Minlaton Chocolaterie: Ron tests his sweet tooth on the Yorke Peninsula region of South Australia
The great expanses of farmland on the Yorke Peninsula seem a million miles away from the daily grind of city life. Combine the quiet and simple rural life with the prospect of hooking the occasional whiting or snapper and the appeal of a Yorke Peninsula retirement is obvious.
That was the plan Leanne and Jose Milhano when they first arrived at Brentwood near Minlaton about 4 years ago. While they lived the quiet life for a while, they eventually struck upon a sweet little earner called the Minlation Chocolaterie.
In what was once the Brentwood General Store, we watched Leanne put the finishing touch on one of her bumble bee range of chocolates. She's more given to the occasional colourful flourish, while husband Jose is a traditionalist with a liking for truffles and coffee flavoured chocolates. Perhaps that's a throwback to his boyhood in Portugal and many years living in Paris. Initially he came here with wife Leanne to slowdown and fish but it was a retirement plan that only lasted so long.
For these two go-getters the need to interact with others become increasingly apparent. Usually one stays at Brentwood churning out another range of hand made goodies, while the other operates their chocolate lovers' paradise in the main street of Minlaton. It's a formula which has transformed their quiet retirement into a busy and fulfilling one.
The old bank building which houses the Minlaton Chocolaterie is owned by the Crows Football Club - the CMS Crows that is - the Curramulka, Minlaton and Stansbury Crows. For the moment though Leanne and Jose are busy enough catering to the local market and it's a very appreciative one.
Leanne Milhano, Minlaton Chocolaterie: "Our main aim is flavour so we do a lot of things with locally produced items. We use our own apricots and produce nectars. We also make our own syrups from our own strawberries."
The more you travel through South Australia, the more you realise there are amazing people out there doing amazing things. Leanne, when not serving or making chocolates is in the backroom hand crafting other delights on canvas. For twenty years she was full time artist and art teacher.
Leanne Milhano, Minlaton Chocolaterie: "I produced seven best selling books which sold around the world and spent fifteen years travelling the world teaching decorative painting. It becomes very tiring after a while. So this escape to Minlaton was a bit of a way of reclaiming a bit of a lifestyle. We're now doing art and really enjoying ourselves again but keeping it small enough that it's fun."
Jose doesn't get to fish as much anymore because both are often hand deep in chocolate - not that they'd have it any other way.
Jose Milhano, Minlaton Chocolaterie: "A lot of people would look at your life and think here's a bloke who gets to eat chocolate and goes out to catch a whiting every so often - that's life working for you. Ah well - you have to do what you enjoy.
If you enjoy chocolate then head to the Minlaton Chocolaterie. It's in the very heart of Yorke Peninsula on Main Street and is open Wednesday to Saturday.
Minlaton Chocolaterie
Main Street
Minlaton
Open Wednesday to SaturdayPublished 17th October 2010
