Our inbox has been crammed with news of sweet-toothed goings-on around London for National Chocolate Week (14 - 20 October). Here's our pick of the events we think you'll want to know about.
Cocktails and other drinks
Paternoster Chop House has devised various chocolatey cocktails including Chocolate-Chilli Delight with chocolate liqueur, fresh chillies and vodka. Also using chilli is Min Jiang in Kensington which has a Chocolate Chilli Martini on offer all week.
Kensington Place has a Chocolate Orange Blossom cocktail on offer.
Try the Chocolate Princess Cocktail – made with warmed brandy, Kaluha, cinnamon and chocolate bitters at the Princess of Wales in Primrose Hill.
In Islington, The Four Sisters has several cocktails on offer throughout October including the marvellous-sounding The Divine Toffee & Sea Salt Martini for £8 (El Jimador Blanco tequila, Butterscotch schnapps, red grapefruit juice, Four Sisters chilli syrup).
Brockwell Park's Lido Cafe has an Aztec chilli hot chocolate on offer for Chocolate Week (pictured). They melt the finest 90% cocoa-content dark chocolate, add steamed milk and infuse with cinnamon before adding a light dusting of chilli flakes to finish.
Afternoon teas
Valrhona has teamed up with three London hotels for afternoon teas for Chocolate Week - try Confit magret duck pithivier with cocoa nibs at the Langham (pictured), Jivara Irish coffee macaroon at the Lanesborough or Dulcey blond chocolate dome tarte and pistachio financier at Harvey Nichols. From £30 per person.
Head for the Pullman Hotel at St Pancras where the Golden Arrow Bar and Lounge has a Chocolate High Tea on offer during the week from 2-6pm. They'll have chocolate éclairs filled with lavender cream and white chocolate cones overflowing with freeze dried raspberries and even chocolate scones on offer. The cost is £25 - to book 020 7666 9080.
Over at the Park Lane Hotel the pastry chef has joined forces with Thorntons for their chocolate tea. Sarnies include cocoa, tamarind and thyme cured salmon on basil bread. Try it paired with their Jing Vanilla Black Tea, a black Vietnamese tea-leaf infused with vanilla pods to compliment the chocolate. It'll be served 12-27 October (3pm – 6pm on weekdays and 2pm – 6pm at weekends) in The Palm Court and costs £41 per person with champagne or £33 without. Bookings must be made in advance at 020 7499 6321.
Special dishes
Just off Broadgate, there's a Chocolate Chilli Hotdog going on the menu at the Old Bengal Bar for Chocolate Week while next door at the New Street Grill you can try venison with a delicate chocolate jus.
Two of Galvin's London restaurants have teamed up with Valrhona to each offer a special dessert for Chocolate Week. Galvin Bistrot de Luxe will be serving Warm milk chocolate fondant – Guanaja Lactee 41%, Salted Valrhona praline, Dulcey Cremeux, Opalys Namalaka, Marshmallow Of Guanaja 71% and Coeur de Guanaja Ice Cream - whilst Galvin La Chapelle will see a deconstructed version of the aforementioned dish using the same fine ingredients but assembled in La Chapelle style (pictured).
In Soho, Pizza Pilgrims have teamed up with Paul A Young to create a Margherita pizza-flavoured truffle. It's on sale in their restaurant for Chocolate Week as well as at all the Paul A Young shops.
Chocolate menus
Sartoria have the services of chocolatier Willie Harcourt-Cooze who's helped them create an a la carte menu for the week with dishes including aubergine and chocolate cake, with 100% Madagascan 71 and Indonesian 69; Dark chocolate sorbet, new season olive oil, sea salt and sweet ciabatta with Rio Caibe 72 (pictured); and Sea urchin risotto and water based ganache with 100% El Tersoro. to book call 020 7534 7015.
The Royal Horseguards Hotel in Whitehall has a five course chocolate tasting menu featuring an array of cocoa-inspired dishes using seasonal ingredients for £75 per person. To book call 0871 376 9033.
Events
Over at Rococo on Moxon Street they'll be hosting a beer and chocolate tasting on 16 October from 6.30-7.30pm. They'll guide you through a tasting of a variety of beers, including the recently released Mr Trotter’s Great British Chestnut Ale. Each beer will be paired with a specific Rococo chocolate. Tickets are £20 per person and booking is essential. Please contact Julie on 020 7245 0993 or events@rococochocolates.com
There are still tickets for the Paul A Young masterclass at Paradise by Way of Kensal Green on Tuesday 15th October at 7.30pm. Tickets are £49.00 - book here - you'll get to try Paul's new Marmite brownie and Pizza pilgrim Margarita truffle and leave with a signed copy of Paul's book ’Adventures with Chocolate’ and chocolates to take home.
Paul will also be appearing at Central & Co the following day with - drumroll - Cleo Rocos, for a tequila and chocolate tasting. Rocos will be there representing Aqua Rivos tequila while Paul pairs that with his new Guavarita truffles. Tickets cost £60 per person To book your place call 020 7437 0011 or go to www.paulayoung.co.uk
For the full Chocolate Week experience head to Salon du Chocolat, the world's largest event dedicated to chocolate. This three day event (18-20 Oct) at Olympia sees craftsmen, chefs and cocoa experts come together under one roof to delight visitors with all things chocolate including (and the mind boggles) a fashion show with clothes made from chocolate. Tickets are £18 at www.salonduchocolat.co.uk
Dessert Deli’s Laura Amos will be at Fortnum and Mason's Demonstration Kitchen on Wednesday 16 October at 12.30pm making a Belgian chocolate mousse with honeycomb and a double chocolate fondant with dark chocolate and salted caramel sauces.
