For chocolate lovers biting into the most delectable, smooth chocolate can put a beautiful song in the heart – a kind of heavenly music within.
It’s then appropriate that one of New Zealand’s most favourite chocolate lands is aptly named ‘La La Land’ in honour of the European founder and owner’s love for music, especially jazz.
Polish-raised Monika Suchecka had wanted to own a chocolate shop since she was a little girl. “I’ve always had a penchant for chocolate. It’s been a mystery and passion since I was a little girl,” she says. “I wanted to create a quality chocolate shop and café that felt like home.”
However, the location and surrounds had to be just right. She’d searched long and hard in Ireland and New Zealand for the perfect position that took her back home to Poland where the inspiration began.
The “café, bar, eatery, meeting place” that made my heart jump and inspired me to take action is in my home city, Wroclaw, and is called “Mleczarnia”,” says Monika. “It’s right next to one of just a few active Jewish synagogues in Poland called, “White Stork”.
This is located on beautifully kept old squares with the umbrella of a giant chestnut tree overhead in the courtyard,” she says. “It was a tree of my childhood and created a lot of creative memories. Nowadays Pohutukawa is beautifully placed in my heart and creating new experiences.”
It was Mleczarnia that inspired her to follow her dream, along with French movie Chocolat and the fabulous musical, La La Land. “I’ve also always had a passion for jazz and the musical, La La Land brought new perspectives to my life and made me more content.”
In 2018 Monika moved to Raglan. “There was a flower shop there that had closed down with a nearly 100-year-old Pohutukawa tree outside,” she says. “It was perfect.” Unfortunately the agents were signing the lease the following week, but she asked them to keep her contacts in case. “They called back later to say the woman had basically disappeared.”
Monika’s dream came true and before long she’d opened her first chocolate shop and café, showcasing the best of the best organic, fair trade, handmade, award winning chocolates.
She now owns three, adding La La Land versions in Lyttelton and The Tannery in Christchurch to her menu and another one in Christchurch Somerfield to open soon.
To read the full story behind Monika’s passion for chocolate and music, look out for the March edition of Hospitality Business!
