Saturday 9 May 2009

Wonky Thinking

IF there was ever a 'just for fun' magazine quiz to determine which character I was most like out of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory I think I'd fall somewhere between Augustus Gloop and Veruca Salt.
I am not modest, meek or puke-inducing enough to be Charlie Bucket (even though he did win the ultimate prize at the end of the book/film so it could be worth peeking at the answers), and I don't watch enough telly to qualify as Mike Teavee. And while I have a fierce competitive streak, I am not as tomboyish as gum-chewing Violet Beauregarde.
I always liked rotund Augustus because - like me - he was a terrible glutton. And even though it ultimately ended his chocolate factory experience, I too would have dipped my face into Wonka's molten river of cocoa.
However, I can also be a foot-stamping diva so I'd have some affiliation with Miss Salt too.
And so in a round-about way I reach the point of this post - my first taste of Willie's new Venezuelan Caribe 72 per cent chocolate bar.
The boy bought me a bar of this beautifully-packaged chocolate the other night from Birmingham's Harvey Nichols - no doubt to satisfy my Gloop/Salt tendencies.
According to the shop assistant it's been a very popular addition to the store's confectionery line since the recent screening of Raising the Bar: Willie's Chocolate Revolution on C4.
For anyone who missed it, chocolate-maker Willie (as in William Harcourt-Cooze) has been trying to educate us Brits that 'proper' chocolate has very little in common with the cream and sugar-laden product we - as a nation - are getting tubby on.
Instead, his product is crafted from only the highest quality Venezuelan cocoa, cocoa butter and Cuban raw cane sugar, in an antique chocolate-making machine in Devon.
As I peeled back the golden wrapper I half expected to reveal my very own golden ticket, instead I found shiny almost-black coloured chocolate, which was so bitter I almost spat it out.
But as I persisted, I was rewarded with warm spicy notes and a full, more rounded flavour.
"You won't need very much," said the woman in the shop. "A little goes a long way." I looked at her sceptically.
But she was right. Not only did the chocolate disintegrate very slowly, it was substantially rich that one piece was enough (for now). Maybe the £3.95 price tag was justified.
Although I can't see Britain's taste buds adapting permanently to Willie's way, this is certainly a great addition to the growing demand for high quality chocolate.
Have you tried Willie's Cacoa? What did you think?
Most importantly which Charlie and the Chocolate Factory character are you most like?

4 comments:

Thinspired said...

I love the Harvey Nick's food section but I've never seen that cocoa! I would definitely give it a whirl...
It's been ages since I've seen that movie but I think I have some diva-tendencies, too ;)

Unknown said...

I would most definitely be an oompah loompa!
Never tried that chocolate, though it sure looks pretty, the thing is, I really only like milk chocolate.

Cupcakes And Peonies said...

I loved this post - thank you :o)
I am eager to try this chocolate after seeing the programme and now reading your post! xx

Emily said...

Thanks for reading. The choccie is definitely worth trying and is worth the money as it last ages. Even in my household!