Top Of The Chocs

It's safe to say that Australia is partial to a sweet treat from the freezer aisle, but when it comes to which sub-zero indulgence is most popular, there are far more pretenders than there are contenders. One of these rare number of perennially popular sugary stalwarts arguably stands taller than the rest, because when nitrogen gelato, Fro-Yo, Gaynettos and $90 ice cream cakes from Messina have all gone the way of the Dodo, the humble choc-top will remain a familiar and indestructible fixture at the cinema concession stand.

It is perhaps true that in our social media obsessed, Insta-fabulous world, the choc-top is the plain Jane of desserts — no one is going to earn many double taps with an ice cream when freak shakes and cupcake dioramas are hogging the limelight. But what this unassuming chocolate-covered cone of chilled, creamy goodness lacks in looks, it makes up for in taste and nostalgia. And after all, most choc-tops are eaten in the dark, so there's little point getting too hung up on the visuals.

The biggest cinema chains are fine for a run of the mill variety, with traditional flavours like vanilla, choc-mint and chocolate easily found. Event Cinemas leads the mainstream pack with more left-field options (with suitably OTT names) including Cherry Eclipse, White Choc Caramel Galaxy and, our personal favourite, The Mint-Osaurus.

But for connoisseurs, it's time to head to one of Australia's indie screens if you're hankering for something a little fancier. Palace Cinemas have both pre-made and made to order varieties, that offer a more generous scoop than most off the shelf options, with a range of concoctions for dyed-in-the-wool foodies, such as Chocolate Obsession and Honey Macadamia. Plus their waffle cones are always crisp — the elusive holy grail for factory-made alternatives.

The summer season brings with it a host of alfresco film events, with numerous outdoor screenings on every scale, from intimate to en masse, popping up across the country. With boutique screenings come boutique eats, and choc-tops are of course on the menu and usually hand made to order, commonly the soft serve variety (something of a blasphemous aberration for die-hard choc top aficionados). But if you have to resort to a mass production version, The Choc Top Ice-cream Company is Australian-based and does exactly what it says on the tin. In addition to its five traditional flavours, there are six gourmet delights to try, including Rocky Road, Rock Salt Caramel and Irish Cream with Scorched Almonds. While pre-packaged, each cone is hand prepared, ensuring that you won't be short-changed by stingy scoops or a half-arsed dip.