Voila
Star Avenue Mall, Malek Road
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Tel: 02 6684343
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Voila has recently opened its doors in the fashionable Star Avenue Mall. Already home to quite a few new faces on the Jeddah Food scene Deera Cafe and Cafe Ceramique to name just two. Voila is another welcome addition.
For chocolate is their game, and as a self-confessed chocaholic, this is right up my street. Voilas website describe it as passionate about chocolate, with an aim to paint the town chocolate! Bold and quirky statements and so it was with high hopes that I set out to visit Voila in the Star Avenue Mall.
First appearances are impressive; this intricately decorated store is filled to the rim with hundreds of items. I had expected chocolate to be the main attraction here, but on entering the shop I realized there was also an enormous selection of baked goods, breads, baguettes, muffins and croissants. All baked daily and ready around 10 am. Arriving at night, I couldnt help feeling I had missed the freshness boat, but not one to be put off, I decided to try the chocolate Viennoise baguette (SR14), and a small brioche (SR5). Before I had time to move on, I was approached by one of Voilas staff, and came the expected spiel about Voila. Not only did I discover that all their chocolate is hand made in Jeddah but that the one hundred and nine varieties of chocolate come in all shapes and sizes. These include more traditional chocolate bars, Rocher balls, hot chocolate mixes, and even chocolate fondue sets!
Whats interesting here is the variety of flavors on offer which is surely a first for Jeddah. If you are at a loss about choosing, allow me to simplify. The chocolate bars are available in thirty flavors and in three main strengths dark, milk and white. These are then infused with various ingredients to create a truly unique flavor. Spices, nuts, flower essences, and fruits are just some of the main categories on offer.
While flavors such as ginger, cinnamon, vanilla, and cherry might not sound too different, camomile, lavender, violet, jasmine, and juniper are certainly not flavors of chocolate I had stumbled across before! Controlling the urge to try them all, I finally decided to settle for four flavors milk honey, dark cardamom, white date, and dark chilli chocolate. Of these I was most impressed with the honey, which was as rich as it was milky. The cardamom was strong and delicious, perfect with an espresso or a small coffee.
As for the chili this was as expected spicy stuff, intense but not overwhelming. The white date was the least impressive; while I could see the small pieces of what must have been the fruit, the taste was sadly missing. Moving to the back of Voila, I noticed a large selection of cakes on offer. The lemon verrine (a layered dessert) caught my attention, and so without too much thought, I decided to try the strawberry, lemon and chocolate. These are roughly SR10 to 13. I also managed to picke up a 200g bag of dark chocolate Rocher, (SR72), and ended my spree with a box of twelve multi-flavored macaroons (SR48), selecting flavors from mango to blueberry. These bright macaroons were great to look at, but a little too sweet for my liking.
Despite the price, the bag of dark chocolate Rocher is an indulgent treat so much so that I have been snacking on them whenever I pass through my kitchen. As for the verrines, these receive mixed reviews. While the chocolate was a little too creamy for me, the cakey pudding beneath was delicious. The strawberry was less impressive a little too watery. The lemon verrine, however, managed to save the day, a clear winner. Its cool simplicity worked to its advantage, a light and smooth mousse with a citrus kick of lemon zest, a pleasure to eat, and incidentally the only non-chocolate dessert I enjoyed. Informed by staff that the Tahlia branch is even larger, and worth a visit, my curiosity took me further to the Millennium Centre, where I discovered Voila has an impressive and fully fledged restaurant in the works, in addition to a coffee shop lounge, a kids cookery school, and a dedicated childrens play area!
Overall, I have to admit the chocolates at Voila are exceptional, I have not stumbled across such variety since I stepped into Hotel Chocolat in England.
However prices arent cheap, so you may want to watch what you pick up. That said, this is no supermarket stuff; ideal for a special occasion, with enough flavors to satisfy even the most particular guests! Theres more at Voila than I can possibly mention in one article; the best way to take it all in is really to see for yourself. So if you have a sweet tooth, and a taste for chocolate…Voila! Tel: 02 6684343 Manager: 0566980268
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Voila is a chocolate parlour in the open-air Millennium Mall on Tahlia; going east towards Medina Road, it is after Le Mall and before the Nissan Infiniti building. To gain access to it on the second floor, you enter the circular tower in the central piazza-like area of the Mall and take the lift; the airconditioned entry lobby for the lift is protected by glass doors and so is pleasantly cool. Exit the lift into another cool lobby and turn right, Voila is located to the left of a large steakhouse outlet. Voila has black glass windows.
Gaining entry into Voila one is in a pleasantly dark, comforting space decorated in chocolaty browns and blacks. Cakes are displayed on the right and breads and croissants, baked daily, displayed on the left, with shelves and stands of various types of chocolates, including cocoa-coated caramelized almonds. The piece de resistance is the grand display of a vast wedding cake surmounted by a life-size, laced-corseted torso that is worth a visit for this feature alone, although, as an added inducement, there is a staircase up to a pleasant café above. The manager and chocolatier, Mr Fabien Winkler, is from the Alsace region of France.
The croissants are excellent, and the miniature Florentines are delicious, although I would have preferred them dipped in dark chocolate, instead of milk chocolate. The drinking chocolate is exceptional, especially the 75% one; the coffee is also good. They offer a selection of petit fours made to look like ‘sushi’ which is an interesting concept and features popped rice. Of the two individual cakes I tried, the Fraser which was decorated with a strawberry, and promised from its name, something strawberry flavoured but the only strawberry in evidence was the one used for decoration. Praline cake was excellent, featuring a chocolate filling under a skin of dark chocolate decorated with hazelnuts. Well worth a second visit.
The food in Voila is also very delicious and nicely presented. My dinner there with my wife was an excellent experience..
I have been a regular customer of Voila for several weeks now,but more a buyer of their excellent tasty western style bread,(best in town),than their other specialities.And recently happened to attend their newly opened restaurant at the Millennnium Center on Talhia Street.
Although I would like to praise the quality of the food,ambiance,friendly service,I must say that I did found it very expensive and overpriced;poor selection of dishes,although I was informed wrongly that an additional 4 dishes had been added to the menu,it was not the case,as for the dessert menu,I definitly think that the cost is again far to high.
So,kudos for the bakery and chocolate section as well as for the “Chocolate Lounge”which I would rate as excellent,and good for value,but would think twice before having dinner at their restaurant again,unless they improve their menu and change their pricing!!!
J-Ch Marlier
SIMPLY EXQUISITE a blend of lovely chocolate aroma over crispy cloudy heavens of nuts blended with the love of a a chef to his customers
a wonderfully presented ambiance cooling your senses to the woody texture of the decor , beauty in design excellency in satisfaction
when you take a bite of one the chocolates you swim in your senses of childhood closing your eyes and imagining paradise, in other words i can just live there for ever
Last weak I visited the newly open voila chocolate at millennium center. I found best kind of chocolate rang over there. The environment at voila chocolate was excellent for family entertainment, fun for kids.
Different kinds of chocolate cakes & food was delicious & superb.
Being with the medical profession I know, The fresh research is showing that the chocolate for kids is too good for there health. Best for there mental & physical growth.
Finally the best & nice place to visit with the family.
I am very surprise that a concept like this was created in jeddah … Voila has converted me! I try the chocolate school with my class and i created a sweet lady bird ,it was really cool…you should try,its very nice,also the food at the restaurant is tasty and the place really special..
finaly a place to go..thank you
I am not a chocolate fan … BUT Voila has converted me! Their chocolates are sublime and just delicious!!! Remember the movie “Chocolat”? Remember the pure pleasure the customers had when they bit into a piece of handcrafted chocolate? Well, you too can have the same experience at Voila.
Dark chocolate orange sticks and the caramelized almond confit are my favourites … and for a super special treat, try the square handcrafted ganaches in a variety of exotic flavours … my faves, Earl Grey and Spice. The are on the more expensive side (12 pcs/65SR) but are perfect for a special occasion.
Voila’s chocolates are not so sweet and don’t leave that film in your mouth that you want to wash away with a cold glass of water … Voila’s chocolates are top notch quality products.
Don’t forget their baked goods … brilliant combinations of flavours with Peach/Rosemary brioche as my fave. When a store or restaurant has the ability to change your opinion about something, then you know that they are at the top of their game … and Voila is tops for chocolate! I was a true Patchi fan but Voila has won my taste buds.
They truly live up to their name Voila which can be used when something wonderful and special has been created. Go have a look … something special has definetly been created!
near to steak house !!! visit the whole shop down stairs as well, its fabulous!
I would like to visit the Millenium Mall “Voila” on Tahlia St. Can u tell me which mall is this ? Any sign/famous store etc. ?
Thanks,
Alina
See Map of the Mall and Voila on Tahlia Street here:
Tahlia Millenium Center