After the late Autumn sunshine at the weekend, Monday was gloomy but a visit to Cocoa Loco brightened my day in a very delicious way! The first thing I noticed when entering, is the wonderful smell of chocolate which cocoons you and then my eyes rested on the huge range of goodies. The beautifully laid out displays of truffles, cookies, brownies and buttons are so enticing, it’s a chocoholic’s dream.
Cocoa Loco’s lovely Sarah was at hand to explain how the truffle making is a craft in itself, requiring training, experience and flair from the maker (the talented Dawn), to produce these decadent bites of heaven. There are various ways to eat a chocolate truffle, some people pop the whole thing in and munch away but I like to eat half at a time, biting through the crisp shell and savouring the intense flavour as the creamy centre melts on my tongue, filling my whole mouth with chocolaty loveliness- sublime!
Ingredient provenance is of vast importance to the team and Cocoa Loco’s Soil Association certification means that their products are organic, additive free and mindful of the environment at every stage of production - luxury with a clear conscience!
The truffles are just a part of the delights that Cocoa Loco offer, the handmade cookies and brownies really are divine - I bought one of their blondies at our farmers market this weekend and how I managed to get it home before tucking in was pure will power! I love the fact that special diets are taken into account, so even those of us with intolerances and allergies can indulge without having to worry.
As well as the truffles, brownies etc, there are fruits and nuts dipped in luscious chocolate, including mango, Brazil nuts and spicy ginger, which are available in gift jars that look almost too pretty to open! I am trying my hardest not to think about Christmas yet but there were so many gift ideas, I couldn’t help but come away with a milk chocolate ‘12 Days of Christmas’ - an enormous bar divided into scenes from the traditional song, to keep you going for those days after your Advent calendar has run out!
The funky Chocolatiere set for making supreme hot chocolate has already gone on my wish list and hopefully with enough not-so-subtle hints, I’ll be getting one as a pressie this year (Dave are you taking note? Hehe!).
On Friday 17/10/2008, Cocoa Loco are running a chocolate making session, where participants will be able to make their own bars and truffles as well as learn about tempering chocolate and you’ll get to take all your goodies home. Times: 9am-1pm, Cost: £40, To book tel: 01403 865687
Finally, if I haven’t already given you reason enough to go and visit Cocoa Loco this week, Sarah’s son Oscar has come up with a yummy competition where you have to guess the weight of an enormous jar of chocolate buttons and if you’re correct, you get to win the jar and entire contents! So get over there, have a guess, try some truffles and meet the lovely welcoming team from Cocoa Loco and have a fabulous chocolaty time!
Thank you so much to Sarah, Rory, Dawn and Enza for creating award winning chocolate heaven in a little piece of West Sussex.
For more info about Cocoa Loco, check out their website or better still go and see them this week!
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