Chocolate-coated collab celebrates city

MIX together the local ingredients of handmade chocolate, hazelnuts, bushfoods, graphic art and small business, and you’ve got a taste of the town.

Chocolate producer Jade Davidson of Lucky and James, and Hattie and the Wolf store owner Andrea Hurley, have collaborated to create A Taste of Ballarat; their own unique 100-gram bar.

Packed with caramelised Allendale-grown hazelnuts and native wattle seed from Buninyong’s Saltbush Kitchen, the packaging has been designed by Hurley, who is also a graphic artist operating as Bird and Blossom.

“I used an illustrated pattern that was really colourful and vibrant. That’s what Ballarat is as a really creative city, and it suited the packaging as something different, rather than the traditional historic Ballarat look,” she said.

Ms Davidson said it was important that the bar stood out, to highlight producers and celebrate the teamwork that brought it together.

“It had to look like our range, and like a Hattie and the Wolf product, but it was great that Andrea could make it extra unique,” she said.

“It’s hugely important to make the most of the region’s produce. There’s so many great things around Ballarat and the surrounding area that not everyone knows about, so where and when I can, I like to do special bars with those special ingredients.”

Hurley has built Hattie and the Wolf “on collaboration,” supporting the growing community of talented makers and artists close-by.

“We love working with other locals, promoting Ballarat and what it has to offer. Jade is relatively new to the city, so for her to click to quickly into that local mindset has been fabulous,” she said.

A Taste of Ballarat is only available at Hattie and the Wolf.