No two chocolates are the same at Short and Sweet in Woodstock – an ode to all things indulgent.
There’s a new confectioner in town! Headed up by pastry chef Jenna Short, Short and Sweet recently opened its doors and specialises in bespoke, hand-painted chocolate bonbons and confectionery. “Everything we do is decorated, filled and packed by hand,” says Jenna.
Together with chocolatier Siggy and kitchen assistant and chocolatier-in-training Naomi, Jenna loves playing with flavours and textures, showcasing familiar pairings (such as mango and passionfruit or rooibos and honey) as well as some weird and wonderful combinations like curry leaf white chocolate ganache and harissa caramel.
Works of Art
Whatever the flavours, though, Jenna keeps a focus on balance, ensuring that the treats are never too sweet. She’s also working on creating a range of vegan chocolates that are as good (if not better than) non-vegan chocolate. “My favourite flavour so far has been tahini and sesame praline in a 46% vegan milk chocolate – it’s salty, creamy and crunchy – so good!”
And it’s not just the flavours that need a measured hand: “The process of decorating the bonbons requires so much time and patience,” says Jenna. “While it can be challenging on a busy day, I enjoy it immensely – it’s where I focus on nothing else but being creative.”
“I often start out with a colour palette and figure out the rest as I go, it’s a very rewarding process. No two hand painted chocolates are ever identical, they’re all completely unique – that’s the best part.”
Running in the Family
With a foodie family like Jenna’s, it’s little wonder she decided to follow in their footsteps – her mom Yvonne works in hospitality operations and food consulting, her late father Peter was a wine specialist and her brother Julian is the mixologist behind one of Joburg’s best bars Sin + Tax. Through her career in pastry she’s worked at La Motte, My Sugar and even got to travel to Antarctica to work as a chef for White Desert (“the most incredible experience!”).
As she was drawn to the detail-oriented nature of confectionery and chocolate – “where every degree makes a difference, every gram has an impact and every creation is an edible work of art” – when the opportunity to start her own confectionery business presented itself, she took the leap.
“For as long as I can remember, starting my own business has been THE dream!” says Jenna. “My chef account on Instagram is @theindulgist, which I’ve always seen myself and my dream business as – a place of all indulgences.”
“Considering how everything has happened so quickly and the business is still brand new the response so far into our first few months has been nothing short of great!” says Jenna. They’re already working with some of the best restaurants in Cape Town such as Salon Potluck, Chef’s Warehouse Beau Constantia and Upper Union, and are branching out into the greater Western Cape.
Want to try the bonbons for yourself? Head to Short and Sweet in Woodstock to select your chocolates in person, or place your order via the website.
