Chocoholics rejoice! National Chocolate Week is upon us once more.
Running until 19 October, it’s a week to tuck into truffles and go crazy for cocoa as London and the world’s top chocolatiers and patissiers lay on a whole host of indulgent special menus, tastings and events.
Here’s how to get involved...
The Chocolate Show
Otherwise known as Salon du Chocolat, this annual show brings together top chocolate talent and brands from around the world for a host of workshops, demos and talks, as well as the chance to buy from them. There’s also a Chocolate Fashion Show consisting of outfits inspired by (and in some cases even made from) chocolate. The show runs from 17-19 October at Olympia; tickets start from £8 and can be booked here.
Chocolate and spilt milk
The folk at dessert company Gü have worked with Mark Sargeant's team to put together a three-course chocolate menu at Plum + Spilt Milk. A starter of scallops with white chocolate and cauliflower purée and a sherry vinegar caramel will be followed by a loin of venison with cocoa nib roast squash and a bitter chocolate and red wine sauce. Dessert will comes in the form of Gü head chef Fred Ponnavoy’s ultimate chocolate and tonka bean melting middle with caramelised white chocolate ice-cream. The menu costs £48.
Chocolate paradise
Patissier Eric Lanlard, also known as Cake Boy, is popping up in Kensal Green gastropub Paradise for the whole month. He’ll be laying on the chocolate thick this week, with a menu that features chocolate and Earl Grey tarts with roasted figs, white chocolate and passionfruit cheesecake, and hot chocolate soufflés.
Drink hot chocolate
The Lobby Lounge at the Corinthia Hotel will be offering a special range of hot chocolates all week. The menu includes a salted caramel version (caramel infused milk chocolate, caramel ripple marshmallows, whipped cream, salted caramel sauce) and a spiced dark variety (chilli chocolate, cinnamon dusted shortbread, whipped cream, marshmallows). All hot chocolates are priced at £5.50.
Tuck into macaroons
Hotel Café Royal’s pastry chef Andrew Blas has created three new macaroons for the venue’s café: chocolate and orange, Milky Bar and a creation called Baylands Bahibe made using Valrhona chocolate.
High cocoa content
Get your high cocoa content up high this National Chocolate Week, with a Dark Chocolate Espresso Martini being added to the menu at Paramount set at the top of Paramount. The cocktail will be around for one week only and cost £12.
Chocolate chops
Paternoster Chop House in St Paul’s will be celebrating Chocolate week by laying on three chocolate bar-styled desserts. Choose from a Bounty, Texan or Marathon (Snickers if you’re a youngster) pudding to round off your meal, for £6 a pop.