OK, so maybe eating chocolate is not strictly cultural, but on the first day of the summer holidays what could be nicer than spending an hour learning how to make and package your very own chocolate bar? Hotel Chocolat, the upmarket chocolate people, has recently set up a chocolate school in the vaults of their Monmouth Street shop. In the evenings, grown-ups get sticky but during the day it’s the children’s turn.
Since we booked, paid for and attended the Children's Chocolate Workshop Hotel Chocolat no longer offer the workshops on a regular basis. They do offer Family Chocolate Adventures in their cafes, usually in the holidays. Check the Hotel Chocolat website for details
We were greeted by Aaron who showed the children to a table laden with stuff to decorate chocolate bars later and then ensured that their Mother had a glass of Prosecco (a necessity to ensure the mulled wine and mojito sample chocolates could be washed down). Then down to the important business of how to make chocolate. Start with a cocoa pod, open it reveal the beans. At every stage we got to taste, I can report that a cocoa bean tastes pleasantly chocolaty in a woody sort of way. Next the beans are crushed and put into a Conch that heats, crushes and stirs for 45 hours (not that we watched it for that long) until a glossy molten mass emerges. Then it is tempered which looks like an endless waterfall worthy of Willie Wonka and finally poured out into slabs.
Having seen all these processes the children are then let loose to adorn their own bars. Dried strawberries, marshmallows and melted chocolate all these and more were piled on in a vaguely artful manner. Silence fell and concentration was total, although I did see a fair amount of decorations disappearing into mouths. Once no more can be fitted on the children design packaging to take their creations home in.
This is one Cultural experience that doesn’t need to be accompanied by a trip to a café! If you feel the need for extra substance very fine iced chocolatey drinks can be acquired at the café upstairs.
COCOA VAULTS
Below Hotel Chocolat at 4 Monmouth Street, London WC2H 9HB
This sounds such fun! I love chocolate. Thanks for linking up to #justanotherlinky xx
This sounds so delicious – I actually did a tour of the plantation in St Lucia where they grow the beans, and got to make a bar (which is a bit more effort than the decoration) but would love to relive it here. Thanks for linking up with #citytripping
I had no idea Hotel Chocolat did this! We’ll be heading there very soon….
Boys loved it and I liked the Prosecco
Tee hee! Thanks for linking up with #CulturedKids
What an awesome thing to do! What age do you think you can do it from? I’m particularly impressed with the prosecco touch too. #citytripping
Hotel Chocolat say 6-13
Thanks…I have a few years to go then.
Hmmm…since my wife says I act like I’m 12 sometimes… I don’t suppose that counts. But then, I’d miss out on the wine! Definitely added our London To Do list – thanks for putting it on our radar!
Pleasure!
I know the kids would love this …as would I. Who can say no to chocolate !
Indeed!
Eating chocolate is extremely cultured :-) And delicious.
#culturedkids
What a cool experience! It would be a hit with my family! #CulturedKids
Oh I didn’t know that they did children’s workshops – my boys would absolutely love this – tbh I would want to do it too! #CulturedKids
I think they may have grown up events too!
I really like the sound of this – and not just because of the alcohol for the grown ups! #culturedkids
Chocolate for grown ups too!
A revelation Catherine. I shall make a special trip to London for this. Perhaps arrange a gaggle of bloggers to come too? Jo x
Always up for chocolate consumption!