Top 10: National Chocolate Week Events in LondonBy Angelica Malin
Looking for the best ways to celebrate chocolate week in London? Treat the chocoholic in your life to a mouthwatering treat; sample the delights of a cocoa-inspired afternoon tea at the Hilton or learn how to make chocolate yourself with Hotel Chocolat’s Bean to Bar experience. Here’s the best ways to enjoy ALL the chocolate during National Chocolate Week:
Chocoholic Afternoon Tea for Two at The Hilton Park Lane
This is a truly out-of-the-ordinary indulgent treat for two. Making a Great British Tradition even greater, the Podium Restaurant’s Executive Chef has created a sumptuous version of afternoon tea that ticks all the chocolate boxes. In addition to superior teas, you will devour delicious sandwiches, chocolate chip scones with praline spread and melt-in-the-mouth pastries. Then comes the main event for any chocolate lover – a selection of beautifully-crafted and delicious chocolate fancies, served on an edible chocolate plate.
Sparkling Afternoon Tea for Two at Hotel Chocolat’s Rabot 1745 in Borough Market
Situated in the heart of London, Hotel Chocolat’s Rabot 1745 boasts a colonial plantation inspired interior, complete with an extraordinary array of first-class chocolate treats. Why note celebrate Chocolate Week in London with this great tea. Indulge in scones, strawberry jam, hot chocolate and much more with this fantastic sparkling afternoon tea created by this British chocolatier and cocoa grower. Why not soak up the atmosphere from the open-air roof terrace which offers a stunning view of London’s Borough Market.
Bottomless Chocolate Brunch at Jaz & Jul’s
Award-winning artisans Jaz & Jul’s have launched a new bottomless menu for their popular chocolate-themed weekend brunch at their Chocolate House in Islington. Visitors to the duo’s flagship cocoa cafe in Chapel Market can enjoy one savoury plus one sweet breakfast dish each with a chocolatey twist, accompanied by unlimited Prosecco or special cocoa-influenced breakfast cocktails for two hours, as well as endless chocolate sauce. Jaz & Jul’s new Saturday and Sunday bottomless brunch menu is entirely vegetarian and showcases a wide array of innovative vegan offerings. We’ve got our eyes on the orange-zest Jaffa pancakes drizzled with marmalade-maple syrup and chocolate sauce.
The View from The Shard and Sparkling Afternoon Tea at Hotel Chocolat
The Shard, with its gleaming 95-storey glass structure designed by Renzo Piano, dominates the London skyline and is home to city’s highest viewing platform. You and your guest will ascend up through the building in the high-speed lifts and arrive onto the observational deck, where you’ll be able to enjoy stunning 360-degree views of the capital for up to 40 miles around. Then take a short walk to the famous Borough Market where you’ll enjoy a divine sparkling afternoon tea for two at Hotel Chocolat’s Rabot 1745.
Chocolate Cocktails at K West Hotel & Spa
Attention all chocoholics! K West Hotel & Spa is ready to celebrate all things chocolatey in true K West spirit. At this Shepherd’s Bush hotspot you’ll find chocolate atop of your cocktails during Chocolate Week 2017. The expert mixologists at Studio Bar have devised The ‘Big Yellow’ Cocktail, available exclusively for Chocolate Week. The eye-catching, bright yellow cocktail combines Black Mozart, apricot, banana, fresh passion fruit, coconut essence, and sugar cane syrup, with garnishes of Divine White Chocolate with strawberries and Divine Milk Chocolate with whole almonds. We love.
Chocolate Afternoon Tea at Olives Restaurant & Bar
Set within the heart of Kensington, 140-year-old Victorian-era townhouse hotel The Bailey’s Hotel is the ideal location to indulge in a chocolatey take on a traditional afternoon tea. In celebration of National Chocolate Week, the hotel will be offering a Chocolate Afternoon Tea complete with a selection of delicious finger sandwiches, freshly-baked raisin and cinnamon scones served with clotted cream and preserves, and delectable chocolate cakes and pastries. They’ve also got some great chocolate cocktails – try the Chocolate and Mint – vodka, crème de cacao, crème de menthe and fresh mint.
One of the best ways to celebrate Chocolate Week in London; create your own bespoke truffles, and cover them in finest Belgian chocolate, with this delicious interactive experience for two. You’ll have an informative talk on the history of everyone’s favourite sweet treat, before getting to sample a chocolate fountain. Then take part in a workshop to create your very own tasty truffle fillings. You’ll then dip your truffles in fine Belgian chocolate and decorate and wrap them as you wish, with your own designs.
Chocolate Afternoon Tea at The Tamburlaine
Tamburlaine in Cambridge will be celebrating Chocolate Week with the ultimate afternoon tea for chocoholics. Chocoholics are in for an absolute taste sensation as they tuck into gooey triple chocolate brownies decorated with silky ganache and delicate edible flowers. Decadent dark chocolate lollipops adorned with white chocolate chips and sprinkled with icing sugar completes the eye-catching plate. Located within 50 minutes from London, guests can while away a carefree afternoon in the breathtakingly beautiful Garden Room at Tamburlaine. Glorious.
Chocolate Flavoured Rainforest Private Tour at The Eden Project
This novel tour for two gives you the chance to discover the original hot chocolate, as you journey from the Tropical Islands to the Amazon through the Eden Project’s biome rainforest. You’ll scour the jungle, learning about its fascinating history, before indulging in an Aztec style hot chocolate with spices. After your memorable private tour, you and your guest can enjoy day admission to the Eden Project; all the components of a perfect day out.
Special Chocolate Dessert at Gillray’s
Gillray’s, the restaurant known for its sizzling steaks, has teamed up with boutique chocolatier, R Chocolate, to create an exclusive caramelised chocolate and cherry mousse dessert that will be available for one week only at the Westminster-based restaurant. The dessert combines smooth caramelised milk and dark chocolate mousse with a ruby-red Amorena cherry puree hidden inside. It’s encased in a shiny chocolate glaze, balanced on a praline crunch base and finished with dark chocolate Mozart liqueur piped into caviar-shaped spheres, plus two delicate quenelles of mascarpone Chantilly cream. With so many complex processes, flavours and textures involved, the dessert is an extra-special way to celebrate Chocolate Week this year.
