'Most awarded UK Luxury Chocolatier' for third consecutive year
We are still celebrating after having added another trophy to our many awards that we have won for our chocolates over the years.
We can now boast to being the proud owner of our most prestigious award to date, having scooped a Golden Fork trophy at this week's 2011 Great Taste Awards in London.
The trophy for Best Speciality from the South East was presented to Master Chocolatier Marc Demarquette at a lavish ceremony held at the Royal Garden Hotel in Kensington on Monday 5th September by Anthony Rowcliffe and BBC Radio 2's Nigel Barden.
The awards, which have been run by The Guild of Fine Food since 1995, recognise the best speciality food and drink from the whole of Great Britain and Ireland.
From this year's 7,482 entries from over 1500 companies, we received the highest number of awards within the chocolate categories with 8 awards in total and three of our creations being part of just 114 products to achieve the highest standard with a 3-Star Gold.
Furthermore we were nominated in three categories for the prestigious Golden Fork Awards (Best Speciality from the South East, Ambient Product of the Year and Speciality Producer of the Year) and went on to win the trophy for Best Specialtiy from the South East. As one of only 13 producers to win this prestigious award, we are particularly proud of our achievement not only to win but also to have been the only producer to have been nominated in three Golden Fork categories.
The Sunday Times' Lucas Holweg described the chocolate as "brilliantly made. Really long lasting flavours, but totally balanced. Just a really stupendously good chocolate!" and Master Chef winner Dhruv Baker added "amazing texture and fabulous flavour".
Master Chocolatier Marc Demarquette comments: "I am extremely proud of our success and honoured that our chocolate creations and hard work have been rewarded in this manner. It certainly spurs us on to continue to deliver exceptional chocolates for our customers."
Judging the Golden Fork awards were the crème de la crème of the fine food world:
Antonio Carluccio, chef and TV personality
Alex James, cheese producer and TV personality
Dhruv Baker, chef and TV personality
Sophie Michell, chef and TV personality
Karen Barnes, delicious Magazine
Tony Turnbull, The Times
Charles Campion, Evening Standard
Glynn Christian, TV personality
Simon Burdess, Fortnums & Mason
Georgie Mason, Gonalston Farm Shop
Brett Sutton, chef at the Eastbury Hotel
Lucas Hollweg, Sunday Times
Charlie Turnbull, Turnbulls Deli
Xanthe Clay, Daily Telegraph
Ewan Venters, Selfridges
The Golden Fork Award comes on the back of a glut of awards so far this year, once again making us the most awarded luxury UK chocolatier for the third consecutive year:
2011 Academy of Chocolate Awards
Gold – Xoconusco 72%
Silver – Peru Pangoa 70%
Silver – VN1 70%
Bronze – VN2 40%
2011 Guild of Fine Food Great Taste Awards
3-Star – Kentish Cobnut Caramel Praline
3-Star – Royal Merina Ganache (nominated for South East Food Champion)
3-Star – Hazelnut Pebbles
2-Star – Apple & Spice Caramel
1-Star – Rose Caramel
1-Star – American Pecan & Maple Caramel Praline
1-Star – Pistachio Pebbles
1-Star – Almond Pebbles
We are delighted and very proud of our achievements and thank all our customers, patrons and friends for your kind support. Definitely watch this space as there are many further creations on their way which we hope will delight your taste buds and, who knows, maybe will be added to our list of award-winning chocolates.
