Daskalidès cafe, a chocolate gem

Somehow, I have a special magnetic field to chocolate. The store filled with chocolates sucked me towards its shop window and upon browsing through the very tempting chocolates and nougats, we saw a staircase with a sign that says Daskalidès Cafe downstairs. Looks like we found an almost hidden gem.



Daskalidès is a Belgian chocolatier and has stores around the world. This is their London flagship store and cafe, also their first store in UK which just opened in June 2012. The store owner mentioned we will be embraced with more stores. This rather new cafe was so pleasant to be in; calm and light, also chic with the bright chartreuse yellow sofa and hanging copper pendant lights.

A small brick wall arch section in the cafe with boxes of chocolates on display and other goodies.

Dark chocolate fondue with marshmallows and cookies; Before

Chocolate fondue; During.

As much as I like marshmallows, I preferred the rolled cookies as a light sinking of teeth makes it crumble and melts with the warm chocolate. It gets better when eaten with the sugar toasted hazelnuts.

Very decadent chocolate fondue and chocolate moelleux (in the midst) with soft gooey centre.

The smooth hot chocolate is their speciality so remember to have this when you drop in. They have dark or milk hot chocolate to cater for your liking. There is even spiced hot chocolate with cinnamon or chilli, or with cream and marshmallows for when you feel naughty.

Smile..

Decadent and lovely ambience, even has free wifi. They even serve breakfast here, with Croque Monsieur and Croque Madame on the menu.

Frown..

The books on the shelves are purely for decorative purposes. They are only book covers and are stuck together, so not readable.

Will I return?

Who will say no to chocolate decadence!!?

Daskalidès

76 Long Acre
London WC2E 9JS
Tel: +44 (0)207 3544 4036

Closest station: Covent Garden

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Date Night In : Chocolate Thyme Cake with Orange Cream

..... a continuity of the Date Night In post with the Beef Stew recipe

Have you had thyme hot chocolate? It is one of my recent favourites. It gives the hot chocolate a very lovely scent and a smoother texture in mouth that I like. It has a calming effect too. There is just an extra step and ingredient added in your usual making of hot chocolate. All you need to do is add a sprig of thyme while heating the milk, remove it and froth the milk. Put a few teaspoon of your favourite hot chocolate powder and add the heated milk into the mug and stir well. The froth is poured in after for a finer finish of smoothly frothed milk. Try this and let me know how you like it. If you do not have a milk frother, omit that step or buy one. I currently use the Bodum Latteo Milk Frother but my I am itching for the Aeroccino that heats and froth at the same time.

From the above experience of the perfect combination of chocolate and thyme, it gave me the idea of adding thyme to the chocolate cake.



CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH ORANGE CREAM RECIPE

adapted from Sweet Paul's Fallen Chocolate Cake

serves 8

Ingredients:

• 250g dark chocolate


• 225g butter


• 6 eggs, seperated


• 4 sprigs of lemon thyme


• 6 tbs sugar


• 250ml double cream


• 1 tsp vanilla extract


• 1 tbs caster sugar


• 1 orange

Methods:

1. Preheat the oven to 180C.


2. Melt the chopped chocolate with the butter and lemon thyme in a bain marie or in the microwave.


3. Beat the yolks and sugar until pale. Mix in the chocolate.


4. Whisk the egg whites into stiff peaks and gently fold into the chocolate mixture.


5. Pour the mixture into ramekins or into a 12 inch cake tin.


6. Bake for 12 minutes if using ramekin or 16-20 minutes if using cake tin.


7. The cake will rise and fall so don't panic.


8. While the cake is in the oven, zest half an orange and squeeze out juice from half an orange.


9. Use the remaining half of the orange for decoration of the cake. Cut them into small wedges.


10. Whip the double cream with a teaspoon of vanilla extract and sugar until soft peak.


11. Combine orange juice and zest and mix well.


12. Scoop the whipped cream on top of the cake and decorate with the orange wedges.

Tips:

• The cake tastes much better when warm. So heat it up before serving and scoop a generous amount of orange cream onto it afterwards.

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