Chocolate Week Cometh… And With it CHOCOLATE UNWRAPPED
It’s that time of the year when the leaves begin to change, the nights seem to be getting earlier and the chill of the day isn’t always removed by the sun. The wheel turns, the seasons change and once again we find ourselves in the run-up to CHOCOLATE WEEK!
I’ve already seen chocolate week events coming through from a number of my favourite chocolatiers including afternoon tea, chocolate & wine, chocolate & cocktails (so buying a ticket!), an opera (!), dinners, launches of new lines, and all sorts. The events are so very not restricted to London with stuff I want to do all over the country. Sadly, I have a day job and I’m lacking in leave so I am restricted to London. Lucky for me London has a lot going on!
What is going on you may ask? Well…
DIVINE CHOCOLATE are holding a number of tastings & events all over the country. Just click their name to go to their website and see what’s on near you. The tastings are a great chance to try their chocolate!
HOTEL CHOCOLAT are having a number of tasting adventures all over the country (not just in London!) culminating in a wonderful dinner at Roast + Conch I WISH I could go to. It is £75 but when I checked there were limited tickets left.
PAUL WAYNE GREGORY has a pop-up shop coming to Selfridges. He’s not usually available to purchase in stores and doesn’t have a retail presence I’m aware of so this is the best chance to grab some of his treats.
WILLIAM CURLEY has a lot happening at his shop for Chocolate Week and not just courses! Pop over for a proper patisserie treat.
PAUL A YOUNG is participating in a number of events including a dinner, a pop-up shop at the Folley, a whisky evening and the one I’m going to, cocktails & chocolate. You can buy tickets HERE.
THE BOTANIST has those lovely Hotel Chocolat choctails which are hot chocolate cocktails
LA MAISON DU CHOCOLAT is launching a limited-edition gastronomic menu at Le Balcon housed in Sofitel London St James which I will be reviewing later PLUS they are launching The new Duo de Ganache which you can buy at their shops or online!
BENITOS HAT even have a Chocolate Week menu!! Chocolate cocktails, mole and more and they are right near my office – YUM!
FORTNUM & MASONS have a number of events I’ve linked to but hurry – there are limited tickets and at £15 for some they are *super* cheap!
So many more places in London, York, Manchester, Brighton, and beyond are all holding Chocolate Week events so check the website, plug in your town and discover all Chocolate Week has for you! If you are in London, well, you’re in for a treat that last weekend of Chocolate Week!
CHOCOLATE UNWRAPPED (oooo – that sounds a bit naughty) has moved to a central location in Covent Gardens and is entering its eighth year I think (couldn’t find details on the website). I remember the very first one and the chocolate tour I took and my introduction to Pierre Marcolini chocolates. WOW. Chocolate Unwraped is one of the best events for anyone looking for high quality chocolate with chocolate makers and chocolatiers such as Benoit Nihant, Lucky’s, Duffy’s Red Star Chocolate, Idillio, Charbonnel et Walker, Rozsavolgyi Csokolade (a Hungarian Bean to Bar chocolate maker), Akesson, Original Beans, Match Chocolat, The Chocolate Café, Valrhona, Paul Wayne Gregory, Sir Hans Sloane, Chococo, Rococo, The Grenada Chocolate Company and many more my feeble brain cannot remember attending in the past.
Tickets are a mere £5 in advance using THIS LINK but £12 on the door so I’d get a ticket NOW. I’ll be there both Saturday and Sunday because on Saturday I’ll be busy judging the cake competition! Fancy yourself a skilled baker? Think those folks on GBBO couldn’t hold a candle to you, let alone a piping bag? Think you could take Mary Berry head on? Is Nigella less Goddess more worshiper at your cake altar? Well, here’s your chance to prove it! You can enter The Great Chocolate Cake Off 2012 by filling out THIS FORM. The deadline is Wednesday 10th for getting the form in and as a reward you do get FREE entry to the show. As I mentioned judging will be happening on the Saturday of Chocolate Unwraped and be done by a panel . Go on – submit that form and get in on the challenge!!
