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Channelling Juliette, hoping for Mr Depp

Today is Juliette Binoche’s birthday, who I think is the most amazing actress. I also think she’s incredibly stylish, not to mention the fact she has that French flair of being comfortable in her own skin, and seems to have avoided the lure of the plastic surgeon.

My favourite, favourite film of hers is Chocolat, probably for many obvious reasons. And then of course there’s the chocolate. And Johnny Depp wasn’t bad either.

You could decamp to France, with the film mostly being filmed in Flavigny-sur-Ozerain in Burgundy. As you’d see in the film, it’s a beautiful medieval fortified town, but also turns out to be pretty quiet and still off the tourist trail. Although it is famous for its aniseed balls, which is a little different to chocolate I guess. I can’t find any hotels in the town, but Le Verger sous les Vignes is only a couple of miles away, and the reviews describe it as a hidden gem. If you want to go a bit more upscale, then the Chateau Les Roches sounds great, with some good cooking at a weekend.

There doesn’t seem to be a huge number of restaurants listed in Flavigny itself. Le Relais de Flavignyhas a decent enough menu, with one of my favourites, foie gras with pain d’epices. It is a beautiful part of the world though, and even though there may not be great dining here, a trip to the area would reveal great epicurean delights. I love Alastair Sawday’s books, and would expect that when Go Slow France comes out in April there will be some good recommendations for this area.

There were some fabulous food scenes in the film, with chocolate being used in so many different ways, not just the obvious sweet ones. I’m a big fan of Willie’s cacao, and the savoury recipes in his book are interesting, and always cause a stir when you tell dinner guests what they are getting. So I think I’m going to channel her (I have a new frock from Jigsaw that makes me think of her) and create a chocolate feast. Just as soon as half my friends have stopped giving things up for Lent.

Not that that stopped her character!

Retro sweets for your sweeties

Last week got a bit healthy in places, so it’s back to the sweet stuff! I wish I didn’t have a sweet tooth, but I do. Generally it likes to be fed good quality chocolate, but just occasionally it will wander over the naff side. If you’ve got a sweet-toothed sweetie to buy for, here’s a few ideas for last minute shopping:

1. I’ve sent big boxes of nostalgic sweets from A Quarter Of to two very different groups of people, but to very similar rave reviews. Both a duo of teenagers and an office group fell upon a box filled with retro sweeties and made short work of the contents. With everything from cola bottles to fruit salads, cola cubes to sherbet fountains, there is something in here that was someone’s childhood favourite. The decade boxes are a different spin, and will induce nostalgia as well as a sugar high!

2. Whilst I am a little concerned at seeing the “Made in the EU” labelling on Green & Black’s chocolate, it is still good tasting chocolate. They make a great combo hamper: Beer & Bars. This could solve arguments, just share out the spoils in an appropriate way! These are nice looking hampers, particularly with St Peters Organic beers, which I think are very attractive looking, not to mention tasty!

3. For the true dark chocolate lover, buy them a selection pack they’ll really appreciate. Try one containing 4 of Willie’s Dark Chocolate Bars, and that should keep them in chocolate rapture through till New Year.

4. It takes a very strong will to resist a great cake, and it would probably make a great surprise on Christmas Day. If you want to stick with the chocolate theme, check out the Pralines Cakes by the Original Hat Box Cake Co or, for what looks like the ultimate indulgence in chocolate cake, then I would go for The Ultimate Christmas Cake from Montezuma’s. Chocolate enrobed, one Drambuie layer, one butterscotch layer, total chocolate heaven!

5. For sweets with crunch, then how about biscuits? Of course you can pop to M&S for a tin, but for something with more foodie credentials, then I could go for the Dark Chocolate & Pistachio Cantucci on offer at Jamie Oliver. If they were out of stock, then could possibly make do with the Dark Chocolate, Ginger & Chilli instead!

6. Never mind a bumper bar of Dairy Milk, I’d like a bag or slab from Melt. Dark, milk or white, there are some really unusual flavour combinations. The milk chocolate with gold and nutmeg both looks and sounds seasonal, and the dark chocolate with red berries and cocoa nibs also looks the part.

So, count the taste, not the calories this Christmas, and treat your sweetie to some good tastes!

As I’ve already written, Chocolate Week must go down as my favourite week of the year. Although Champagne week comes a close second, having slugged it out with Farmhouse Breakfast Week. So in honour of the wonderous stuff, here’s five books of chocolate delights to tempt you with. Just make sure to use the good stuff!

Adventures With Chocolate

1. Adventures with Chocolate by Paul A. Young – Paul has been doing things with chocolate that have redefined what can be done with the stuff. Showing us what to do with the wonderful flavour combinations he is renowned for, this is a masterclass in chocolate in your own home. And although not chocolate, I would love to knock up a batch of sea-salted caramel, one of my most favourite things!

2. Willie’s Chocolate Factory Cookbook by Willie Harcourt-Cooze – I bought this for Dr T, along with supplies of the chocolate, and it’s lead to some interesting meals. Part the story of the chocolate, part cookbook, it shows chocolate in all its flavouring facets, and will give you dishes to surprise and delight your fellow eaters.

3. I’m Dreaming of a Chocolate Christmas by Marcel Desaulniers – love a double purpose cookbook, makes it easier to “justify” buying yet another one. Combining chocolate and Christmas is every child’s dream I would guess, and there are some dreams of recipes listed in this. I think there could be a new Christmas tradition coming on though. Who wouldn’t want to wake up to Christmas Breakfast Chocolate Sour Cream Crumb Cake?

4. Making Artisan Chocolates by Andrew Garrison Shotts - from the leader of the UK pack to one of the leaders of the US. And, lets face it, the US is not exactly renowned for fabulous chocolate, but Andrew and a number of others have been leading the charge to change all that. This book gives you some of his signature flavour combinations to have a go with at home, and help you to dispel the myths around poor American chocolate.

5. The Chocolate Cookbook: Luxurious Treats for Total Indulgence – this is a really beautiful looking book, really beautifully photographed. It does classic recipes and contemporary techniques, so you can go from easy straightforward stuff to full on impressive, dinner party stuff.

So, this would give every home more chocolate recipes than they can need. Well, for at least the next year. Possibly six months.

If there was a week made for me, this is it! I adore chocolate, proper chocolate (although occasionally, on a bad day, can be tempted by a mint Aero or a Crunchie).

As if an excuse was needed, I think there is more excuse to indulge in the good stuff this week. My top 5 to plunder this week are as follows:

1. Rococo Chocolates, particularly the Earl Grey dark chocolate. Lovely unusual combination of flavours.

2. Montezuma’s. Be a tough choice, as quite partial to a dollop or two, but I do love the plain chocolate coated oranges.

3. Willie’s Delectable Cacao. If I can only have one, then I really like the Peruvian 70, but happy to have a bit of everything as well as some for experimenting in other courses.

4. Melt. I can’t decide if I’m happy or not that they are now in Selfridges, as I am there much more often than Ledbury Road. Which means I am fighting the temptation, particularly of the hot chocolate blocks. Tomorrow I may just give in!

5. Thorntons. Just for a bit of nostalgic indulgence really. Mine’s an Alpini please!

So, not really needing any encouragement to indulge, I would encourage you to get out there and support British chocolate companies, this week and every week!