good!
Substitute
Baker Rucha Gupta says, “Vanilla cake can replace with a warm mixed fruit puree made with only sweet fruits like apples, figs, musk melon and topped with toasted nuts can serve as replacement dessert sizzlers.”
Chocolate Pizza
Merging two of Italy’s best produces have resulted into something that is totally Amdavadi! The base can be best described as a thick chocolate pancake with chocolate sauce, chocolate chips, nuts, cheese shavings and chilli flakes for toppings! However, as unappetizing as it sounds — once you bite into this interesting mix — it’s actually quite good! The sweet and salty mix with a touch of chilli gives the dish a fresh and fiery twist altogether.
Substitute
Pastry chef Heerak Makwana suggests, “Opt for a fruit pancake drizzled with honey, topped with jelly, nuts, some sea salt and chilli sauce could replicate the sweet, salty and spicy combo.”
Cold Cocoa
Most Amdavadi youngsters will agree to having had their first dates over a glass of thick, almost semi-liquid (they give a spoon to scoop it up!) sweet, chocolaty cold cocoa topped with chewy chocolate chips and chocolate shavings. Finding a substitute for this
local favourite is going to be some task!
Substitute
Gujarati TV personality Vaibhavee Modi says, “If I had to substitute my cold cocoa with something other than chocolate I would probably add hazelnut and almond paste for a nutty flavour and sweeten my beverage with sugar or honey.”
Chocolicious Mithais
Kaju katlis coated with chocolate vermicelli and dual chocolate coated dry fruit and dual toned chocolate mawa barfis are a rage with Amdavadis, who like their share of chocolate in everything! Biting into these delectable fusion delights is something that the whole city will definitely miss, especially during festivals!
Substitute
Gujarati celebrity chef Hina Gautam says, “Chocolate
vermicelli can be replaced with sugar vermicelli while the barfis can be made with a little coffee to give it a dual tone while nuts can be honey roasted to give it a nice sweet and smokey flavour. It is also a healthier option!”
Chocolate Sandwich
Now, chocolate sandwich is something you get in other cities, so what’s unique? Every true Amdavadi foodie has at least once tried this eclectic mix of soft, fluffy white bread (with the crusts off) slathered in locally made sticky chocolate sauce and stuffed with a slab of chocolate, topped with cheese.
Substitute
Gujarati film personality Nirav Panchal says, “If I don’t get the chocolate sandwich, the next thing on my mind is the cheese pineapple sandwich — it’s sweet and salty and has chewy pineapple chunks, so I won’t miss the chocolate slab also.”
Rich Chocolate cream mousse
While chocolate mousse may be a delight at highend Amdavadi restaurants now, some renowned bakeries in the old city had been selling them in small plastic cups much before it became cool. The very idea of not being able to savour the creamy, melt-in-the-mouth smooth, tongue tickling mixture of rich chocolate and cream is enough to make anyone cry!
Substitute
Television actress-singer Manasi Parekh Gohil says, “I love bitter chocolate mousse to death and if I have to substitute it with anything it would probably be a mix of coffee and peanut butter. Coffee will give it that bitter taste while the peanut butter can compensate for its rich and creamy texture and density.”