News & Reviews
Have you thought about Christmas yet?
I have. You can order now for specially made chocolates.
This year I shall be making the square chocolate boxes with separate lids decorated with a chocolate bow in relief. Wrapped in cellophane and filled with chocolate bars (min weight 450g) , a box would be a lovely idea for a chocoholic. A bespoke gift for £13.50.
The Christmas teddies will be back - dressed with a bow or tie, they make cute stocking-fillers for children (or any adult-child). Just £3.75.
There will also be a range of patterned, solid chocolate Christmas trees. Packed in 2's, weighing in at at around 100g, they also make innovative stocking fillers for just £3.75.
After exhaustive testing with friends who have tasted and tested (well, what are friends for?) and sampling by customers .... with overwhelmingly positive responses and advance orders, I am pleased to announce my Christmas Cake Truffles will be offered during November and December. Luxury mixed fruits soaked in Tawny Port with spices, with a touch of double cream and milk chocolate, encased in white chocolate, there's a taste of Christmas in every one.
Festive designs for the round chocolate boxes can be ordered for a bespoke Christmas gift, or as an innovative finale to a celebration meal (maybe filled with peppermint discs or alcoholic truffles) Still £11.00.
There will also be a range of decorative boxes for hanging on your tree and table favours to give a finish touch to your entertaining over Yuletide.
Luxury Chocolate to beat the credit crunch!
Consumers are spending more on chocolates as the credit crunch bites. Despite cutting back on 'unhealthy' items people are treating themselves to luxury chocolates which offer them value in terms of quality, indulgence, and superior taste. Dark chocolate, particularly, is seen as offering health benefits as it is rich in anti-oxidents and is lower in fat and sugar but sales of milk and white luxury chocolate are also increasing, According to a 2008 Mintel Report. 'Brits may not be splashing out on chocolate as often as they used to but they are certainly splashing out more on premium varieties'.
Forget the current economic turmoil and remember The Chocolate Tailor when you want to splash out on your chocolate treat!
Hearts are not just for Valentine's
Chocolate hearts - pretty little patterned chocolate hearts for your loved one but I also I think these hearts would be ideal as unusual wedding favours. Orders specially made throughout the year.
Party Party Party
How about a chocolate party? Organise a get-together with your chocolate-loving buddies and I will bring six chocolates for a formal tasting. A short presentation on the history and health benefits of chocolate and a pleasant evening will be had by all. This also give you the opportunity to see the current range and make an order for your bespoke chocolates. Contact me for further details.
Filmed for television
Well, is this fame at last? BBC Midlands Today havet filmed me making chocolate for their 'Chase Your Dream' series . They were looking for people who have changed their lives and careers to take a new path in life - and I fitted the bill. A two hour visit from a video reporter, 30 minutes of footage....... all for a one-minute slot. The programme went out on Wednesday 25 April at 6.30 on BBC1.
Customer Comments
Kind comments from Angela and Graham Caddick for whom I made chocolates for their Masonic Ladies' evening.
"Just a card to thank you for all your hard work and making our evening special with your chocolates - all the ladies present were delighted with their invididual chocolate teardrops and hope that your will soon get some more orders!"
'SISTERS ARE DOING IT FOR THEMSELVES IN BUSINESS'
Tuesday 14 November 2006 in the Sentinel
A fantastic write-up on my business and colour photograph of me and my lovely chocolates in the centre pages on the local evening newspaper. It is sometimes difficult to believe that my little business could make interesting reading but I've met several people in the last week who have said they recognised me from the article. Thank you, WiRE, who initiated the publicity to support Women's Enterprise Week.
From Mrs Anna Wardle of Stockton Brook, Stoke on Trent
“I bought some of your Apricot Truffles yesterday and we ate them last night. They were the most delicious chocolates we have ever tasted. My husband said they ‘just melt in your mouth’; and he is a very hard man to please.”
From Phil and Heather Brammer
Jackie, Phil and I wanted to say a special 'thank you' for your expertise and skill in making us both such lovely wedding favours. The youngsters really liked their special chocolates (needless to say these were devoured before the meal). Friends and family commented on how beautifully presented, and tasty the chocolate was - they truly were superb Jackie. I also wanted to say how sensitive and thoughtful you were when I was deciding colours (for wrapping the chocolate in) Thank you.
August 2006
Peter Roberts - Call in the Caterers
At ‘Call in the Caterers’ we make a point of using local produce and products within our menus. Handmade chocolates just add the finishing touch to any meal and it has been a pleasure to work with The Chocolate Tailor. Jackie’s product, professionalism and reliability are first class and we have no hesitation in recommending her to anyone.
Enjoy being a chocoholic
I read this with interest in the August 2006 edition of She magazine
‘Scientists believe there is growing evidence that eating dark chocolate can relax the blood vessels, help to prevent blood clotting, and stave off heart attacks’. One leading doctor is planning a study this year to test chocolate’s health benefits on heart patients. He believes that there will soon be sufficient evidence that the flavonol substances in dark chocolate (which act like aspirin in preventing blood clotting) will support these claims. ‘Doctors may soon recommend we eat about four squares of dark chocolate as part of a healthy diet’
