Gourmet Hot Chocolate and Signature Thins by Paxton Chocolates

All of us at The Amazing Blog are self-proclaimed chocoholics, so it's a real treat when we get to review some indulgent and delicious chocolate for you. This week we were lucky enough to review a brand we've previously featured, Paxton Chocolate. All of their chocolates are handmade in Brighton, and they source the chocolate couverture from a company in Belgium that has been producing the finest chocolate for over 100 years from sustainably grown cocoa beans. This week we tried Paxton's Gourmet Hot Chocolate and their Signature Thins. 

The Gourmet Hot Chocolate was decadent and luxurious. Available in five distinctly delicious flavours, we tried the Hazelnut and Pistachio and Earl Grey and Orange flavours. These were rich and decadent drinks which are the perfect accompaniment for a cosy evening in. We can think of nothing better than curling up with a warming mug of the Gourmet Hot Chocolate, putting on a face mask and watching our favourite film! If you’re feeling really cheeky, we found adding a splash of amaretto to the Hazelnut and Pistachio Hot Chocolate was a great way to jazz up the drink and our evening.

The Signature Thins were both delicious and beautiful. Looking at them left us feeling conflicted, we didn’t want to ruin how stunning they were, but they were just too tempting. The box contains six tantalising flavours: White Chocolate Raspberry and Rose, Milk Chocolate Orange and Earl Grey Tea, Milk Chocolate Chestnut and Vanilla, Dark Chocolate and Candied Chilli and our personal favourite, Dark Chocolate and Lavender. Despite the fact that you won’t want to share these with anyone, we think they would make a great gift.

You can purchase the Gourmet Hot Chocolates here for £8.50 and the Signature Thins here for £25.00

The London Evening Standard Food Month - Night Market

If you want to sample a diverse and exciting range of London’s favourite restaurants and street food the London Evening Standard Food Month's Night Market is a must-see. Located at Perks Field, Kensington, the Night Market runs from Wednesday, June 7 to Sunday, June 18. Delicious food in an iconic London location is certainly not an opportunity we here at The Amazing Blog would miss. Pop over after work and spend a lovely evening exploring London's food, or visit on the weekend in the day or the evening.

There is an exciting array of cuisines on offer, from Turkish to Taiwanese, to African, to Japanese, to Texan BBQ and of course the best of British. The market even caters for vegans, with indulgent vegan churros and ice-cream on offer. This is your opportunity to sample food from some of London’s favourite restaurants, such as Asia de Cuba, Patty & Bun, Mews of Mayfair and The Ivy. The opportunity to sample food from Britain’s best chefs, such as Angela Hartnett, Fergus Henderson and Claude Bosi, along with top international chefs including Dan Hunter, Ana Ros and David Thompson, is one that doesn’t come around very often. Browse the mouth-watering line-up here.

Not only does the Night Market showcase intriguing food, but you can also explore art installations and entertainment, such as DJs, live music, Westfield Open-Air Cinema and themed pop-up bars from Ketel One Vodka and Cobra Beer. You can take part in a Q&A by creative director Grace Dent discussing important topics such as fighting food waste and supporting social inclusion. You will be served some serious food for thought here. While Londoners and visitors indulge in the delicious food, Massimo Bottura, the founder of Food for Soul has partnered with London Food Month and is launching a community soup kitchen. This is a cause everyone can learn more about, and help support.

You are bound to have a fun-filled (and food-filled!) night. As Grace Dent puts it, ‘We’ll be eating the entire world, in one city’. We’re in.

Purchase tickets here for £15 for adults, £8 for children and £35 for a family pass. These allow access to the food stalls, bars and entertainment. You can add on tickets to Westfield Open-Air Cinema at checkout, for £4 for adults and £2 for children. See timings of the Night Market here.

London Farmer's Markets - Friday Favourites

This weekend we can think of nothing better to do than hit a Farmer’s Market and peruse locally sourced products, taste some delicious foods and hopefully enjoy a little bit of sunshine. As such, everyone at The Amazing Blog has pooled their collective knowledge and selected a few of our favourite Farmer’s Markets in London.

First on our list is the Farmer's Market in South Kensington. Nestled between three fabulous museums (the V&A, Natural History Museum and Science Museum) this is a fantastic way to enjoy a Saturday. Located 5 minutes away from South Ken tube station, on a little street, this market is bursting with delicious local produce. Pick up some vegetables from Ted's Veg, organic eggs from Rookery Farm, free range meat from Beatbush Farm and purchase some utterly delicious bread, cakes and pastries from Oliver’s Bakery. You can easily buy your week’s grocery shop from here. However, if you don’t fancy that, then why not spend a few hours soaking up some culture or history in one of the fine museums before heading to the farmer’s market for a delicious lunch. We highly recommend The Parson's Nose and their sausage sandwiches.

Open every Saturday from 9.00-14.00; you can see more information about what to expect and how to find this gem of a place here.

If you want to combine your Farmer’s Market experience with a bit of shopping, then head to Pimlico Road near Sloane Square, which sits in leafy Orange Square under the watchful eye of Mozart’s statue. It is asparagus and strawberry season at the moment, and this is definitely the place to pick some up while they’re at their freshest and sweetest. We love this market and think it’s the perfect place to stroll around after a long shopping session; it can be hard work finding that perfect summer dress. With plenty of room to sit and soak up the atmosphere, you’ll be hard done by not to find something delicious to take home with you. We highly recommend this market if you’re looking for some fabulous and fancy artisanal bread and cheeses or seasonal fruits and vegetables. While you are there, you simply must stop by Favourite Stall winner of 2017, Moreton Mushrooms. Their selection is to die for, and they will greet you like old friends. 

Open every Saturday from 9.00-13.00; this market holds a special place in our hearts. For more information have a read here and thank us later.

If what you look for in a Farmer’s Market is diversity and a vast array of options, then look no further than the weekly market held at Alexandra Palace. Large enough to serve the 3000 people who visit every Sunday, this market has anything and everything you could dream of. From Smoked meats and fishes to jams and relishes to handmade pies, this market is an amazing way to spend a happy Sunday sipping freshly pressed juices while tasting homemade cakes, Mediterranean dishes and smelling exotic spices. What’s more is that, alongside the delicious food stalls, the market hosts an array of artists and craftsmen selling ceramics, books, prints and jewellery.   

This is the perfect example of what makes London such a magnificent city. After all, there aren’t many places that showcase such diversity, beauty and community.  So take the kids or head over with a group of friends, soak up the sun and enjoy the best of what London has to offer. If you get bored, which seems impossible, you can also soak up the beauty of Alexandra Palace and the surrounding grounds. For further details, such as the best entrances and particular stalls click here. 

So what are you waiting for? Text your favourite person and spend a day enjoying one of these great market’s and discover or remember the amazing things London has to offer – we hope to see you there.
 

Earl Grey and Green Tea - Hope and Glory Tea

Fancy a cup of tea? Here at The Amazing Blog, the answer to that question is always yes. Today we are drinking Hope & Glory tea and savouring every sip. From the robust flavours in the Maharaja signature range to the softer more delicate herbal tisanes in the Rani range, Hope and Glory tea will lift your spirits. Certified, organic and completely free trade, this tea is hand-picked from countries all over the world and is curated with the British palate in mind.  

Their teas are split into four collections, each with a name as royal as the tea itself. There is the robust and strong Maharajah collection, the nurturing and natural Maharani collection, the unique Rajah collection and of course the delicate Rani range. Hope & Glory offers their products as either loose leaf sachets or as pyramid tea bags with differing quantity options for each. 

We were fortunate enough to sample Hope and Glory’s Earl Grey Tea and Green Tea which are both from the Rani collection. The Earl Grey has a light and aromatic flavour. Infused with natural Bergamot oil this tea has a hint of sweet lime and delectable and refreshing citrus notes. Take it with milk or without, this Earl Grey is delicious and is the perfect way to start your morning or as an afternoon pick-me-up. The Green Tea is mellow and bright and, we think, the ideal way to unwind after a long day at the office and a stressful commute home – after all, as Hope and Glory say, “where there is tea there is hope.” 

You can purchase these moreish teas here, and prices range from £11.00 - £25.00 depeding on the style of tea and the quantity you desire. 
 

Coco Hydro Sport - Coco Hydro

At The Amazing Blog, we believe it is important to live a healthy and well-balanced life. You can have and do anything you want as long as it is in moderation. So it can be a real disappointment after a long and arduous gym session to glance at the back of your sports drink and realise that what you’re putting into your body to help you, has just nullified most of what you’ve done! Luckily for us though one of our favourite brands Coco Hydro has released a new Sports version of their popular powders.

Available in three flavours, Original, Pineapple and Lemon and Lime, Coco Hydro Sport offers a fantastic alternative to other sports drinks currently available. Acting as a high-performance coconut water-based hydrator this superb product has a higher electrolyte content than regular Coco Hydro, as well as added mineralized sea salts to help support extreme workouts and sports. Equally, the natural chelated organic ionic trace minerals have a 98% faster absorption rate.

Containing only seven ingredients there is nothing to worry about when drinking this product. You no longer have to settle for  over-dyed, sugar filled and over packaged sports drinks. As Coco Hydro point out, by replacing just two bottled drinks with this, you will save on average 104 plastic bottles a year! So if you’re concerned with the waste that other sports drinks cause then, you can sleep a little easier knowing the Coco Hydro Sport helps you help the world. It couldn’t be simpler to use Coco Hydro Sport, simply blend in water to taste or mix it in with a recovery drink or smoothie for increased efficiency in helping to heal those hard working muscles.

You can purchase Coco Hydro Sport here from £18.30, or you can purchase the Original Coco Hydro Sachet's on Planet Organic's website, buy one get one free, for £1.59.