Wednesday 14 July 2010

LondonZest & the Chocolate Factory

Not being a total chocolate addict like other people women I know, I've never really understood what the fuss is all about. I've always had more of a savoury tooth myself, so it goes without saying that I kind of remained stoic when my friend yanked me by the hand to go check out the Brit-born chocolate shop, Rococo, on King's Road. It's funny. I guess when some of us need that daily choc fix, I get mine from a bag of Kettle S&V crisps. I'm not one to order the chocolate cake for dessert. I'm never one to binge on an entire chocolate bar at the 3pm mark at the office. I enjoy a Ferrero Rocher once in a while but it doesn't send me to the moon. But these are different, she said. Cross my heart, she promised me, once you go Rococo, you never go back. She stared at me, wide-eyed and concerned, as if I were a leper, or missing out on one of life's most heavenly gifts. Perhaps I was.


I walked into the shop with low expectations and no appetite at all, after scarfing down a copious brunch at the diner next door, and walking around all morning in 30 degree heat emanating from the city pavement. But all I had to do was open my eyes to the edible jewels around me, clear my nostrils and breathe in the lovely scent of rich cocoa, surrounding me left, right, and center and I was won over. Chocolates of all kinds found their way into my shopping basket, through no fault of my own; my friend is still in the doghouse for converting me to chocolateism; praline, hazelnut and gianduja; white, milk and dark; rich, light and crunchy, they just kept on creeping up on me.


And then it hit me. Wait a minute, could it be? I like chocolate!? And not any kind of chocolate. Not only is the packaging most delightful and authentic, but the quality is something to write home about. I even purchased an armful of bags of Unsweetened Scorched Almonds as gifts for future hosts, just because they are by far the most scrumpscious drops of low calorie heaven I have ever tasted and I think everyone I know should experience the same kind of joy I felt when biting into one of these. So now, you can have have your chocolate, and eat it too, and not have to worry about those hips. It's a win, win, win!



Rococo Chocolates
Chelsea: 321 Kings Road, SW3 5EP
Belgravia: 5 Motcomb Street, SW1X 8JU
Marylebone:45 Marylebone High Street, W1U 5HG

16 comments:

  1. oh yeah... I don't normally like milk chocolate but the rococo milk chocolate with sea salt is delicious. Also I think they do a cardamom white chocolate which I haven't had in years and am now really hankering for. good stuff.

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  2. OK--that settles it--I'm going there today. I live just off Kings Road, and have only indulged a few times for special occasions, but I think it's going to be a Rococo day today. Those almonds sound intriguing!

    Yum, yum,
    Debi

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  3. It all sounds delicious! I don't fancy a bar of Dairy Milk anymore, I want the proper stuff and the Almonds are a fantastic idea for hosts!

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  4. Emily, Matches have Castaner on sale, which you mentioned wanting before and they have a lovely navy pair. Are you looking for dressy shoes?

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  5. They are my absolute favourites too! Mostly for making Geranium and lavender creams but also for those beautiful, beautiful boxes

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  6. Fabulous chocolate! It's a real mystery to me how (and why! why! why!) people can choose Cadbury's over something so delicious and full of flavour.

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  7. I love Rococo - the cardamom chocolate is my favourite, i also love arabic spice, and the earl grey is wonderful too. Such a great place! I'm not a chocolate fan either, but this is so much more. Paul A Young in Islington is another great chocolate shop to check out. Yum yum yum. Those almonds sound the bomb, I must try some one day...

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  8. Would love to taste those almonds! I actually think I can feel the scent of cocoa right now!!

    Kristin XO

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  9. Hi emily....you have a wonderful blog...apart from visiting your blog.. i feel to drop a comment for you here at your blog...since you have a wonderful contents,,,really ..for a non native english speaking person like me...this blog helps to improve communication by reading the contents....

    I would like to keep in touch with u as a blogger and also as a friend...

    thank u...nice blog

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  10. Rococo chocolates are gorgeous. Well worth converting for.

    Lovely blog, by the way! :)

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  11. kathy peck leeds29 July 2010 at 03:25

    Looks so good, love the packaging too. Do they do mail order?
    I'm a recently converted chocolate person too.

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  12. Emily, I am selling my Castaner wedges on my blog sale tomorrow, bargain price, size 6 xx spread the word if you can, details of all sales on my blog. x Hope you are well you haven't blogged for a while x

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  13. My problem is that I love more than unsweetened almonds at Rococo....xv

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  14. Haven't heard from you for a while. Hope all is ok and that you are just busy enjoying the summer.

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  15. I know! I've been around but kind of crazed! I'll be back in blogging mode very soon. Hope you're enjoying your summer as well...x LZ

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