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You are here: Home / Featured Post / Chocolate Ecstasy Tours – Coffee and Chocolate in Notting Hill

Chocolate Ecstasy Tours – Coffee and Chocolate in Notting Hill

August 31, 2015 by Fiona Maclean 3 Comments

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Last Updated on August 31, 2015 by Fiona Maclean

Drinking Coffee and Eating Chocolate in Notting Hill – A Sunday Morning Chocolate Ecstasy

I felt some justification in planning to spend Sunday morning eating a lot of chocolate since we were going to be walking through Notting Hill.  After all, I’d be burning up all the calories I was eating.  And, it meant I had to get out of bed nice and early.  The Coffee and Chocolate tour run by Jen from Chocolate Ecstasy Tours starts in trendy Golbourne Road, at Snaps and Rye.

Chocolate Ecstasy Tour - Jen and coffee circle_edited-1

Now, if I lived in West London still, this is somewhere I am sure I’d end up frequenting quite regularly.  A Scandi cafe, the shelves are packed with delicious looking open sandwiches.

Chocolate Ecstasy Tour - Snaps and Rye - open sandwich_edited-1

And a good selection of cakes and baked goods.

Chocolate Ecstasy Tour Snaps and Rye Croissants_edited-1

There’s a brunch menu and plenty of West London’s finest were ensconced, tucking into scrambled eggs with smoked salmon and more.

Chocolate Ecstasy Tour - open sandwiches and cakes_edited-1

But, we were there to drink coffee.  Starting with a filter coffee that actually came from the Golborne Deli across the road and a Pastéis de Nata from the Lisboa patisserie.  Meanwhile Jen explained a little of the subtleties of coffee tasting, and of the different ways of preparing coffee.  We went on to brave an expresso from Snaps and Rye, who only serve Nude coffee.  I generally avoid expresso, but with a delicious chocolate brownie on hand I actually quite enjoyed it.  And, when we were given a filter coffee to compare, it tasted like dishwater.

Chocolate Ecstasy Tour - coffee and pastry_edited-1

On to the first of our chocolate shops, Alexeeva & Jones.  We were greeted by  Gareth Jones, who is the owner with his wife Natalia.

Chocolate Ecstasy Tour - Jones of Alexeeva and Jones_edited-1

He explained that he ran a boutique chocolate shop, bringing the finest examples of the works of a handful of European chocolatiers to London.  I left holding a little bag of gianduja frome Guido Gobino which just looked too good to leave behind.

Chocolate Ecstasy Tour - Alexeeva and Jones_edited-1

At Melt Chocolates one of the in-house chocolatiers was busy in the kitchen filling rose macaron with a lavender infused chocolate ganache.  Oh if only my piping skills were up to Dan’s!

Chocolate Ecstasy Tour - Melt Macarons_edited-1

He explained that one of the things he loved was the chance to be creative and showcased his own ‘toast and marmalade’ chocolate bar which is currently on sale in the shop.

Chocolate Ecstasy Tour toast and marmalade chocolate_edited-1

Melt has two outlets, in Notting Hill and Holland Park and their three chocolatiers are generally in the kitchen creating fantasies that are not far off something you might find in Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory.

Chocolate Ecstasy Tour toast and marmalade chocolate_edited-1

We finished the tour at Artisan du Chocolat, the largest operation.  They have their own shops in the heart of Notting Hill, Chelsea and Borough Market in addition to a concession in Selfridges.  And, they also supply to some of the best known high street retailers.  I loved their packaging.  There is no No. 5, for obvious reasons…

Chocolate Ecstasy Tour - Artisan du Chocolat_edited-1

The walking tour isn’t limited to eating chocolate, you also learn a lot more about Notting Hill along the way.  We stopped off at the famous blue door for those obligatory pictures.  We learnt a little about John Christie, Notting Hill’s own serial killer.  And, we took a look at the Electric Cinema, which I hadn’t realised was still showing films.  Jen is a mine of information about chocolate, coffee and Notting Hill.

Chocolate Ecstasy Tour - Jen_edited-1

I thoroughly enjoyed sampling all the chocolates along the way and thought the morning, which includes the tastings and numerous cups of coffee and hot chocolate, was good value at £45.  What an excellent way to see more of Notting Hill while enjoying some of my favourite food.

Chocolate Ecstasy Tour Artisan du Chocolat_edited-1

Chocolate Ecstasy Tours run a variety of tours in London and Brighton and are planning to run a York tour too.  For more information, check their website.

Disclaimer:  I was invited to review the Chocolate and Coffee Tour.

 

Filed Under: Featured Post Tagged With: chocolate, London tours, Notting Hill

About Fiona Maclean

London based freelance writer and marketing consultant. I edit London-Unattached.com and write for a number of other publications. With a music degree and a background in marketing across many sectors, my passions include all types of music, food, restaurants, wine and travel

Comments

  1. Stevie Wilson says

    September 1, 2015 at 11:41 pm

    Lucky you!! How cool that something like this is available. I think it sounds (and tastes) amazing.
    I would LOVE to do that.. (add in an additional layer of spirits and it’s a tour made in heaven!)

    Reply
  2. The Common Wanderer says

    September 1, 2015 at 3:05 am

    Could there honestly be any better way to spend a Sunday thank drinking coffee, and eating choc/sweet treats?! What a dream. Pretty sure this is going on our itinerary for when we’re in London next year now!

    Reply
    • Fiona Maclean says

      September 1, 2015 at 8:16 am

      If you check the website you’ll see there are different areas of London you can tour. I’d recommend Notting Hill (quirky and not-quite-mainstream) or Soho (the main focus of London’s food scene)

      Reply

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