Fulham Road

An Easter-Egg Bonanza!

As Easter fast approaches, the mouths of the crew at The Amazing Blog are beginning to water. Ever since Ash Wednesday, a long and laborious six weeks ago, not a sniff of chocolate has passed our lips. And so, with less than a week to go and wanting to keep our readers up-to-date in terms of the crème de la crème of chocolate indulgences this Easter, we decided to break our fast early so we could try the chocolate we've been eyeing greedily for weeks. And if, like us, you’re planning a chocolate blow out on Easter Sunday, check out the most decadent of chocolate treats below… First up is the Indian-inspired Easter Egg from the wonderful peeps at Devnaa. With sumptuous purple wrapping and a decadent gold bow, it looks every bit as good as it tastes. The chocolate shell is infused with their signature chai blend - cinnamon, cardamom, clove and ginger; an unusual combination, but one that works oh-so-well. And as well as the aromatic egg is a selection of mouth-watering white-chocolate saffron caramels, coconut and cardamom dark chocolates and chai milk chocolates, thus it’s the perfect Easter Egg for anyone wanting an exotic fusion of flavours! The egg is handmade in London and you can buy it here.

And for those who follow The Amazing Blog, you'll already know that one of our favourite chocolatiers in London is the deliciously decadent Demarquette. This Easter they've created a Marine-inspired Easter collection that includes brightly coloured seashell-encrusted giant Easter eggs and chocolate egg-filled iridescent clams. With such a fab range on offer it was no mean feat choosing our fave, but the Oceanic Reef Egg certainly deserves a mention. The Super Chocolate Easter Egg is 20cm high and entirely edible. Made using the unique Demarquette Pure Blend of single origin smooth chocolate, a colonnade of six hand painted seahorses filled with sweet caramel supports the top half of the egg. A delicate coating of coral orange coloured white chocolate velvet adds a unique, luxurious texture making this the finest of all chocolate eggs. All of Demarquette's offerings are lovingly hand-made by founder Marc and his team in London with great tasting and ethically sourced pure chocolate. Available from their fabulous Fulham Road shop or online

For anyone after an Easter treat infused with some serious fun, Artisan du Chocolat have got the perfect egg. Inspired by the 70s song 'Daddy Cool' by Boney M and the childhood classic Mr Potatohead, their Bunny Cool Eggs add a bit of humour into the Easter spirit. Filled with Artisan du Chocolat's signature salted caramel honeycomb and with edible eyes nose and trainers, it's the ideal egg for anyone wanting to add some quirkiness to their Easter Day spread. The Bunny Cool egg, along with other yummy Easter treats are available both in-store and online.

Fortnum & Mason, Picadilly's brilliantly British department store have once again come up trumps with their Easter offering. Their Decorated Milk Chocolate Egg is a classic egg made by their in-house chocolatiers, who use expertly tempered milk chocolate to ensure a flawless shine. The decorations are made and applied by hand and the egg is filled with a selection of handmade chocolate shapes. Presented in a beautiful blue box with a contrasting grey ribbon, the Fortnum & Mason egg is as elegant as the shop, available both online and in-store.

Last, but by no means least, is Sussex-based Montezuma's fabulous Organic Free-Range Eco Egg. Founded in 2000 by ex-lawyers Helen and Simon Pattison, Montezuma is a family-run business who have rapidly built a reputation for producing some of the finest and most innovative chocolate in the UK. And as well as producing the most delicous of chocolates, Montezuma have also been singled out as a shining example of environmentally friendly eggs. It came top of the list of 11 eggs for the least amount of packaging and recyclability; so if you treat yourself to one of their eggs, you can be sure you're also doing your bit for the environment! Available in dark chocolate, milk chocolate and milk chocolate and butterscotch, they're available online and from selected independent stockists.

And so, with just six days left until Easter itself, whether you're after something special for a loved one, or simply spoiling yourself - enjoy some of the finest chocolate the UK has on offer and have a very happy Easter!

 

Eighty Six

Being of the much publicised boomerang generation, a little over a year ago I found myself up to my eyeballs in student overdrafts and having to make the dreaded decision to move home. And finally, finally after thirteen long months of suburbia living and the agonising daily commute I’ve moved back to the Big Smoke. And wanting to make the most of this great city I am making it my mission to hunt out some of the most fabulous haunts London has to offer.

And one that certainly ranks highly is Eighty Six, a fabulously decadent bar and restaurant located on the Fulham Road. Set over an impressive three floors Eight Six has a bar, a restaurant and a private dining room, all of which boast inviting menus and are beautifully decorated.

The ground floor has an art-deco inspired interior with a chic yet relaxed atmosphere and is perfect for after –work drinks or a bite to eat with friends. Or if you fancy a girly night out and a bit of a boogy, head down to Eighty Six on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday where a live DJ starts spinning the decks from 9pm onwards. Special parties can be catered for in The Snug, a private area complete with comfy sofas, a unique fireplace and personal waiters.

Also on offer is a mouth-watering menu with fabulous brunch choices including American-Style Pancakes, Smoked Salmon and Scrambled Eggs and a traditional English Breakfast – perfect for the morning after the night before.

For fine dining both the restaurant and private dining room provide an opulent alternative to the ground floor. The first floor’s sumptuous interior is bathed in gold, dark wood and mirrors, and fuses style and glamour for an all-round fabulous food experience.

Finally, ideal for large private parties, celebrations or corporate events, the private dining room is the perfect party space. With a capacity of 30 for dining or 60 for standing it can cater for a wide range of needs and is both self-contained and sophisticated.

Dress to impress!