While the meal choices sounds repetitive to me I've actually found the curries to always be slightly different (of course still being curries, though). I'm really over the biryani and chicken dish on the CPT route though, it's been the same in Y for over a year pretty much

The chocolate rotation continues. These were pretty good.
 

On my flight this week...

I had Coco Jalila (the green box with 4 chocs) on my onward to JFK in F, and noticed that they were serving Hotel chocs in J. But on my way back to BOM from JFK yesterday in F (EK 202/500), it was Hotel Chocs in F (& J).

Another thing I noticed that now they don't bring out the chocolates and offer it to everyone - you get chocolates only if you ask for it (another cost cutting measure?).

This whole chocolate saga is rather weird. Why change suppliers so often? At the end of the day, it is not an item (unlike hand lotion...) that many customers will feel too strongly about. If you provide chocolates, provide a decent quality, packaging etc. Done.

As it stands, chocolates should be on the menu and offered to everyone. However, I have been on numerous flights (in both J and F) where I also had to ask for them. Standard of service/training issue, or cabin crew simply too busy.

I think it's nice to have different varieties. Given the quantities required it's probable they get weekly deliveries from all of them and dole them out as they come in.

As for them being advertised, it's a double-edged sword, in a way them not being on the menu and being offered "in the moment" makes for a pleasant surprise for the 86% of pax who don't know they exist

IIRC they actually are on the menu in J. At the end, with the coffee. So I WANT them. (hand lotion style)

^

Right.
It even says "luxury chocolate" IIRC.
I got this "Hotel chocolate" also last week. Absolutely never heard of such brand ...

They are a pretty good premium brand with a number of boutiques in the UK.

I usually leave with half a dozen packs in my carry on bag. :p

I've never asked for them and always seem to get them, so I don't think that's an SOP.

Not my experience. I've always been offered these without any prompting.

On my recent trip in EK F (3 sectors) I generally had to ask for some with my first coffee. After that they seemed to come automatically :). They were the Cocoa Jalila which I liked (prefer them to the overly creamy Godiva and they seem less sweet than the Hotel Chocolat offerings).
I did notice that they are no longer available to take from the F bar but are only on request.

Exactly! The other thing that I noticed was that the F bar was 'Completely Empty' on EK500 - I mean not even a sandwich. Not sure if this is how it is on short haul flights, but having a bar that is completely devoid of anything isn't a good sight and doesn't help the F experience.

They used to bring them out on a tray and offer it to everyone but I haven't seen them doing that lately. The only time when I have seen them offer a chocolate is when I have ordered coffee. You may want to check on your future flights if they offer chocolates to everyone (as shall I).