chocoHOlic and my virgin giveaway
I can’t remember when I first fell in love with chocolate. It could be the Kit Kat bar or the Maltesers I indulged in as a kid. It’s possible the Lindt chocolate bar seduced me. Regardless of the origins, I adore chocolate and I am eternally under its spell (although I’ve moved beyond commercial candy bars). Milk chocolate suited my virgin tongue, but my desire has gone to the dark side—I prefer bittersweet chocolate now. If offered a different choice of a good-quality chocolate, I’ll swoon like a boy’s first crush.
With all of the producers on the market, tasting chocolate is an on-going research project. From large companies to individual artisan chocolatiers, they offer a wide range of products, coco bean sources, and quality. So it comes as no surprise that I jumped at the opportunity when my fellow food blogger Catty of The Catty Life contacted me to review chocolates of a British company that she loves.
Hotel Chocolat began as an online company 15 years ago. In 2004, the company expanded into retail stores all over the world including 2 locations in Boston. The company’s mission is to have authentic and wholesome ingredients, which led to the purchase of its own plantation, Rabot Estate in St. Lucia. Hotel Chocolat asked me to review their new Christmas Collection to be launched in November. Since I am not familiar with their products, I asked them to include other chocolates of my choosing in addition to the new collection. I needed to taste the base products without the embellishments to gain an understanding of the company’s sense of quality.
I started with Serious Dark Fix™. It is exactly what the name says, the chocolate is bold and earthy; it has a deep rich flavor that comes through in every bite. The supporting flavors are as pure and intense as the chocolate—and they perfectly match each other without taking diminishing the leading role of the chocolate. The Giant Chocolate Slabs are unapologetically bold and playful, a greatly improved version of childhood bars boasting amplified flavor and texture.
The surprise came in the Purist Collection. Though one item is labeled as 50% milk chocolate with intense praline, for example, has a warm fullness of a darker chocolate yet the creaminess of milk chocolate.
With the confidence from having sampled other products, I delved into The Christmas Collection, a catalog of goodies including several wrapped varieties of treats. There are dark truffles trees, caramel filled Santas and reindeers, plus Muled Wine Cherries and Chocolate Wreaths. You’re likely to find a favorite for yourself or a holiday gift or stocking stuffer for a classic kind of chocophile. As much fun as I had breaking up Dasher and biting off Santa’s head, I found a few from the selection too sweet and less distinctive for my dark palate. The quality is undeniable, however.
I was inspired by this chocolate tasting assignment to dig into my recipe files and stir up a simple elegant Chocolate Mousse. The mousse starts with the best chocolate, then you can adjust this basic recipe to add your favorite second flavor. Orange, praline, berries, chili, infused teas, all of which will be terrific if you start with a great quality bar of chocolate.
Giveaway!
I really didn’t need to sample everything (but I did, along with M’s eager volunteer efforts). Here’s your chance to enjoy Hotel Chocolat. The company is giving away the Purist Dark Collection, which retails at US $100, to one lucky winner. All you have to do is leave a comment, by November 12, 9pm EST, and tell me what your favorite chocolate dessert is. The winner will be randomly selected. A bit of chocolate decadence is a good thing.
Extra!
To increase your chances of a chocolate filled holiday you can do all or one of the following:
1. Go to Hungry Rabbit’s Facebook fan page and ‘LIKE’ me. Declare your love.
2. Follow @hungryrabbitnyc on Twitter if you haven’t already.
3. RT my tweets about this giveaway.
Dark Chocolate Mousse
Ingredients:
- 8 ounces bittersweet chocolate (60% cocoa or higher), finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons (1/2 ounces) Dutch-processed cocoa
- 1 teaspoon instant espresso powder
- 6 tablespoons water
- 1-1/2 tablespoon brandy
- 2 large eggs, separated
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1-1/4 cups heavy cream, chilled
Directions:
1. Melt chocolate, cocoa powder, espresso powder, water, and brandy in medium heatproof bowl set over saucepan with simmering water, stirring frequently until smooth. Remove from heat.
2. Whisk egg yolks, 1-1/2 teaspoons sugar, salt and vanilla in medium bowl until mixture lightens in color and thickens slightly, about 45 seconds. Pour melted chocolate into egg mixture and whisk until combined. Cool slightly to room temperature, 3 to 5 minutes.
3. Add egg whites to bowl of standing mixer fitted with whisk attachment, beat at medium-low speed until frothy, 1 to 2 minutes. Add remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar, increase mixer speed to medium-high, and beat until soft peaks form, about 1-2 minute. Detach whisk and bowl from mixer and whisk last few strokes by hand, making sure to scrape any unbeaten whites from bottom of bowl. Using whisk, stir about one-quarter of beaten egg whites into chocolate mixture to lighten it; gently fold in remaining egg whites with rubber spatula until a few white streaks remain.
4. In now-empty bowl, whip heavy cream at medium speed until it begins to thicken, about 30 seconds. Increase speed to high and whip until soft peaks form when whisk is lifted, about 15 seconds more. Using rubber spatula, fold whipped cream into mousse until no white streaks remain. Press plastic wrap onto surface of mousse and refrigerate to chill, about 1 hour.
5. Spoon chocolate mousse into 6 individual glasses. Serve immediately on it’s own, additional dollop od whipped cream or a sprinkle of cocoa nibs.
recipe adapted from Cook’s Illustrated
Wow, I was thinking “a nice chocolate mousse cake” even before I scrolled down and spied that recipe. Of course, a high-quality pure chocolate bar is great, too.
I got to stop at the Hotel Chocolat store in Boston. Their milk chocolate-based “puddles” are some of the smoothest chocolates on this planet.
Chocolate cake with ganache frosting
I’ve tasted their chocolate too and it’s divine! And your chocolate mousse is astounding! I must make this; fabulous recipe!
My favorite chocolate dessert is a chocolate mousse cake
I’m now liking you on facebook :)
I’m following you on twitter
You lucky dog! Tasting all that chocolate must have been such a tough job. ;) My favorite chocolate dessert has to be this Nutella Cake http://www.bunkycooks.com/2010/04/nutella-cake-with-chocolate-hazelnut-ganache-for-a-fond-farewell/ I still keep dreaming about it!
I’m a sucker for Ina’s Double Chocolate Pudding. I’d swim in a pool filled with that rich chocolatey goodness.
Talk about food porn!
My favorite chocolate dessert actually is mousse, so it’s perfect you posted your recipe. And mousse with booze – can’t go wrong!
My favorite chocolate dessert is a chocolate chip pumpkin cake
Whenever you offer photography lessons, keep me posted!
I like a simple homemade chocolate fudge pudding
Picking one favorite chocolate dessert is really hard. It’s a toss up between a moist devil’s food chocolate cake with espresso buttercream or cream cheese frosting, or dark chocolate ice cream.
My favorite chocolate dessert? It’s like asking a parent who their favorite child is! I have to say that the chocolate popsicles at Radius were so delicious we had them for our wedding “cake”. So that’s a sentimental favorite. There was -on the other end of the dining spectrum – a chocolate cake that was absolutely divine at Maggiano’s. I know. Eat it and tell me I’m wrong. I’d put it up against anyone’s. At home I often love to have a perfect couple of dark, bittersweet even, chocolate to dissolve on my tongue. A luxury erasing most any day’s tortures.
Lovely photos and nice to discover your blog! Looking forward to when we can eat together in Boston!
This chocolate looks incredible. My favorite chocolate dessert is a chocolate torte cake with a raspberry sauce. I also love profiteroles with a dark chocolate sauce.
Omg wabbit. I feel like chocolate this morning!! Great giveaway though I never had their chocolate after your post would love me some. As always a great chocolate mousse recipe. Dark is my fave! Shulie
When I was growing up, my mother made a rich egg-white double-dark chocolate mousse for her girlfriends. If I was lucky, I’d get only a bite, undoubtedly resulting in my current chocolate craving. The mousse is still my favorite.
you tempted me on twitter… a chocolatey post with a giveaway to boot. how could i argue with that ?! ;) great write-up here and a delectable recipe too. as for my favorite chocolate dessert, hmmmm…. not an easy question. i think i’ll go with a dark chocolate and salted caramel tart. not bad ! but now i am craving that…
I love chocolate and I prefer 65-75% in classics like chocolate chip cookies, brownie, lava cake, souffle, dark chocolate orange truffles.. It’s too hard to pick a favorite!
Swoon indeed! I love any kind of flourless chocolate dessert or molten chocolate cake.
I follow, I like, I love!
I love brownie sundaes…it’s perfect when the brownies are still warm! Thanks!
I already follow you on twitter, I’m @thelittlekitchn. :)
Lucky you! I’m so happy to hear that they’ve got two locations in Boston. My favorite chocolate dessert is probably just the simple brownie. But it’s got to be dark, luscious and fudgy. But I’d happily dig into that mousse!
I already Like and follow you. :)
Just tweeted.
I love a rich chocolate brownie, but my favorite is chocolate beignets. Damn desperately need a fix…
Chocolate macarons. Just had an amazing valrhona one yesterday
I am a sucker for a really good brownie… it is probably the one dessert that I literally am not able to turn down! The chocolate you’re giving away looks divine!
I’m following you! And retweeting. :)
Brownies!
What an awesome giveaway! I tried, and tried, and tried to pick just one favorite chocolate dessert and failed miserably… I love them all. :)
See you in SF tomorrow!
Well, you’ve basically asked everyone to stalk you…and I already do…so I ‘Like’ my tweep and I tweeted your post and here I am commenting too!
Chocolate mousse is divine but have to admit this chocolate espresso cake with white chocolate mascarapone frosting is simply, as they say…To. Die. For. And guess what I didn’t know when I first made it? It’s an @abbydodge recipe from Bon Appetit magazine!
http://vinolucistyle.com/2009/10/coffee-chocolate-layer-cake-with-white-chocolate-mascarpone-frosting/
Oh wow what a wonderful chocolate shop and post! I’ve just become a follower on twitter! @VinoLuci sent me here and am I glad she did. Your photos are wonderful!
Cappuccino Chocolate Chunk Frozen Yogurt! I love all things chocolate but lately this is my go-to favorite fix.
Love you blog and your recipes are such a treat.
I can’t wait to try your most delicious looking chocolate!
I love dark chocolate mousse or any form of chocolate :) it is my serious fix – that i love to much!!!
this prize would not be wasted on me
Betty Bake
i follow you on twitter
i liked the facebook page
ps i would maybe make a peppermint and dark choc chip ice cream with this prize !!! :)
Your chocolate mousse is gorgeous!!! My favorite chocolate dessert is a probably chocolate lava cake. I like brownies, too, though…and come to think of it, I made some killer dark chocolate cupcakes with a sour cream chocolate frosting last year…I just liked you facebook fan page and I already follow you on twitter. See you Friday :)
I’m so glad I got to meet you at FoodBuzz and discover your site. Bookmarkkkkk! I can’t believe you had the horrible job of tasting chocolate – what a task. It’s my addiction (I never said only one). Your pictures are gorgeous and you are delightful and…oh, my favorite chocolate is almost anything DIPPED in chocolate. Fun blog!
Ooooo, this looks divine, thanks for the chance to win! We are big dark chocolate enthusiasts…My favorite chocolate dessert to make is a triple chocolate-mousse cake: layers of dark chocolate cake with chocolate mousse filling, wrapped in a dark chocolate ganache. It is quite something.
I love Frozen Chocolate Mousse Squares. It’s almost like a rich frozen chocolate cheesecake, yum!
Just one chocolate dessert to choose from, eh? I’d have to say ice cream. It’s refreshing yet creamy and decadent. It was great meeting you at Foodbuzz!
My favorite chocolate dessert is chocolate trifle.
I’m following you on Twitter (ps152).
I love Hotel Chocolat. When I was in Birmingham and our first store opened in the Bullring shopping centre, we were delighted and went in once every week for chocolate freebies! These look beautiful. Shame about some being too sweet (I’m a fan of alcohol laced dark chocolates). Gorgeous chocolate mousse, that has got to be my sister’s favourite. Mine on the other hand, is molten chocolate puddings. MMMM
The wreath and reindeer look great, but sign me up for the dark chocolate.
Great meeting you at the Foodbuzz Fest. I hope you had an awesome trip.
My favorite chocolate dessert would be individual chocolate pudding cakes with a generous scoop of good quality vanilla ice cream. It feels almost too decadent when I take my first spoonful of half melty ice cream and warm fudgy pudding cake.
my favourite chocolate dessert is flourless chocolate cake! mmmm…
It’s so hard to pick one favorite, but one of my favorite chocolate desserts has to be Ina Garten’s brownie pudding. It is pure, gooey chocolate decadence!
My favorite is probably triple chocolate quick bread with white chocolate glaze or a flourless chocolate cake. Thanks!