Chocolarder - Cornish Honeycomb

Handmade in Cornwall

Chocolarder, new kid on the block when it comes to bean-to-bar UK chocolate makers. One of a handful of chocolate specialists including the likes of Duffy of Red Star Chocolate Ltd, based in Lincolnshire and Pump Street Bakery based in picturesque Orford, Suffolk.

Chocolarder is an artisan bean-to-bar chocolate maker based in Penryn, Cornwall. One of Cornwall's most ancient towns and an important harbour in years gone by. Now the centre of artisan chocolate production on the Lizard Peninsula. 

Michael Longman, a former pastry chef, started Chocolarder in 2012 after deciding he'd had enough of mass produced chocolate. A small chocolate bar maker with a strong sense of social responsibility demonstrated by sourcing only organic and sustainably grown cocoa beans from family run plantations. 

The packaging is very functional with a wallet like feel which allows you to keep your chocolate treasure in safekeeping for later nibbling.

Single Origin Milk Chocolate with Honeycomb....this 70g bar of milk chocolate, 40% cocoa solids, is made using single origin chocolate, Trinitario beans from Java with honeycomb pieces. The label also tells us about 'grind length' a statement that could be misconstrued but, essentially this tells us this is a bar of quality chocolate. A longer conche effectively translates into a dream bar of the brown, sweat stuff.....well that's the theory. 

A beautiful shiny exterior glistening like polished mahogany even under these gloomy grey Essex skies. A good snap and a creamy smooth rich fudgy loveliness intermingled with honeycomb crunch. The accompanying tasting notes suggest strong earthy and floral tones from locally sourced honey which has been cold-pressed. Allegedly this process ensures all the good stuff including vitamins and nutrients remain intact and are not destroyed by heat.

I've diligently placed what's left of my chocolate bar back in the wallet to be enjoyed later. But, it keeps calling me back which means it will be devoured sooner rather than later. Good job I ordered two! So, just on this premise alone this is a good bar of chocolate and competes well with the likes of Duffy and Pump Street. Priced at £3.95 for 70g.  

Well done my lovelies!

Two Magpies Bakery

SDC Off Road Parking Scheme is a mini success

Southwold has become so popular at weekends that Southwold District Council has introduced a 'one-way' system on both sides of the high street to deal with high volumes of pedestrian traffic. 

Later in the year they, SDC, plan to pedestrianise the whole high street, from dawn til dusk, giving power to people rather than cars and lorries. 

Many locals have given up shopping at the weekend having been forced or should that be shouldered once too often, into the gutter by a spotty 'Sebastian' or pre-pubescent 'Jemima' who has decided to go off in a tiff, forgetting that eighty year-olds don't bounce like they used to.

What No Queue?!

Buying tickets to a Rolling Stones concert is probably easier than trying to find a seat at Two Magpies Bakery. 

This artisan bakery, patisserie and coffee house has been going from strength to strength since it was opened a couple of years ago by Jim and Rebecca Bishop. Jim, an army bomb disposal expert for many years and Rebecca a teacher in a previous life. Jim, learned his trade with stints at various artisan bakeries throughout the UK including Pump Street Bakery another delicious Suffolk baker. 

Business has certainly not bombed (sorry) having seen the queue for bread at 9am on Easter Sunday winding its way down the high street. It reminded me of the days when people used to queue for butter buns at the other end of Southwold high street many years ago.

I'm not sure Jim and Rebecca could have found a narrower shop in which to build their business. Designed by Paul Croft Studios of London, they have used a magpie's nest and douglas fir as their inspiration. Being narrow means you are close to the action and if you are at the right height a cake in the face is not impossible! Handcrafted breads made using flour from Marriages, Essex, also looked amazing. I'm sure we will be back to sample a few loaves later in the year. Coffee also has that artisan feel and sure enough they buy their beans from Allpress a coffee roaster in Shoreditch, London.

The team are young and well trained with plenty of smiles and almost 'lusty' with their enthusiasm for their patisserie delights. It certainly has a London feel and the informal communal seating is reminiscent of places such as

NOTES of Soho and Monmouth of Borough Market. 

As the place was packed we had a takeaway of Salted Caramel Brownies, Mixed Fruit Muffins and Hot Cross Buns. All were delicious, however, the jewel in the crown were the Hot Cross Buns which were sublime. Pricey yes, but, when you consider the offerings available in other shops I for one would gladly pay a few pence more for quality.

One for sorrow, two for joy certainly rings true at Two Magpies Bakery. One Hot Cross bun wasn't enough! 

Psst, the bit about the pedestrianisation of the high street was just wishful thinking.....

Pump Street Bakery - Madagascar 72%

A damp Cedric the Citroen outside Adnams

On a rainy Saturday in Southwold a little brightness was provided by Cedric the Citroen, a restored 1981 HY Citroen (currently unwell according to twitter and replaced with a transit) which seems to be 'de rigueur' for all cool street food vendors these days. If you head to Kings Cross you will see what I mean. 

If handmade soughdough breads, buttery and deliciously rich pastries and fine 'bean to bar' chocolate form an integral part of your 5 a day then Pump Street Bakery must be on your list of cool foodie shop bucket list. Mobile in this case. Traveling from their family run bakery in Orford, on Suffolk's heritage coast to Saxmundham, Ipswich and Southwold. See website for route and further details. 

Having quickly mastered the art of producing the most amazing breads and pastries, they've turned their attention to chocolate joining a handful of 'bean to bar' specialists in the UK, which is great to see. Oh, how I hate talented and gifted people.....I don't really. I'm just seriously jealous. 

You instinctively know when you are about to taste a good bar of chocolate. Just opening the packet gets chocolate sensors working overtime and goose bumps start popping as the senses kick into action. The Jiffy style packaging is probably unique and obviously cool. I like the fact that I can re-seal the package preserving all those fantastic flavours and characteristics of this wonderful chocolate.

Madagascar 72% by Pump Street Bakery

Their cocoa beans are sourced from Ambanja a region Northern Madagascar. After careful roasting, winnowing, grinding and even conching for many hours the final result is an amazing shinny mahogany coloured block of chocolate. 

Chocolate from Madagascar usually has citrus and fruity notes and this does not disappoint. In the mouth the chocolate melts quickly producing a rich fluidity that just smoothly wraps around your tongue as flavours are slowly released. Scrummy!

At £5.80 for a 75g bar it is pricey but close your eyes and pop it in your shopping bag. Well done guys a stunning bar of chocolate. 10/10.