London Chocolate Festival Easter 2010
Under a threatening sky the London Chocolate Festival launched the weekend before Easter with what seemed to be more stalls than the previous event. With chocolate makers (a chocolatier is a very special thing and I do not feel qualified to bestow such a qualification) from all around the UK gathering together in one place, it was every chocolate lovers dream.
I was lucky enough to be invited to the launch event where we learned about Valhrona and how all their chocolate is made in a single factory in a small village in France in the Rhone valley and has been there since 1922 despite selling into 65 countries and using 3,000 tonnes of chocolate. While that sounds like a lot it is apparently around only 10% of the annual production of chocolate. They walked us through three chocolates in a sampler pack they provided which was lovely and taught everyone how to taste chocolate. I’m sure my fellow foodies were very familiar with trying it in this way.
We then learned about the brain and chocolate and how the brain reacts to the scent and taste of chocolate and got to taste the predecessor of Nutella. We were then treated to Damian Allsop chocolates which were divine. A delicious jasmine tea infusion and a delightful coffee and passion fruit chocolate, all dairy-free. He apparently has a new shape for his chocolates as well.
The chocolate show itself was delightful and thank goodness everyone was there! I couldn’t find Paul A Young but I did find Paul Wayne Gregory who let me retry the sea salt caramel among others, William Curley whose chocolates I love love love, Rococco who do innovative things with chocolate but I have fallen a little out of love with lately and Outsider Tart who have the most lush baked goods ever,
The festival is easy to get to – Just pop to Waterloo station and exit through the Southbank exit. Now, under the railway bridge and across the square and you’ll see some marquees set up and you’ll be there! This festival is HUGELY popular rain or shine despite being outdoors and it is well worth the trip.
So stop reading and get out there fast! The Chocollate festival continues on Saturday March 27th and Sunday March 28th.
