After quietly operating their factory at the long vacant Old Schoolhouse in Gerringong since May, artisan chocolate makers Tilda & Cacao are holding a pop-up cafe this weekend that they hope will be the first of many events.

In collaboration with Clay Coffee, owners Erik Lau and Sarah Cromwell are opening the doors of the Schoolhouse as a chocolate cafe over two days, to allow people to meet their local chocolate maker and see where their consciously crafted chocolate is made.

“It will be great to open the doors of this gorgeous space and share it with the community. I will also get to be creative and flex my pastry chef muscles,” Sarah says.

As a pastry chef and chocolatier for 15 years, Sarah is keen to make raw, vegan treats and dairy and gluten free baked goods with Tilda & Cacao chocolate for the cafe.

“People are probably curious about the difference between buying a bar of chocolate from the grocery store and our chocolate. By opening our doors, people will be able to see where it happens and ask Sarah any questions,” Erik says.



The pair plan to hold more pop up cafes in the future, with potentially another one before Christmas.

“Our plan is to do it on a regular basis, maybe every three weeks, where each time we will do something special,” Erik says.

“It is the Old Schoolhouse, we’re excited to be here and we want the community to be somehow part of it. That is why we will be doing it with Clay as they are part of the community.”

The Tilda & Cacao team – which includes taste tester Rosie, their six year old daughter – plan to hold chocolate workshops next year for children, and are also open to a more permanent venture, although they are wary.

“We want to offer something that’s a little more than just coming in for a coffee, as there are a lot of coffee places in Gerringong. When we open, we want it to be special, something where you can’t get somewhere else,” Erik says.

“If an idea comes up after this test, maybe we will do something in the new year,” 

Their chocolate is available at specialty stockists, markets and online.

Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 November, The Old Schoolhouse, Belinda St, Gerringong, 9-1pm