All About Fine Chocolate by Cat Black

  • R Chocolate – a chocolate afternoon tea

    April 25, 2017

    A new chocolatier from Evelyn de Rothschild using Original Beans chocolate.

    tea plus trifle

    A new chocolatier opened in London last October. And when that happens it is my job to investigate. The brainchild of Sir Evelyn de Rothschild, realised with Ben Elliot and Jessica de Rothschild, R Chocolate certainly means business – opening with shops in Belgravia and Richmond, plus a full compliment of seasonal collections, patisserie, workshops and events. There is the planning and backing here that has allowed the brand to launch all guns blazing, and...

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  • Easter Chocolates – 2017

    April 4, 2017

    For charm and deliciousness, look no further for your Easter chocolates!

    J Cocoa mini-eggs

    2017 has been a bit of a whirlwind so far for me, with the result that I was slightly incredulous when the Easter chocolates started to appear. Really? It was Christmas last week, surely? I wasn't sure I was ready for another flurry of rich food and present giving. But it is testament to the truly delightful creativity of the UK's chocolate makers and chocolatiers that as soon as their Easter treats started to arrive...

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  • The International Chocolate Awards 2017 kicks off in Brussels

    February 28, 2017

    Brussels was fun! Here is an account of my visit to the Belgian capital for the judging.

    Brussels

    As the Eurostar pulled out of Brussels Midi station I reflected back on four packed days in Belgium’s capital. I had been judging the Belgian round of The International Chocolate Awards 2017, the first heat of the year. 2016 was an exceptional year for the Awards, with record numbers of chocolate makers, chocolatiers and products entered. And boy were there wonderful things among them! [caption id="attachment_3428" align="alignnone" width="480"] As well as chocolate, there are waffles everywhere...

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  • Chocs for Chance 2017

    January 27, 2017

    A chance to get your hands on seriously exclusive chocolates!

    Chocs for Chance chefs line up from 2016.

    I hope you are all well, that you have had a good start to 2017. Forgive me if I repeat myself, but it is my job to remind you of the annual Chocs for Chance auction - which goes live today! Chocs for Chance is an auction of absolutely exclusive chocolates, in aid of Galvin's Chance charity. Galvin's Chance truly changes lives, by giving disadvantaged young people opportunities to train for a career in the hospitality industry....

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  • My Top Ten from 2016

    January 4, 2017

    I hope you have all had a chocolate filled festive season. Here's to 2017!

    Peter Svenningsen - Choconord

    Happy New Year all! So 2016 is over. Forgive my belated post; before posting I needed a moment to ruminate on a year that has been challenging in many ways. But there were some wonderful things about last year, despite all the rest of it. And as we say goodbye to a challenging year, and look to 2017, let's also look back at some small but lovely pleasures from the last twelve months. As usual I...

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  • Christmas chocolate shopping 2016

    November 29, 2016

    Here are my recommendations from the hugely tempting array of Christmas chocolates on offer.

    R Chocolates Christmas shapes.

    No more head scratching needed, my Christmas chocolate shopping recommendations will leave everyone you have to buy for feeling loved and satiated. There is something for everyone, and each year I thrill to the deliciousness and ingenuity of all the chocolate creations to be had! But before we look at gifts for others, what about advent calendars! You don't have very long until the start of December, and there is no more surefire way to brighten...

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  • The Chocolate Show, The International Chocolate Awards & The Chocolate Dessert of the Year!

    October 31, 2016

    An update on the busiest weeks of my chocolate year!

    The Chocolate Show fashion show.

    Boy oh boy, the last few weeks have been full of chocolate happenings! And it all came to a head during Chocolate Week and The Chocolate Show at Olympia (14th-16th October). Please forgive my delay in writing it all up for you, I've had a technical glitch on the blog, but all fine now, fingers crossed. Chocolate Week always sees delicious happenings up and down the country. And The Chocolate Show, now in its 4th year,...

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  • The German/Austrian/Swiss International Chocolate Awards ceremony in Hannover

    September 27, 2016

    It's only a short hop to the Gourmet Chocolate Festival in Hannover, and lots of award winning chocolates!

    Clement Chococult bars

    Friday the 16th September saw me on a plane to Hannover, Germany. I was on my way to the third, annual Gourmet Chocolate Festival, which ran from the 16th to 18th. The awards ceremony for the 2016 German/Austrian/Swiss heat of the International Chocolate Awards was to be held that evening within the festival, and I was doing the honours along with Michaela Schupp, German partner of the awards and dynamo behind the festival. [caption id="attachment_3229" align="alignnone"...

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Cat Black

Cat BlackI am a food writer, with special interest in, and huge enthusiasm for, chocolate! This blog is where I get to tell you about all the wonderful tastes, events, and people I come across in the world of chocolate.

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