So, I’ve become seriously addicted to chocolate this week. Not snack bars of the Cadbury’s kind, you must understand, but the rather wonderful full flavoured, complex, dare I say ‘artisan’ chocolate bar made by The Mast Brothers. I am no expert in chocolate mind you, but I have fallen head over heels for these beautifully hand wrapped bars imported all the way from Brooklyn NYC. As I write this I am munching on their 72% Madagascan Fleur de Sel ; a bar of chocolate that has been made from bean to bar on site at their Chocolate Factory in Brooklyn NYC. The only factory in NYC that produces chocolate in this way by importing the cocoa beans directly and then roasting, grinding and ageing the raw ingredient, then finally processing and tempering into bars . This bar has some of the most intense flavours I have ever tasted in chocolate, the texture is a little chalky with deep dark fruity roasting flavours of pure chocolate brought out by the sea salt (not just any sea salt this is hand harvested in France ). I bought the bar on Saturday at Paul A Young’s in Islington and I am savouring it for a few more nights until I get back there to try another flavour, as it’s the only place in London to buy these bars at £8.95 each. Worth the trip. Worth the money.
Monthly Archives: November 2010
101 Christmas Recipes
Last Tuesday we asked all our retail team to gather after work to take part in a Christmas training evening. Everybody showed up, drank a few glasses of mulled wine - made with one of our own Mulled Wine Kits and settled down to an early Christmas. Christmas this year, is being organised by the wonderful Tracey Bellow. Tracey has worked in marketing for many successful high street brands and we asked her to lead the way and help deliver what we think is our best Christmas offer ever. We have, over the years, created 101 Christmas recipes that will be going through our kitchens this festive season. We have worked really hard at improving some old recipes like our stuffing recipe - it’s now packed full of zesty flavour, we have added more aromat to our spiced red cabbage, our pudding is lighter and fruitier, with no nuts, and our Christmas cake is richer and moister with extra brandy. Some recipes we’ve left alone like our fabulous mince pies which everybody loves and the brandy butter that goes perfectly with them. There are some completely new ideas from our Executive Chef Flori, like our range of party food : Kedgeree Cubes, Venison Sausage Rolls, Cheesy Profiteroles and Ham Hock croquettes. As we sat and munched away, Tracey laid down the guidelines; how to take an order efficiently, new suppliers information, how to pair certain foods, our commitment to delivering Christmas In a Box to the customers’ door this Christmas Eve and how this year for the very first time customers will be able to place an order online. The evening drew to a close and Josh joined in with some gentle words of encouragement. We didn’t stay late as the next day we installed “stage 1″ of our Christmas offer which you can now see at both of our shops. If you’re already making plans for your Christmas, feel free to pop in and ask for more details on our 101 Christmas recipes.
Beef Stew @ Camden Town Brewery
Our friend Jasper Cuppaidge owns the pub opposite our shop in Hampstead called The Horseshoe, but what’s really interesting about him is that he brews his own ale and he does this with a huge amount of passion and knowledge. Until two months ago he did this in the basement of the pub but now he’s set up a spanking new state of the art brewery in the middle of Camden - almost opposite our production kitchen (but not quite). It’s name is Camden Town Brewery and they brew excellent craft beer. They produce a pale ale, a wheat beer and a lager - all made with no chemicals. We jumped at the chance to cater an event for Jasper at the new brewery and when he asked us to come up with a menu idea we suggested a Beef and Ale stew (made with Camden Town Ale of course ) served with a buttery celeriac mash and sauteed Calvo Nero. It hit the spot. Jasper plans to bottle the golden nectar soon, so we will be stocking it at our stores before Christmas - you won’t find a more local beer than this. But if you can’t wait to sample this fine ale then pop up to Hampstead for a pint at The Horseshoe on Heath Street at the top of Oriel Place.