Journo turns upmarket chocolatier in Red Hill

A career change from journalist to chocolatier seems an unlikely one, but former journo Jessica Brookes is about to open a chocolate shop called Couverture & Co in Red Hill.

Brookes had been working with Melissa Atkinson, whom she regards as a mentor, at the former Bittersweet Chocolate Boutique at the Paddington Barracks.

"I'd always been interested in chocolate, so when I came back from overseas, I approached Melissa and she offered me work experience."

Two years later Brookes was still working at Bittersweet when Atkinson decided to shut up shop.

"Since then I've been looking for a space big enough that had a kitchen and finally stumbled across this one in Red Hill."

The Enoggera Terrace store was formerly the upmarket homewares shop, Buba & La. Brookes is following that lead and aiming at the high-end of chocolate production. Everything will be made in-house using Callebaut chocolate, and Brookes says she's looking forward to experimenting with some new combinations.

"At Bittersweet we had lots of regulars who tended to always want the same things, so it will be great to try something new. I'm looking at doing chocolate flavoured with tonka beans and chocolate ganache-filled dates covered in chocolate."

Chocolates will be available individually or by the box. Brookes says she's hoping to open in July.