Thanks to London Cocktail Week, National Champagne Week and now the arrival of National Chocolate Week, October is shaping up to be one of our favourite months!
With chilly Autumn nights descending upon the capital, chocolate feels like the perfect comfort food to spoil yourself with. From the finest chocolatiers to delectable desserts and choco-inspired cocktails, we take a look at the perfect places to indulge your cocoa cravings.
aqua London
To celebrate the nation’s favourite themed week, aqua london is pushing the boat out with its divine chocolate creations. Head Chef Yahir Gonzalez has added a moreish ‘milk chocolate mousse and Cointreau cake’ to his menu, plus traditional ‘Spanish churros’ with a twist of dark chocolate and vibrant citrus-chilli essence.
Meanwhile in aqua kyoto, Head Chef Paul Greening has created a dessert that almost looks too good to eat; ‘smoked chocolate delice with sesame praline, kaki fruit sorbet and ginger wafers.’ For those looking for an after-dinner tipple, a limited edition chocolate and chestnut cocktail should hit the spot. Available at both bars, it’s served with a rich chocolate truffle.
Godiva
Each day Godiva will be indulging chocolate-lovers with tasters from their super premium chocolate tablet range, with an array of mouth-watering flavours from Dark Chocolate Orange & Ginger, Blond Salted Caramel and Milk Chocolate Hazelnut Crisp. Form an orderly queue behind us folks.
The Café at Hotel Café Royal
Available all year round, we’re coveting the wickedly good ‘Oreo peppermint cookie macaroon’ for National Chocolate Week - a sandwich of chocolate cream between two crisp, fragrant mint macaroons. If you like your cocoa hot, warm up with one of the four luxurious hot chocolates on the menu too.
Frescobaldi London
A local favourite, Frescobaldi’s authentic Italian Caprese cake, served with fresh whipped cream, is simply heavenly. Made with ground almonds instead of flour, it’s also gluten-free.
tibits
Choosing between tibits chocolate beetroot cake or brownie is probably the hardest decision you will have to make all week. Thank goodness at just £2.50 a slice you may not have to pick at all. Chocolate Week only comes around once a year after all.
Caffé Concerto
A classic ‘chocolate gateaux slice’ is a feast for all the senses, with three soft chocolate sponge layers resting between fluffy chocolate cream and a chocolate curl on top. All drizzled with dark chocolate sauce and served with strawberries and cream, this is definitely one for the self-confessed chocoholics.
Department of Coffee & Social Affairs
Head to caffeine haven Department of Coffee & Social Affairs for its beautiful hot chocolate and mochas all made with Mork hand-blended chocolate.
Other chocolate delights that are on our radar:
- Aubaine’s perfectly-proportioned chocolate eclairs
- Indulgent profiteroles with sauce au chocolate from Brasserie Zédel (crowd-pleasing and airy light)
- The utterly moreish homemade brownies from Sally White’s Bakery on Margaret Street
- Piccolino’s ‘cioccolato bianco’ roughly translated as ‘life-changing white chocolate ice cream’
- The crème brûlée martini Heddon Street Kitchen - a heady blend of Finlandia vodka, caramel, Mozart white chocolate and milk, it has a touch of White Russian about it.