| NEWS ITEMS 2008|

HESTERCOMBE GARDENS CHOCOLATE EXTRAVAGANZA 2008

Click here to see photos in our Photobox gallery of the event

Saturday 8th March saw us return to Hestercombe Gardens for their third Chocolate Extravaganza.

For the previous two years we had our large chocolate fountain with us (see the 2007 News archive for details of last year's event) and on this occasion we decided to focus on our chocolates, especially as we are in the final approach to Easter.

Visitor numbers seemed slightly down on previous years (other foodies events on same weekend?) but those that came through the doors were, as usual, committed and interested chocolate fans and we thoroughly enjoyed dispensing samples and chatting with new customers aswell as our regulars.

Our giant Easter egg (7kg+) attracted a great deal of attention but no offers. No-one with a big enough family! Lorna has excelled herself with this creation. The egg itself is half milk chocolate and half dark. The front half has a milk chocolate egg set into it and that contains a chocolate cockerel. The front of the egg is decorated with chocolate flowers and white chocolate piped stems and leaves. Several people commented that they remember seeing similar Easter displays at chocolate shops many years ago.

We always enjoy meeting other chocolate producers from the South West at this event, but this year was particularly interesting as our neighbours on this occasion were Willie Harcourt-Cooze and his wife Tania with their 3 children.

Fresh from filming with Channel 4 for the "Willie's Wonky Chocolate Factory" series (C4 Sunday nights 9pm - a must-watch) they brought with them some of the beans imported from their Venezuelan estate. Willie ground some of the cocao nibs into a paste which several onlookers (Lorna and I included) were able to taste ("bitter and fruity"). They talked to the visitors and chocolate producers about their experiences and product and, of course, had some for sale. In addition to the "100% Pure Cacao" from their estate (see the label below), Willie has also personally sourced 2 further varieties from nearby estates. Lorna and I bought one of each bar (for the time being) and plan to have fun experimenting with them in the coming week. Watch this space!

Their web site can be found at: http://www.venezuelanblack.com/

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