Established in 2008 by Jamie when he was only 17, Cocoa Ooze specialises in unique handmade chocolate – and will now pair the treat with a range of dishes created from local produce.
Launching on March 10, the Aberdeen bistro will operate three days a week from Cocoa Ooze’s premises on Belmont Street, and promises varied and fun taste combinations, from a starter of hot smoked salmon, beetroot, white chocolate and horseradish to a main of duck, ginger orange chocolate sauce and Asian vegetables.
Salmon starter: hot smoked salmon, beetroot, white chocolate, horseradish
Jamie is passionate about the new endeavour and believes it will offer something different and exciting for diners in the north-east.
He said: “We want people to come in and try something they have not tried before. Cocoa Ooze is all about being daring and unique and the bistro exemplifies that perfectly. This step is hugely exciting for us as we have seen continued growth in the business, which I believe is down to the quality of service and quality of our product.
Duck main: duck, ginger orange chocolate sauce, Asian vegetable
“For me this is the next stage in our development and something I am truly passionate about. We are creating something fresh in Aberdeen that is all about the experience being one-of-a-kind and enlightening the senses. We have carried out a range of taste tests flavour matching food to different varieties of chocolate and are excited about what we have created, with artisan flavour combinations which naturally complement each-other.”
Jamie’s passion for food was instilled within him at an early age, from helping his mother in the kitchen at seven-years-old, to seeing his grandmother run her own catering company. He studied catering at college as a teenager while working in the kitchens at The Marcliffe Hotel, followed by an intensive course with the world’s leading manufacturer of high quality cocoa and chocolate.
Jamie added: “Everything we serve in our bistro showcases the quality and diversity of our larder, with everything sourced from within Scotland such as black pudding from Stornoway, smoked salmon courtesy of John Ross Jnr and fruit and veg from Turriffs of Montrose.
Dessert: Tart, dark chocolate, cherry, almond ice-cream
“We are also supporting local spirits providers and will stock drinks ranging from Porter’s Gin and Dark Matter to Brewdog and Deeside Brewery. As with all things different, it might not be everyone’s cup of tea as people are used to having a more standard food offering, but we have had fantastic interest from regulars to Cocoa Ooze and are very much looking forward to launching the bistro next month.”
The Cocoa Ooze Bistro will be open from 5pm to approximately 9.30pm Thursday to Saturday on a booking only basis. Gluten and dairy free options will be available, and diners can also choose to have meals with or without a chocolate twist. A cocktail menu will also be available.
• To make a booking visit: www.resdiary.com/Restaurant/CocoaOoze
