ISLAMABAD: The N Street Chocolate Café opened in Islamabad amid much enthusiasm and appreciation in F7.

With a board up narrating the inception of N Street worldwide, “On their honeymoon trip to Belgium, sweeping through the midst of the chocolate like pavements in Brussels, a newly married couple fell in love again when they indulged in the freshest, finest pure Belgian chocolates for the first time,” the sign ends with how the same couple decided to share the delights of chocolate with the rest of the world.

N Street Café in Islamabad is franchise of the Multinational Natra, one of the leading companies in Europe specialising in chocolate products for the private label brand and other food companies, as well as in cocoa derivatives.

Natra’s consumer goods division is responsible for the manufacturing of chocolate tablets, countlines, spreads and Belgian chocolates and specialities, which are commercialised mainly in Europe, with Germany, France, Belgium, Holland, Spain and United Kingdom as main markets.

Similarly, the company is committed to its expansion into markets beyond Europe, with special focus placed in North America and China.

Visitors at the N Street Chocolate Cafe enjoy the choclates and the environment. — Photos by Khurram Amin

Furthermore, via its industrial goods division, Natra provides cocoa-derived products (mainly cocoa powder and butter, and chocolate coatings) for the international food industry.

The company has six specialised production centres in Spain, Belgium, France and Canada, as well as permanent commercial presence in Europe, United States and Asia.

Muhammad Ali Khan, the owner of the Café in Islamabad, said: “The Chocolate Café is a Belgian franchise while we own an attached restaurant which serves Italian cuisine.

At the moment we are making truffles here but the rest of our chocolates are being manufactured in Dubai and Belgium. We also have our chefs in Dubai currently undergoing trainings so most of our offerings will be made here.”

He added: “There was no chocolatier in Islamabad and we see a huge potential here. We have opened our first store here but we are also opening in Centaurus and in Safaa Mall before the end of the year.”

Visitors at the N Street Chocolate Cafe enjoy the choclates and the environment. — Photos by Khurram Amin

Sara Fawad, his partner in the venture, added: “We will have tremendous amounts of variety including chocomised bars, where you can make your own chocolate bars, chocolate fondues, over 300 assorted chocolate and truffles, a chocolate desert and mocktail bar.”

She added: “We have had many clients for our catering prior to the opening including the Italian embassy, Liberal Arts High School, weddings and private parties.”

Faiza Bilal, a manager of a desi restaurant, said: “My daughter loves the bright yellow décor. It is nice to be able to see what you are eating and to have a fun restaurant to bring your children.”

Published in Dawn, November 16th , 2014