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INTRODUCING.............(DRUM ROLL PLEASE!).........THE DARK MOCHA BAR!

21/7/2017

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​Well folks, as promised, we have a brand new chocolate bar on the virtual shelves from today!

...................and this time, I have been bold  with the blending.

​Breaking from my tradition of using the lushious organic, 100% pure Medicine Flower Extracts to flavour my chocolate - this time, I have thrown caution to the wind and poured freshly ground organic coffee beans straight into the stone-grinder with the cacao   (Shocked face!!!).

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It was an exciting day at Mill Street Chocolate as I watched the stone grinder work its magic on the beans..........and the smells emanating from mix was mind-blowing!

It has resulted in the most amazing merging of the coffee and chocolate flavours creating, in my opinion, my best bar yet!


​Rich, dark and intensely satisfying, this is a bar for lovers of dark chocolate, rich coffee and the magic that occurs when these two amazing flavours meet.

It is available on the website now.

BUT, if you are feeling lucky, then rush to my FACEBOOK page ( http://bit.ly/2tNggaC​ ) and enter the competition to win a bar!

Good luck folks - may the best entry win!

Wishing you a fabulous summer break.
Good Health and Good Chocolate!
Steph

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CAN THERE BE SUCH A THING AS 'TOO HOT FOR CHOCOLATE'??.............

28/6/2017

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Well.............I don't know about you folks, but last week I was finding the weather a little on the warm side!

Certainly WAY too hot to be making chocolate!
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​By Wednesday, I felt the overwhelming need to celebrate Solstice at the beach - and what a relief it was to be sitting there with a light breeze coming off the sea!  Heaven!
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​   Not that I don't love a bit of sun
   as much as the next person, but
   this week has come as a bit of a relief
   - and the Stone Grinder is on
   in celebration of cooler, more
​   'British', temperatures.



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Anyway, on to the important news................

I wanted to let you all know that the chocolate thinking cap is firmly back on my head and new, exciting flavours are sloshing around in there, bumping up against each other and generally vying for attention.

I hope to have two new bars available on the website soon - so keep an eye out!

If you want to be sure not to miss out on all that is new and exciting in the Mill Street Chocolate world, join the mailing list by signing up in the footer of this page. 

In the meantime, lets all hope for a return of the sun, albeit not quite as hot as last week! (early to mid 20's would suit me, if I could put my order in!)

Wishing you all a wonderful summer
Steph
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A BESPOKE CHOCOLATE HAMPER....................................

15/2/2017

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Last week I was asked to prepare a bespoke chocolate hamper as a gift.

I wanted to ensure that most of the cost would go on the chocolate itself (the important bit, I'm sure you'll agree!), so decided to be a little creative on the packaging!

I came up with the idea of recycling one of those infamous amazon delivery boxes, by 'decoupaging' it and using it to house all the yummy chocolates.

Out came all my crafting tools (pva glue, tissue paper!) and I set about transforming this ugly box into something beautiful!

​It took a while to dry - but I sped up the process with the industrious use of a hair dryer!

The pic opposite shows the box in question hanging up to dry on two kitchen roll holders!
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​I also wanted to include a few individual chocolates so, knowing the taste preferences of the recipient, I made a few rose flavoured 'hearts and roses' chocolates.

Once bagged up, they looked a treat and I tucked them into the hamper along with lots of my delicious 70% flavoured bars plus a little chocolaty surprise!
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​I was very  pleased with the finished product - see the picture opposite for the completed hamper.

It is being collected this afternoon so fingers crossed the lucky lady will be happy with her hamper!

Wishing you all a wonderful February - the sun is on its way folks - hang on in there!

Steph

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Rave Reviews for local Civic Society Christmas Talk..................

15/1/2017

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In mid December, I gave a talk to the Wells Civic Society all about my chocolate.

Over 60 people turned up, eager to hear what makes raw chocolate different from the bars they buy in the supermarket.

They were a lovely group and it was great to meet them all and pass round lots of samples to satisfy their eager taste buds!

Below is a write-up from the Wells Journal which appeared this week.......................................

Wishing you all a happy and very chocolatey 2017!
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IT WAS ALL ABOUT CHOCOLATE AT THE 2015 CHOCOLATE SHOW........................

30/10/2015

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I took myself on a 'Chocolate Holiday' recently - purely for research purposes you understand! :-)

Salon du Chocolat were hosting their annual 'Chocolate Show' at Olympia, London - how could I miss such an opportunity to meet other chocolate-makers and sample high quality chocolate made by top makers from around the world.
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What a feast for the senses it was - 3 days of talks, demos, stalls and exhibits - even a Chocolate Fashion Show with garments made using real chocolate! (they had to seen to be believed- check out the detail on the skirt in the picture here!).
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All the top names in high quality chocolate were there - from the 'big boys' at Valrhona, through to Paul A Young (pictured here selling his amazing brownies - sold warm straight out of the oven!) right through to the small-batch, craft chocolate producers such as Marou, Duffy, Charlotte Flower, plus others from the world of raw chocolate such as Pablo Spaull from Forever Cacao, Pacari and Lucocoa - and many, many more.
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It was 3 full days of inspiration and learning for me - talking to fellow chocolate-makers and sharing in their passion for their product. Watching demos from the likes of Paul A Young and Anish Kapoor - enormous fun to watch such experts at work.
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The real highlight for me was, after the results of the International Chocolate Awards World Finals were announced on the Saturday,  Sunday brought the opportunity to taste the winning chocolate from all around the world!
I have returned inspired and fired up with even more enthusiasm for the fascinating world of chocolate. 

I am also so packed full of ideas and thoughts for new flavours, new chocolates, etc - so watch this space folks!  The limited edition Christmas Box will be on the website soon and, after that, who knows where my chocolate jorney will lead.

Wishing you all a Happy Chocolatey life
Steph

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MILL STREET CHOCOLATE OUTING TO THE TATE SENSORIUM.......................

16/9/2015

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5 stars to Paul A Young for his bold, brave and frankly amazing contribution to the ‘Tate Sensorium’!

Mill Street Chocolate’s latest outing was to this temporary exhibition at Tate Britain recently - I was as excited as a puppy!

I admit the main pull for me was that I knew Paul had been involved and that the experience included his chocolate in some form or other!    

This prize-winning exhibition features four artworks from the permanent exhibition at the Tate.  Organisers worked with experts in their fields to select and devise complementary smells, sounds, feelings and tastes to work alongside visitors’ viewing of each work.  So far, so exciting!

I queued for an hour to ensure laying my hands on one of the FREE tickets to this 20 minute experience so, by the time I came to enter through the magic door to this ‘sense wonderland’ anticipations were running high.

To me, by far the most interesting of the four ‘rooms’ was the final one displaying Francis Bacon’s ‘Figure in a Landscape’ – this included the long-awaited chocolate experience!  A hollow chocolate shell filled with a mixture of edible charcoal, cacao nibs, salt, Lapsand Suchong tea this probably rates as one of the most unusual, compelling and exciting taste experiences of my life thus far.

That said, I’m not saying I’d necessarily want to eat it again.  It was fascinating - a real journey of discovery. The following day I could still sense the experience of that dusty, gritty, smoky, salty, earthy, almost muskiness.  It was profound.  But I didn’t ‘like’ it as such.  It won’t be on my Christmas list – “a delicious box of those dusty charcoal chocolates please”.

…………………….but I don’t believe for one minute that was the point.  I found myself torn between wanting to spit it out because it somehow didn’t ‘taste edible’, to moving it around in my mouth increasingly fascinated by the unusual flavour combinations, and the revolutionary textures.  It was a deeply memorable chocolate.

However, I am sad to say that the rest of the exhibition left me cold – somehow reminiscent of a visit to the dentist.  Now, we are only talking a check-up here, not root canal work, but basically the feeling that I’d been subjected to someone ‘messing’ with my senses – artificial smells; harsh, often over-loud noises; shapes being ‘blown’ unexpectedly onto the palm of my hand by a machine.  All vaguely unpleasant and uncomfortable.

But that chocolate! I would recommend you go just for that.  Rush there – run!  It’s on till 20th September.  Get there an hour before to start queueing or you won’t get a ticket.

Happy chocolate dreams

Steph
#paulayoung  #chocolate

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Great Tasting Chocolate.......

27/8/2015

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Here at Mill Street Chocolate, I am still basking ever so slightly in excitement and general enthusiasm at having won three - yes three! - awards in the 2015 Great Taste Awards.

It seems like a long time ago early this year when I decided to enter my 3 plain bars, in the hope that the judges would like them.

It was a bit of a risk entering a big, prestigious competition like the Great Taste Awards when I'd only been trading since the beginning of last year, but I thought "What the hec!" and jumped in with both feet!

It seems the judges liked my chocolate - and now I have all the merchandise to prove it!  Swanky stickers for my chocolate (as shown above), plus bunting and a super smart logo'd apron for when I'm out and about at fairs.

These awards mean that ALL my products are made using 'Award Winning Chocolate' - from my Luxury Chocolates through to  my range of Flavoured Bars.

Next stop in the calendar will be the Wells Food Festival coming up on Sunday 11th October - so, if you are local, come and visit me in Square Edge Cafe and check out my chocolate........and my bunting!

In the meantime, here's hoping for a return of the sun!

Steph Hiller
Owner and Sole Chocolate-maker
Mill Street Chocolate

#greattasteawards #squareedgecafe #dairyfree #glutenfree #soyafree

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ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS ABOUT HAVING FRIENDS....

12/4/2015

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A friend of mine had a birthday recently - what a great opportunity to invent a new chocolate!

Out came all the ingredients, inventing cap on (otherwise known as blue hairnet - worn in all the most fashionable circles you know!)

I love a chance to spend an afternoon in my kitchen.  Just me and my chocolate (sometimes accompanied by Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, Classic FM or maybe the Archers on a Sunday morning!), trying out new flavour combinations, new textures.  Experimenting is fun!

I was pleased with the results - salted hazelnut caramel enrobed in berry chocolate and topped with freeze-dried strawberry pieces and coconut.  Officially named 'Glorious' after the friend in question.

There is a discussion trending on my Facebook page right now which asks  "If you could invent your ideal chocolate what flavours would you use?"  To join in, paste this link into your browser:  http://on.fb.me/1E4Z1DV

Meet me back here soon for more hot chocolatey topics!

Steph Hiller
Owner and Sole Chocolate-maker
Mill Street Chocolate
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One of my all-time favourite books about Chocolate..........

5/4/2015

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I have a fairly large selection of books relating to chocolate (too large some would say!) - from Recipes, the History, the Science, you name it.  One book I tend to have hanging around for constant reference is the one shown above.  Less educational and more, erm inspirational - ideal when I fancy a real belly laugh.

Opening it randomly at any page, I can guarantee I'll be giggling uncontrollably in seconds.  From her succinct description of Carob ending with the words:
"of course, the same arguments can as persuasively be made in favour of dirt"  (LOL - detest carob!)

to her assertion that this book is not for everyone and
"will serve little purpose for those who would just as soon have .................(any noun) as chocolate"

.....not a single page disappoints.

Sandra Boynton is described as an American humourist, children's author and illustrator............and confirmed chocoholic!  Her humour resonates with me, the illustrations are hilarious!

When my first copy dropped through the letterbox, within minutes I was back on amazon buying another for a friend.  As far as I can find, it's no longer in print but second-hand copies come and go on amazon - there are a few there now, so rush to the following link and you may grab a copy for yourself......
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Chocolate-Consuming-Passion-Sandra-Boynton/dp/0894801996/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1428234229&sr=1-1&keywords=chocolate+the+consuming+passion

What can I say other than - do get this book!  It will brighten your day, bring laughter into your home and inspire you to think it really must be time for another morsel of your favourite healthy, dairyfree, glutenfree raw chocolate treat from Mill Street Chocolate!
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Welcome to my Blog!.....and a Raw Chocolate Pudding Recommendation

2/4/2015

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Welcome to my blog - this blog is devoted to occasional chocolate-related musings, raw chocolate recipes, book recommendations from my fairly extensive (and ever-expanding) chocolate library, and fascinating facts about chocolate.

If this is of interest to you, please sign up to my blog and join me on my exciting journey into the world of healthy Raw chocolate!

I thought I would begin with a recommendation for an amazing Raw Chocolate Pudding that I made when my friend came for lunch the other day.  It is so deliciously rich, creamy, smooth and chocolatey that we thought we were in chocolate heaven - and it took less than 5 minutes to make!  The recipe was devised by the Rocking Raw Chef and you can try it for yourself by going to her website (http://rockingrawchef.com/) and signing up for the free 5 minute recipes, as I did (it is recipe number 3!).

Best of all, this pudding is  dairy and gluten free and consists only of avocados, raw cacao powder, maple syrup and vanilla.  So you can feed yourself, your friends and family on a pudding that nourishes the body and tantalises the tastebuds at the same time!  Who could ask for more?!

The picture above shows the pudding in all its glory, topped with my home-made mint buckwheaties for added crunch.

See you again soon with more chocolatey fun!
Steph


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    Author

    I'm Steph Hiller, the creator of Mill Street Chocolate.  I make luxury handmade raw chocolate, with love and in tiny  batches,  from my home kitchen.

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