When Art Pollard and Matt Caputo were in town last week for the Academy of Chocolate Awards they very kindly brought me a box of bonbons to try from Chocolatier Blue, a US based chocolatier run by Chris Blue, previously of Charlie Trotter’s. I managed to work my way through the collection and in spite WordPress being a little troublesome, here are a few of my thoughts on Blue’s best.

June 2nd saw the official ceremony of the 2009 Academy of Chocolate Awards. In a week full of rushing around and hosting visitors, this was the big highlight - and the hottest night of the year so far.

Tonight at last saw the airing of the final of  the fifth  series of the UK version of The Apprentice.
The last challenge for the two finalists was creating a chocolate brand and selection in just three days - a tough ask. Finalist Kate Walsh worked with Paul Young of Paul A Young Fine Chocolates, while [...]

The presentation ceremony of the 2009 Academy of Chocolate awards takes place this Tuesday 2nd of June, and everyone is in town to collect their medals or just catch up with long unseen friends in the fine chocolate world.

I’ll be churning out a hastily written diary of the night and the surrounding week, if I’m still in one piece after all that award-winning chocolate.

Melt and Seventypercent.com present a tasting event to celebrate the cacao of Ecuador. Lourdes Delgado will tell us about plantations, the problems of farmers, cacao from the Amazon, her own chocolate brand and her hand-made jewellery. Sit back and enjoy with some fine chocolates and a glass of wine.

As if a visit to Paul A Young’s last Friday wasn’t enough, in the afternoon I went along to a promotional demo by William Curley for Amedei at Westmintser Kingsway College. I just about survived the three desserts and freshly made sea-salt caramels, with a little chocolate eating space to spare.

The latest from Paul A Young, including new seasonal flavours, his summer range of chocolate ice cream and details of his forthcoming book. We also look at Paul’s ‘reimagining’ of a childhood confectionery classic.

We catch up with the latest products and happenings from Notting Hill chocolatier, Melt. This month featuring the seasonal Butterfly collection, new ice cream offerings and a limited edition bar.

Chocovic have two new origin offerings, brought in to supplement their existing small origin range. Both bars are a step up in quality for the Spanish bean to bar maker, who are also owners of the Sampaka chocolatier chain and suppliers to upmarket Spanish brands such as Enrico Rovira. We tried them at the Linköping Chokladfestival 2009 with Art Pollard and Maja Berthas.

Tues 26 May 2009 - Our regular monthly tasting event in our partner venue, the London member rooms of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society. With an introduction to fine chocolate as well as sampling of our new finds and recent discoveries.

Tues 23 Jun 2009 - Our regular monthly tasting event in our partner venue, the London member rooms of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society. With an introduction to fine chocolate as well as sampling of our new finds and recent discoveries.