In case there was anyone who doubted just how much chocolate means to us, the nation’s favourite sweet treat has now got its very own day. 28th October is National Chocolate Day, and the team at TLC has come-up with our top-choc-chic ideas to inspire you to Celebrate Chocolate Day 5 Ways! What did our ancestors do to celebrate without it? Thankfully, that’s not something we’ll ever need to worry about, as there are plenty of scrumdidilyumptious ways to say it with chocolates. Here are our suggestions on how to Celebrate Chocolate Day 5 Ways:
THE GOLDEN TICKET
Be honest. Who didn’t read Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory as a kid and secretly wish they’d find a Wonka’s Golden Ticket hidden inside their next chocolate bar? Whatever our age, there is a child in all of us who would still beam at reaching under the wrapper and pulling out a shimmering invitation that reminds us the chocolate indulgence we are about to enjoy is only a taster of better things to come.
There are plenty of companies who will create your very own Wonka Bars with as many Golden Tickets as you care to give away. Or if you would like to have a go at making your own, Jodie Peterkin of Peterkin Premium Paper Merchants has a DIY guide to help.
WILLY WONKA’S CHOCOLATE PARTY
If Wonka inspired your tickets then why not throw yourself into the fantasy theme for a Whipple-Scrumptious Fudgemallow Delight of a time. The secret here is that just like Dahl’s Wonka factory, everything, as far as possible, must be edible. And that which is not bursting with flavour, must be a riot of colour. Chocolate trees. Coconut grass. A raspberry river chocolate fountain. Colourful candy canes. Bright swirling lollipops. But don’t be surprised if your guests turn into Augustus Gloop, “the great big greedy nincompoop!”
SURROUNDED BY CHOCOLATE
If you are someone who could eat, sleep and dream chocolate then the Rabot Hotel from Hotel Chocolate is the place to visit. Paying homage to the ancient grounds of the beautiful cacao estate it resides in, an organic, sustainable 140-acre cacao farm on the Caribbean island of Saint Lucia.
Rabot Hotel is a spellbinding getaway comprising 14 private eco-lodges. It offer an open-air restaurant, bar and spa; all set in the lush nature of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
In a bid to Celebrate Chocolate Day 5 Ways and in true TLC style, we have been ambitious. But if St Lucia is a little too far to travel, try their Robot 1745 restaurant in London. A unique restaurant with a bar, cafe and terrace overlooking the bustling Borough Market. Alongside a dazzling array of inventive cacao cocktails, Rabot 1745 offers a menu of contemporary dishes drawing on the best culinary traditions of the Caribbean, West Indies, and Britain, using freshly roasted cacao as a subtle savoury spice.
A WARMING WEDDING FAVOUR
When the temperature drops nothing quite does the job of warming our hands and our hearts than a steaming mug of chocolate. For those planning autumn and winter weddings, the passion we have for this simple cuppa can work to your advantage. Try a chocolate inspired wedding favour your guests to savour.
There are plenty of companies who will personalise mugs or jars, and fill with luxury chocolate sticks or cocoa powder, handmade marshmallows and white chocolate snowflakes. Or, if you want to have a go at creating your own, there are plenty of options to buy jars or mugs in all shapes and sizes. Fill with your favourite ingredients, and decorate with ribbon to match the colour theme of your big day.
DRINK TO LOVE
Nana Frimpong Abrebrese, a farmer representative on the Ghana Cocoa Board, says: “Those who impact positively on the lives of others shall forever live in the memory of the heart.” She is one of 85,000 farmers who co-own the FairTrade company, Divine chocolate. As you can imagine, with this much love for cocoa between them, there are plenty of ideas to enjoy it at its best. Their website has some ‘divine’ recipes to try!
But for something to toast National Chocolate Day, we love this recipe for a Chocolate Martini. Mainly because it combines two things we love; chocolate and vodka! And if you are following a plant-based diet, you can now buy a wide range of vegan cream and coffee liqueurs, and vegan chocolate, to make this cocktail totally YOU.
Celebrate Chocolate Day 5 Ways and make the most of Chocolate Week! Diet starts tomorrow 🙂
Lastly, if you love the chocolate – we’d love you to share us on socials!
