CocoLaura – Gourmet Chocolates in the Southern Flinders Ranges

A South Australian confectionery favourite is back on deck after a hiatus as David Medlow recreates his fruit jellies at CocoLaura.

White chocolate and passionfruit CocoLaura rocky road

In my last In My Kitchen roundup I featured some of the products from my recent trip to the Southern Flinders Ranges. It seems spectacular scenery isn’t the only thing on the menu up there and food lovers are in for some treats. There is a developing epicurean interest in the region and, unsurprisingly, I was irresistibly drawn to CocoLaura, David Medlow’s stylish new confectionery business in Laura. Many South Australian locals with a sweet tooth will remember the divine, fruity Medlow Jellies which were a signature local treat from some years back. David Medlow produced this popular line in the McLaren Vale region for over a decade, supplying them to department stores and exporting them, but sold the business in 2007.

He’s owned a property in Laura for some years and has kept his hand in with jelly making, so recently decided to make it all a little more official again. In the centre of his stylishly renovated storefront he offers his hand made fruit jellies and a range of wickedly good booze infused jellies draped lovingly in premium imported chocolate. The latter include Sambucca, vintage port, cherry brandy and an exquisite Cointreau variety. His gourmet rocky road, in three different flavours, is the stuff my dreams are made of and, if all that doesn’t tempt you, then perhaps a selection from the full range of  premium local Golden North Ice Cream will.

David is also branching out with a dessert range of cakes, chocolate mousse and panna cotta  and makes some of the best coffee in town, also offering a cosy, intimate den in which to enjoy it.

CocoLaura is clearly a must-visit for the region and on the morning I was there I noted a steady stream of callers dropping by for ice cream and sweet treats. Nothing sells quite like word-of-mouth & the grapevine is working hard – some had driven up from Port Pirie just for the coffee!