Chocolate making workshop at the Chocolate Tart
Chopsy and the chocolate factory
There is nothing even slightly industrial about the tranquil setting of the Chocolate Tart, located in the beautiful countryside setting of Congresbury.
On the main road from Bristol to Weston, it is just a twenty-minute drive from central Bristol, and well served by a busy bus route.
From the moment of arrival you are made to feel very welcome, and the fabulous aroma of chocolate permeates from the tempering machines that Lisa is manning in preparation for the class.
In truth, I feared for Lisa’s kitchen. I find it impossible to give my child a chocolate digestive without melted chocolate covering everything, in every room and smeared down walls.
I also feared that as I cannot cook in any capacity and simple home made pasta can result in a trip to the takeaway via a casualty department, that Lisa would have her work cut out for her.
There are a variety of workshops on offer. We tried out the three-hour workshop, complete with chocolate making tuition, kilo of handmade chocolates, and a steady supply of wine or soft drinks.
It was obvious very quickly that you need no culinary skills to attend these workshops. A vaguely steady hand and an ability to follow simple instructions whilst having a chat with the person next to you is all that is required.
The workshop ran at the perfect pace during which the class each produced their own truffles, decorated chocolate buttons, fondant filled chocolate hearts, and chocolate coated marzipan and praline squares. Producing the different chocolates took in a variety of techniques that was both fun and a fantastic learning experience.
Everybody had an impressive result, everybody’s chocolates looked fantastic, and it was lovely that a group of strangers with different backgrounds with no previous experience had all come together to make professional looking and deliciously tasting chocolate.
It was hard to believe that a completely untalented cook such as myself could produce such beautiful and gorgeous delicacies, but that is totally down to Lisa’s great balance of professional tuition with a fun and relaxed approach.
When they have cooled and set, which chocolate does surprisingly quickly, we get to fuss and pamper them with love, bows and boxes, producing an impressive collection soon to be dismantled on arrival home.
That is the further beauty of the chocolate workshop. The fun doesn’t stop once the chocolate is made. You get to take home a real appreciation of how chocolate is crafted, and we are not talking about the mass produced stuff which a shelf life of several centuries. This was beautiful, fresh chocolate with fresh ingredients and fresh cream that had to be consumed within two weeks. Not a problem as that very evening I found a surprising number of people who were more than happy to sample them with me.
Those new skills you have learnt don’t go to waste either, as you come home brimming with ideas on how to make your own chocolates, and bags of enthusiasm to create it. We were even issued with instructions on how to create hand rolled chocolate truffles for future reference.
These are perfect skills to keep at the back of the cupboard and bring out on a rainy day when you and your “I’m bored mum” children can spend time hand making chocolate and decorating to taste. For this reason it was impossible to get out of the doorway without giving into the burning feeling I must buy a mould of chocolate hearts and start immediately.
Our Chopsy chocolates made at Lisa’s class
Lisa’s classes are fun, informative and inspiring. A great, unique gift to give, a class to take for the hell of it, and a must for all serious chocolate lovers.
Lisa also sells chocolate making equipment by appointment. For more information please email:
info@thechocolatetart.co.uk
Chocolate making classes are one of the great gift options available with the Smartbox:
http://www.smartbox.com/uk/