Chocolate Unwrapped
Saturday 26th September
Chocolate Unwrapped, a dedicated chocolate show with 25 of the best chocolate companies’ under one roof. We’ve got the finest UK chocolatiers and european chocolate producers. It’s going to be a very vibrant show with some wonderful exhibitors, a stunning exhibition of chocolate art and talks from the glitterarti of the chocolate world.
Artisan du Chocolat, Sir Hans Sloane, Melt, Paul a Young, Rococo, Chococo, Paul Wayne Gregory, Chocolate by Trish, Lauden, Galler, Gorvett and Stone, DeAngelis, Ooh La La, Hotel Chocolat, Thorntons and more. Chocolate producers are Askinosie, Pacari, and Mexico will be there with a live link to a cocoa plantation. Chocolate cakes from Sweet Things, chocolate books from Foyles and chocolate making kits from ChocChick.
For the first time in the UK we’ll have a fantastic exhibition of chocolate art for our visitors, with renowned artists such as Prudence Emma Staite and Warren Laine-Naida who is visiting from Germany. We’ll also have pieces created by our own chocolatiers. There are some great talks planned from very important chocolate people such as the head chocolatier from Thorntons, Keith Hurdman, the MD of Hotel Chocolat, Angus Thirlwell and Chantal Coady from Rococo.
To book call 0844 338 8000 or visit The Ticket Factory Tickets £12.50 in advance or £15 on the door.
10th & 11th October The May Fair Hotel, Stratton Street, London, W1J 8LT
Great Taste Awards ceremony
Wednesday 9th September
We were at The Great Taste Awards on Monday evening celebrating with the 3 3xgold chocolate award winners, Bill McCarrick from Sir Hans Sloane, Claire Burnett from Chococo and Paul a Young. A very prestigious event held at Fortnum & Masons in the foodhall, we got to taste products from all of the top winners and enjoyed live judging for the supreme champion - Mark Hix, Chris Evans and Anthony Worral Thompson were on the judging panel. Hosted by the very witty and slightly risque Nigel Barden and Bob Farrand, Mr Great Taste himself, the top award went to a chocolate brownie from The Artisan Bakery, the mudee. Very nice it was too. We’re very proud of our chocolatiers so congratulations again to Chococo for their Blackcurrant with 70% dark chocolate, Paul a Young for his sea salted caramel and Sir Hans Sloane for their dark chocolate and hazelnut praline . Here’s a pic of the award winners enjoying each others chocolates.
Great Taste Awards announced - chocolate winners
Tuesday 18th August
The Great Taste Award winners have been announced and we’re delighted to see that a lot of our Chocolate Week participants have won awards. Over 5000 products were submitted this year and judged by a panel of hundreds of independent judges; top chefs, food writers and retail buyers - we were also invited to join this esteemed crowd and judged a plethora of product from christmas puddings to pork pies. From over 5000 products just 83 were awarded the highest accolade, 3 gold stars and just 3 of these were in the chocolate categories. Chococo won 3 gold stars for their wonderful Blackcurrant with 70% dark chocolate & fresh cream, Sir Hans Sloane for his fantastic dark chocolate and hazelnut praline and Paul a Young for his renowned Sea Salted caramel. Other winners of golds included William Curley, Auberge du Chocolat, Demarquette, Melt and Thorntons - congratulations to all of you. For details of all the winners in the 13 chocolate categories visit Guild of Fine Food
