Sea Salted Caramel Pecan Brownie

A few days ago I unexpectedly came across Paul A Young's chocolate shop in Wardour Street and discovered a chocolate emporium that made even the stylish Hotel Chocolat look brassy and almost slightly down at heel.  Which is not true as they've been spending a lot of money on their shops recently. There are now a total of three shops in his growing chocolate empire, including Camden Passage, Royal Exchange and Wardour Street, and I found this particular shop to be his best so far. 

Obviously, the colour purple covers nearly every surface and provides a striking backdrop to the chocolates which are arranged in the centre of the shop on a superb dining table.  As the picture shows the chocolates are not covered which some people may find off putting. However, I think this method of presentation shows them off at their best. I may be wrong but I couldn't see any prices which is probably a good thing!  
Chocolate bars and brownies are situated around the edge of the room. With my retail hat on Paul's team were very professional, approachable and were obviously enthused by the products they were selling. 

Mast chocolates bars from New York were also on sale at a staggering £9.00 a bar!  Unfortunately, having not won the lottery that weekend I had to partake of more simple fair and opted for a good old chocolate brownie at £3.75! We could have stayed for hours oohing and cooing at the rows and rows of different chocolates but sometimes you just have to get out before your credit card goes into melt down!

I opted for the Sea Salted Carmel Pecan Brownie which is a hunky piece of chocolate and certainly not for the feint hearted. The brownie itself contains a variety of delicious ingredients including, cocoa solids 70%, organic golden caster sugar, free range eggs, golden syrup, plain flour, unsalted French butter, Maldon sea salt, caramel, milk chocolate and pecans.

This brownie should be shared as it is just too much for one person! The brownie is made up of three distinct layers, a topping of pecans, a thin layer of what I'd call cake and a base of pure chocolate ganache. I'm certainly not a brownie connoisseur and therefore I'm not sure what the exact proportions should be for the perfect brownie. However, the salt and crunchy pecans work perfectly with the dark chocolate to produce what can only be described as an unctuous confection. My only criticism would be that there wasn't enough 'cake' which meant the base was a ever so slightly wet.  I would be interested to know what others think about this.  

Overall this was deliciously moreish and irresistible, 9/10!  

Not So Much SOHO but more SOWOW!

A trip to SOHO can only mean one thing, cant it?  Nudge, nudge, wink, wink, say no more! Can I interest you in some nice photos or perhaps you'd like to see the real thing?  Well, shock horror, I'm sorry to disappoint but Cake is the new Sex!  Agent Provocateur and Anne Summers give up the bondage, throw away your handcuffs and start baking cakes otherwise your days on the High Street might be numbered!  

Cake, chocolate, pizza and bread in all their foodie glory have taken Wardour Street by storm.  Apparently, if you're suffering from alcoholism, depression or perhaps been made redundant then starting a baking business or just making a cupcake will set you on the road to recovery. Having only an hour to explore Wardour Street here are just some of the gems that I will be returning to in the not too distant future. 

Only £25! Go on she's worth it!

Of course chocolate is top of the agenda and Paul Young's corner shop was enchanting and filled from top to bottom with delicious chocolate, including some amazing Valentine's Day gifts.  Staff are friendly and fun and nothing, was too much trouble. Several packets of chocolate brownie were whisked away and I'll be reviewing his Sea Salted Caramel Pecan Brownie soon. 

You can pick up some handmade artisan bread from Gail's just across the road if you fancy.  Tempting, soft delicate flakey pastries sit wantonly in the window.  Gail's has been around for a long time and I can remember meeting Gail when she first started making her bread for contract caterers and we all thought she was way ahead of her time.  Well I think it's the same Gail.  Unfortunately, I didn't have time to stop and ask but I'll be going back to try some of their delights!  If you're lucky to live in Battersea or Notting Hill you can pop into Gail's for breakfast and enjoy a crusty roll and a full English!

Of course I couldn't walk down Wardour Street without calling into Princi to see how things had changed since I was there a year ago. Well, I'm happy to report that things have improved on what was already a great place to eat. The restaurant was packed and I was whipped into a frenzy by the sheer volume of food and standard of the offerings. 

There were a number of small changes such as new marketing and the new table layout that allowed more lucky people to enjoy their delicacies. 

As there was nowhere to sit we picked up three pizzas including, Spinach Crescenza and Potato Speck. To finish with a sugar rush we went for Linzer Torte and Chocolate Doughnuts that ooze chocolate sauce all over your chin as they slowly burst! Londoners, you don't know how lucky you are, blessed with all these exciting foods. Total bill £21.30 for three.

Staff are amazing as they cope with the flood of customers. While you wait to be served enjoy a chomp on some free samples atop the counter.  

Thank god I don't work in this street!