Calling all chocoholics! You'll be pleased to know that from the 10th of December, running for three days, is an event which will have you drooling so much that you may need to take a box of tissues with you to keep on top of things.
It's the return of the popular
Chocolate Festival, taking place at Southbank Centre Square, behind the Royal Festival Hall. If you have trouble finding it, just look out for the people with chocolate smeared around their mouths.
The festival is a cocoa-bean-based bonanza featuring all things chocolaty; things you may have thought not possible in the world of choc; things so brown and creamy that when you get there you might well believe you've died and gone to heaven.
So what's going on at the festival?
Choc sculptures display? Check.
Choc fountain? Check.
Choc masterclasses from top chocolatiers? Check.
Choc on pancakes? Check.
Choc on ice cream? Check.
Choc truffles, cakes, shakes, bars and bonbons? Check.
Choc book signings? Check.
Choc-based talks and tutored tastings? Check.
Choc-making demos? Check.
Choc health benefits seminar? Check.
Choc of Peru tutored tasting? Check.
Choc Easter egg making demo?
Choc Check.
Choc? Check.
More than 30 of
the country's best chocolatiers will be in attendance, tempting you with their carefully made cocoa concoctions.
On the Friday, pastry chefs from some of the UK's top restaurants (eg. Johannes Bonin from The Connaught; Mourad Khiat from The Berkeley; Tal Hausen from The Lanesborough) will be coming along to dazzle and inspire with choc-recipe demonstrations.
If you're looking for some tasty gift ideas or just want to stuff yourself silly, the Chocolate Festival should be able to sort you out.
