Tommi x Tony, Wahaca x Chocolonely — ethical indulgence, doubled

Wahaca teams up with Tony’s Chocolonely for a limited‑run menu where bold Mexican flavours meet ethically sourced chocolate, turning a springtime visit into a double‑dose of feel‑good indulgence. This particular chocolate brand exists to make 100% slave‑free chocolate and it has taken over Thomasina Mier's Wahaca dessert menu until April 28.

What could be better fun than tacos & tequila? My pal Melanie’s reply, to any such question - add chocolate!

So who else could possibly be my guest for this current collab, available until 28 April. As she’s a vegetarian who regularly appreciates Wahaca’s inventive offerings, this is just the cherry on top to kick off her Easter break.

Also it means that, as we both want to try the ‘Wahaca for One’ menu (£17.95) for dedicated non-sharers, our platters differ in the taco section as my two choices are Buttermilk Chicken & Pork Pilbil Tacos, while she goes for the Plantain & Roast Ancho Mushroom veggie picks.

Pork Pilbil is a true Mexican staple, but my own favourite today is definitely the Buttermilk Chicken, which comes up with soft meaty nuggets in crispy, well-seasoned batter, resting on pickled pink onions and spiked with habañero mayo.

Mel is good enough to offer me one of her mushrooms as she senses me salivating from across the table (and suspects a bit of good karma now might result in an extra chocolate share later).

Both of us enjoy our Butter Bean Dips with confit garlic on top & crisply spiced chick peas within, and Wahaca’s own perfectly pure, and thus a properly cooling foil for spiced dishes, Guacamole, with equally simple but very cute little blue & white corn tortilla chips to mop up. They’re essential, particularly with the Dip which is runnier than it sounds! This menu also includes Melanie’s existing favourite Sweet Potato & Feta Taquito, with caramelised onion & chipotle mayo in a contrasting blue corn tortilla.

As ever, the riot of colours on the plate means no bounds to our appetite for more.

Just as well as the main event of this particular visit awaits.

Part of the normal Wahaca dessert menu is blanked & substituted with adapted Tony’s Chocolonely specials, including a “Tipsy Choco-Latte” drink. FOMO strikes and we set the menu aside, ordering one of each item - two Ice Cream Tacos (£8.95) and Two Churros (£6.95 & £7.50), along with a Choco-Latte (£10.95).

As this further feast arrives, Melanie’s early mushroom investment pays off with a cherry ice cream dividend from one end of my crispy cinnamon sugar toasted taco. My cherry ripple is delicious and the whole sits sumptuously on proper Chantilly cream with vanilla. Mel has gone for the ‘Tony’s Everything”, where plain vanilla is enhanced with candied pecans and honeycomb. When I ask her if it could be any better, she can only suggest “more Tony’s chocolate sauce!”. (Which may be a bit rich in more ways than one, since a sizeable chunk of chocolate also features…!)

Our dessert cocktail is basically a Chocolate espresso strong Martini with a pour-on jug of thick chocolate cream illustrating exactly how indulgent it is, and boy do we deserve it after this winter. To know that we’re supporting brands with strong quality produce & ethical sourcing is a bonus.

Wahaca, 16 St Andrew St, EH2 2AU, 0131 564 3850

Sun-Weds 12-9pm, Thu-Sat 12-10pm