The Brandy Old Fashioned Chocolate Bar: A Twist on an Old Fashioned Favorite
Madison’s own Willy Wonka? Yes, it’s true. In the heart of downtown Madison, Smitty’s Study Pub Baker and Pastry Chef Brian Koster is putting heart and art into chocolate and all of his culinary creations.
And you can try one of his delectable desserts as part of the regular menu options at Smitty’s Study Pub. Smitty’s Study Pub, located just across campus from Memorial Union on the eighth floor of the Fluno Center, offers guests a luxurious experience with a midwestern charm unique to Madison.
Guests are presented with an impressive array of main course options from common classics like chicken tenders and Caesar salad to more Madison-specific dishes, such as the Madison cheesesteak or the varsity burger. Smitty’s Study Pub offers three dessert options, currently including the Door County cherry cheesecake, tiramisu, and the menu’s hidden gem, the brandy old fashioned chocolate bar.
Chef Koster was asked to create a chocolate bar that represents Madison and Wisconsin by combining chocolate with the Old Fashioned flavor. After experimenting with flavor combinations, Chef Koster landed on a chocolate bar made with dehydrated cherries, caramel, and just a bit of brandy, so anyone can enjoy it!
The chocolate bar-making process usually takes two to three days. On the first day after making the chocolate, Chef Koster soaks dried cherries in brandy for 24 hours to rehydrate them and infuse the brandy flavor. On the following day, the cherries are minced, the chocolate shells are made, and the caramel is made. The cherries and the caramel are then added to the chocolate shell. On the third day, he seals the bars. These delights come in the form of the tablet of chocolate seen in Smitty’s Pub or as cordial-shaped bonbons, which can be specially ordered.
After refining the initial idea, Chef Koster added a unique touch to each piece of chocolate. Each chocolate bar is hand-painted with a design inspired by the art deco features of the Fluno Center and Frank Lloyd Wright. The design is a merging of classic Madison elements and Chef Koster’s technical flair.
“They see it and how much detail is put into not only the colors to represent UW–Madison, the designs from Frank Lloyd Wright, but also that thin layer of caramel and cherry,” Koster said.
Make Smitty’s Study Pub part of your next work meeting, dinner plans or after-work gathering. The cherry on top is, for most people on campus, Smitty’s Study Pub is walkable, but for those traveling from outside of campus, there is parking on site.
If you would like to make the Wisconsin Union’s Smitty’s Study Pub part of your next event, you can order chocolates through catering, a special chocolate order, or schedule your own private tasting or pairing event by contacting event services.
From the Union’s own boutique chocolate factory to your meetings, plates, and celebrations, we invite you to savor the sweetness of hand-crafted, chocolate art.
