14 August 2016
What comes to your mind first and foremost when you think of English Chocolates? Cadbury, Thorntons, York or perhaps Churchill’s? Do you even bat an eyelid or turn your nose up at the mere mention of it?
I’ll admit that I’m no authority on this topic. So, when we finally arrived in London (we missed our flight from Florence, partly due to the stop at Roberto Catinari’s Arte del Cioccolato and mainly the poor organisation of the airport), I convinced hubby to join me on a self discovery chocolate tour of the city. With a shortlist and mobile phone in hand, and 6 hours to spare (plus a bit of wishful thinking), we hopped on the Santander city bikes on our English Chocolates adventure!
There is much bustle and excitement in London, as the city prepares to celebrate The Queen’s birthday on the weekend. It was thus most befitting the occasion that we pay a visit to two British Royal Warrant holders.
British Royal Warrants are granted by the British Royal family. These Warrants are a mark of recognition for official suppliers of goods and services to The Queen of England, The Duke of Edinburgh and The Prince of Wales.
Our first stop looks like something out of Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory. In fact, I hear that it is THE inspiration for Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. With its vibrant coloured displays and floor to ceiling selections in multi-shaped boxes, Prestat is a sure hit with kids and the young at heart. Like the character Augustus Gloop, I too am overwhelmed by the temptation to over-indulge in this magical chocolate shop.
There are truffles and pralines abound in the glass display counter, and chocolate bars of various sizes and flavours sitting atop it. Help is at hand as the gentleman behind the counter steers me to the yuzu sake and red velvet truffles, apparently the latest crowd pleasers.
The yuzu sake truffle is refreshing. The tartness of the white chocolate yuzu ganache does wonders to complement the sweetness of the dark chocolate shell that envelops it. I am reminded of lemon sherbets, minus the fizzle. The sake is so subtle that it’s hardly discernible. As far as first impressions go, the red velvet truffle is attractive. It’s an inside out version of the traditional namesake. Dark pink, rounded beauties dusted with raspberry powder on the outside, icing on the inside and a milk chocolate shell in the middle. Top marks for creativity. As for the taste, I find it to be a tad too sweet for my liking. The tartness of the raspberry powder works to some extent to counter this, but the milk chocolate and icing combination tips the sugar scales in a truffle. Maybe dark chocolate could have worked better?
At our next stop, we learn something new about The Queen. Like many of us mere mortals, she too has a soft spot for chocolates……. and her favourite is apparently the English violet cream from Charbonnel et Walker. On the day that we are there, the shopfront is aptly decorated to commemorate her 90th birthday celebrations.
Drawing similarities with The Queen, Charbonnel et Walker is an English institution in itself, established back in 1875. Initially formed as a partnership between Mrs Walker and Madame Charbonnel, from an esteemed chocolate house in Paris, the chocolate shop has stood the test of time and maintains its Parisian chic to this day. Plus the chocolates are still meticulously handmade to traditional, age old recipes.
We hone in on the English violet cream, and its sister variety, the English rose cream. Both are dainty and oval shaped, with violet and rose infused fondants respectively, enrobed in dark chocolate. A small sliver of candied violet or rose petal adorns the top of each piece. The dark chocolate is velvety smooth but I find the floral infused fondants to be a tad too sweet. We are recommended the more contemporary dark sea salt caramel truffle and the traditional strawberry truffle. Both are esthetically pleasing, but, again, too sweet for my liking.
I conclude that The Queen and I won’t be fighting over chocolates anytime soon; we have quite contrasting tastes?
Stay tuned for the next instalment of our English Chocolates adventure, as we track down several contemporary chocolate shops that are revitalising the London chocolate scene!
