the best chocolate cake in the world

Finally, a post about São Paulo.

While driving around the Jardim Paulista neighbourhood, I often pass by a bakery called O Melhor Bolo de Chocolate do Mundo (The Best Chocolate Cake in the World).

You gotta have some balls to claim that you sell the best chocolate cake in the world.

I don't like chocolate cake, never have, but I decided to check it out today. And, surprise surprise, I didn't like it.

But the story surrounding the store is pretty interesting.

This is a twenty year-old recipe originally created by a Portuguese restauranteur, Carlos Brás Lopes. In 1987, he opened his restaurant in Lisbon specialising in regional Portuguese cuisine, and this cake was developed to be served as a dessert. The cake became such a hit that in 2002 he opened O Melhor Bolo de Chocolate do Mundo to sell the cake exclusively. Word of mouth led Brazilian tourists in Lisbon to taste the famous cake, which resulted in Lopes opening up the first store in São Paulo in 2007.

They only sell three versions of the cake - semi-dark chocolate (made of 70% cocoa), traditional sweet chocolate (made of 53% cocoa), and a "zero sugar" option. The recipe uses imported gourmet chocolate, does not include flour nor baking powder, and it is kosher.

(image from here)

I didn't really consider this to be a cake, since it is made up of chocolate meringue with chocolate filling and icing. Personally, I found it to be a little dry. And, like I said, I don't like chocolate cake. However, I do know people who are gaga over it.

If you are ever in São Paulo, it is definitely worth visiting one of their three locations in the city. Then you can tell your friends that you tasted the best chocolate cake in the world.