Preview: The Chocolate Festival @ South Bank

By Londonist Last edited 147 months ago
Preview: The Chocolate Festival @ South Bank

Sweet-toothed Londoners won’t want to miss The Chocolate Festival on South Bank this weekend.

The free event features more than 40 artisan chocolate producers. Visitors can taste samples, watch demonstrations, and browse a wide range of delicious chocolate treats. The festival runs until 8pm tonight and from 11am to 6pm tomorrow.

Organiser Yael Rose says:

“This weekend is a celebration of everything chocolate. We want to give people an amazing experience and a great time, and also promote the chocolate industry. It’s a rare opportunity to see fabulous chocolatiers at work.”

Peter Holmes, a charity worker from Fulham, is enthusiastic about the event. He said: “There are free tastings, demonstrations and chocolate everywhere, it’s amazing. I think everyone should come.”

Several unusual and distinctive products are on offer at The Chocolate Festival. Kieran Renihan, founder of The Chocolution, is selling dairy-free, sugar-free chocolate. He hopes to educate people on its health benefits. He said: “Cacao is naturally powerful and nutritious. We don’t tamper with our chocolate, we let it retain as much of its goodness as possible.”

Sunday’s schedule includes several free demonstrations. Corrigan’s Mayfair head chef Chris McGowan will prepare chocolate cigars and shortbread topped with hot chocolate foam, and Great British Bake Off finalist Miranda Gore Brown intends to bake a Snowy Chestnut Brownie Cake.

The Easter Chocolate Festival will be held on South Bank between March 30th and April 1st next year.

By Theron Mohamed

The Chocolate Festival is at Southbank Centre Square on Belvedere Road until 8pm today and 11am-6pm tomorrow.

Last Updated 10 December 2011