Chocolate – Page 4 – The Adventures of Elle Coco

A Fine Flavour Range

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/

Golden Circle Surprise

Still feeling so relaxed we were falling off our proverbial chairs, we layered up to the max and made our way to 101 Laugavegur to catch our ride. It was our last day and we were heading out to see some of the most famous sights and sounds of south western Iceland, courtesy of Extreme Iceland on their Golden Circle Surprise Tour.

With temperatures barely above freezing the snow was starting up again as we made our way up to Þingvellir, or Thingvellir to us Anglicised folk. It was here, over 1000 years ago (in 930 to be precise) that the first ‘Athing’ was held – an open air assembly representing the whole of Iceland, who met once a year until 1798. Here, weather permitting, you can see yet another meeting point, between the two tectonic plates – American and Euroasian plates, who’s boundaries run right through Iceland and are clearly visible at this point – provided you’re not stuck in a blizzard. If you are stuck in a blizzard, then you probably won’t see more than an intricately frosted van window, like the one below.

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Soaking up the Sights

After a high intensity audio visual experience of the night before, we decided to take Saturday at a slower pace. After breakfast we took a leisurely stroll up towards the Eye of Sauron, sorry, I mean Hallgrimskirkja or ‘Hallgrims Church. But it really does look like something out of Lord of the Rings, and with all these Elf Rocks and blizzards it does get a little confusing.

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Head North for Chocolate

Great taste in music, a quirky sense of humour, chocolate to die for and some of the world’s best scenery – Iceland really does tick all the boxes.

Even those of you more partial to a bikini-toting, pinacolada-sipping beachside holiday can still find some solace (and outstanding chocolate) in this magical land of elf rocks, blizzards and thermal spas.

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Drinking Liquid Gold

SKETCH PARLOUR HOT CHOCOLATE:

The richest of them all! Sketch in Mayfair is a Michellin star group of restaurants in one venue. The first place you may enter as you head into the building is the Parlour, famous for it’s Alice in Wonderland-esque themed decor and tastefully miss-matched furniture. You can lunch here, and also take morning tea or breakfast – here they have a fine range of french patisserie, macarons, a full on varied lunch menu at a reasonable price, and…hot chocolate to die for.

Made using Valrhona’s finest 70% dark house blend, again like all top hot chocolates in London this is pure, melted gold, in a cup! But it’s the combination of this melted gold and finely frothed creamed milk that really makes this particular hot chocolate extra special. So smooth and so thick that you really do need the supplied teaspoon to scoop out the left overs, you’ll be licking your lips and savouring that flavour long after you have scraped the last from the cup!

Drinking Liquid Gold — A Cup of Liquid Gold

Sketch is worth a visit not just for the hot chocolates, the patisseries, the delightful theme of the parlour, but The Glade is a must visit for any coffee lover or fan of scones and cream – Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee is staple here and the Glade gives a delightful impression of being in a forest. Before you go, don’t forget to explore the loos – both sets – they are some of, if not the most, exciting in London!

Sketch is found at 9 Conduit Street, W1S 2XG, a stones throw (or very short walk) from Oxford Circus tube station.

Malmo Musings

After a whirlwind 36 hours in Denmark, including visiting a micro cacao plantation in a greenhouse in the Danish countryside and doing yoga in Christiania with one of its longest-standing residents, it was now time to hit Malmo – Sweden’s third largest city, and one that is fast making a name for itself in the sustainable living category!

An example of Sweden's pioneering new sustainable development - The Greenhouse, in Malmo — An example of Sweden’s pioneering new sustainable development – The Greenhouse, in Malmo

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Morning Yoga and The Danish Chocolate Farm

MORNING YOGA:

Yet another early start, up at 5.30am heading back to Christiania, nothing beats practicing yoga in a cozy wooden loft, jam-packed with enough Aloe Vera plants to keep Holland and Barratt supplied for a year, above a fragrant apothecary, overlooking one of Europe’s most successful independent, self-governing Freetowns – strictly NOT part of the EU.

Christiania Sign - Denmark — The Christianites have a great sense of humour

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A City Within a City

*Edited 2018 to reflect on the devastating news that Stace Bancroft – yogi, resident of Christiania and inspiration to the world – past away February 16th 2018. You were and still are an inspiration. Stace, this story is for you. RIP. Gone, but never forgotten.*

After a 4am start in London, to catch an 8am flight from Luton airport, the last thing you want is to be stuck in an epic rainstorm without a brolly. Luckily, Copenhagen is full of delightful little districts and boutique food halls where you can shelter from the onslaught, and where I discovered Groed – just off Torvehallerne, Israels Plads – a small cafe specialising in porridge so good Goldie Locks would have been proud.

I stole Goldielocks' porridge... — I stole Goldielocks’ porridge…and washed it down with an award-winning elderflower beer

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Chocolate and Church Hunting

Next morning it was an early start as we set off for Tallinn, in Estonia, a 3.5 hour ferry ride away. Now Estonia is a fascinating country, as are many of the far Eastern European countries. Filled with culture, myths and history, often with a fine selection of well-preserved medieval walled towns. Tallinn is one such town, dating back to the 13th Century it’s earliest name was in Russian, but in 1219, after the Danish conquest it became known in German, Danish and Swedish languages as ‘Reval’.

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Chocolate Adventures and Reindeer Steaks

Today was a day for exploring Helsinki city…and to find the elusive reindeer steak we so desperately desired. After our prisoner’s breakfast at the hotel we set off on our way.

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