WILLIAM CURLEY’S HOT CHOCOLATE:
Some may say I am biased as I used to work here, but we need to bear in mind this guy also won Britain’s Best Chocolatier award four times by the Academy of Chocolate! So come and try for yourself, I really believe William Curley does create one of the best hot chocolates around – and there are a range of flavours to choose from: classic House Dark, nutty Gianduja (made with gianduja chocolate), inviting Mayan Spiced blend (70% dark chocolate with a hint of cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg) and the exciting Aztec Blend of 70% dark with a kick of chili at the end.
The classic House Blend hot chocolate is created using 70% dark Toscano chocolate, the name of Amedei‘s signature dark chocolate – using beans from a range of origins across South America. Fine dark Toscano chocolate is blended together with freshly boiled frothed milk, the end result – a deliciously smooth and rich dark chocolate drink, not too bitter and not too sweet. The perfect accompaniment to pretty much anything at any time of day! Something not to be missed if you are on a trip to London! Served in a double-walled glass cup, your hot chocolate stays warm whilst your hands don’t burn, and don’t forget the chocolate shavings on the top – these guys clearly know what they are doing with chocolate.
As with the House Dark; both the Mayan and Aztec blends contain 70% dark Toscano chocolate as their base and are blended with cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg, or chili respectively. Gianduja on the other hand, is a whole separate beast, and if you are a fan of your hazelnut hot chocolate, just without the sickly sweet fake hazelnut syrup (move over Starbucks), then this is the one for you!
Originally a spread, created in Napoleon’s era, Gianduja is now synonymous with solid milk chocolate hazelnut bars, where the hazelnuts are completely ground up, they are not the same as a milk chocolate blended with actual hazelnut pieces. Slightly softer than a classic milk chocolate bar, once grated and blended with hot milk, this is a party on the palette for many hot chocolate lovers!
William works exclusively with Amedei Chocolates to source his chocolate for all of his products.
His hot chocolates can be sampled at 198 Ebury Street, Belgravia, SW1W 8UN and 10 Paved Court, Richmond, TW9 1LZ.
*Author’s Edit: As of May 2016 William Curley no longer trades from the Belgravia or Richmond locations, for all William Curley products, please visit Harrods department store by Knightsbridge station, or visit his website: http://www.williamcurley.co.uk/
The Adventures of Elle Coco 