The Chocolate Festival 2013

By Rachel Davies

I was delighted to be back on the Southbank for the Chocolate Festival 2013, and even more delighted that the weather was mild and dry.

This time last year there was sleet blowing sideways under the tent, and I shivered despite three jumpers under my chefs jacket. The improved weather meant that not only was I happier, but the turnout was great and everyone could enjoy the rows of delicious chocolate stalls more easily.

For my cookery demonstration, I made a chocolate brownie with a salted caramel and caramelised pecan topping.

Over the years I’ve got to know some of the crowd pleasers in the food world, and this is one of them. Who can resist fudgy chocolate brownie with rich salted caramel, and the crisp texture of caramelised pecans?

Here we are serving up the brownie, and I was pleased to see smiles on everyone’s faces!

The line up for the Chocolate Festival demonstration tent was a who’s who of the chocolate world.

Amongst plenty of others including Damian Allsop and Will Torrent, Paul A Young gave a few cookery demonstrations including making his amazing water-based spiced hot chocolate and some fun chocolate Christmas trees.

Chantal Coady and Barry Johnson from Rococo even used a compressor to spray a beautiful bronze sheen over their truffles, and they need this umbrella to protect the audience!