It’s been 7 long weeks since my last post and about time to re-connect with chocolate and with you. A thousand apologies for the radio silence. I’m sure you missed those Friday posts flying into your inbox.

Sonya and I have been working on an Image Film for 2 Michelin starred restaurant CODA in Berlin over the past month. It’s finished and you can watch it here.

Back to chocolate. Last week London celebrated its very first chocolate themed event, called Chocolate Unwrapped. It was the grand finale to Chocolate Week. In case you missed it I would love to share with you what we experienced.

The event is a one day celebration of everything chocolate. It was kickstarted by renowned chocolatier Paul A Young and Kate Johns at Nudge PR.

Sonya and I attended on the Press Night before the consumer event. The location was just perfect. Right in Soho, you had chocolate spread over four floors to enjoy 🙂 The video below will give you a good idea of the evening.

Craft chocolate makers such as Bare Bones from Glasgow, Pump Street from Suffolk and bigger players such as Knoops attended the happening. You had the chance to connect, taste and indulge.

The concept was having a complete bean to bar experience. At the entrance you were greeted with cacao juice made from mucilage with a bite of dark chocolate from Africa. While a melangeur was running on the table in front of you, the team explained how chocolate is made.

The first floor was all about chocolate bars from different origins. Pump Street for instance focused more on their bakery inclusions such as croissants, rye crumb and sea salt or cookie chip. Cacao Runners let you try chocolate and test your sensory skills.

One level up, truffles were the star of the show. Melt Chocolate had some beautiful advents calendars and chocolate boxes at their stand.

Half way through the event, the BBC London team popped up and did a live report with Aneesh Popat from The Chocolatier. Watch the clip right here. He made a 5KG slab of chocolate with the BBC Logo on it.

Aneesh also works with his mom and happens to be an ambassador for Original Beans. His 62% Bar from Ecuador was our favourite that night.

Moving to the third floor, we spotted Edd Kimber aka The Boy Who Bakes with great delight. He occupied Le Choux most of the evening. We can’t blame him. The dark chocolate mousse and choux buns were extraordinary. Guittard was also part of this ensemble specialising in couvertures for baking.

Top floor was chocolate in its liquid element and form. Knoops was up there handing out our favourite, 72% Peru.

Above all, the best part of the event was the people. We connected with so many loving humans from all over the UK, who came together for the love of chocolate. It even inspired us to visit Scotland. Bare Bones we are coming for you! 😉

I strongly believe that over the years Chocolate Unwrapped will turn into a larger affair such as the London Coffee Festival. There’s no way around it. This is only the beginning and we’re very excited for the future.

The only feedback we have for next year is to give people a better understanding how cacao farmers cultivate and process cacao. Where it exactly comes from and what a labour of love it is. For cacao farmers and chocolatiers.

Please let me know if you attended the event and what your thoughts on it are. I’m keen to find out.

I wish you a wonderful end of the week and plenty of good chocolate.

Until next Friday,

Robin