Festival Food & Drink Favourites #4. Barre Infernale Pistache

 Festival Food & Drink Favourites #4. Barre Infernale Pistache

Just before Christmas I bought a small bag of goodies, including a lovely bar of the local Wilkie's chocolate, from the Chocolate Shop in the English Market. It was Click and Collect and as I was browsing their list online I spotted this creation by François Pralus. A bit expensive, I thought to myself.  Than again I said, go for it, this is Christmas. Minutes later, I sent off the order. And, hardly an hour later, got a message saying it was ready. Called in the following morning and picked it up. Great service.

I took my time getting to the big one, enjoying the other bars and also some lovely hot chocolate, the powder mix, called Cacao Show, also produced by M. Pralus. Then it was time to try the most expensive bar of chocolate that I had even bought. When I looked closely at it I saw that it weights some 160g, more than double most of the other bars available and so the €14.95 didn't seem that extravagant after all. Funny how you can justify these things!

They say: A dark chocolate praline bar with roasted almonds. Deliciously divine thick chocolate encasing a delectable dark praline studded with crisp fresh nuts. in a class of its own! Ingredients Praline (roasted hazelnuts, almonds, sugar, 75% chocolate, vanilla), pure cocoa butter, GMO-free soy lecithin.

It is a large slab of deliciousness, no squares delineated, just the Pralus name embossed. As I cut it with a sharp knife, a little crumb of chocolate fell to the table. Picked it up and put it you know where and instantly realised that I was on to a winner, courtesy of Madagascar and the marvellous French chocolatier. And more deliciousness enclosed in the dark outside, a delightful paté of pistachio nuts. 

Everything they say above is true! Do try it. I'll be ordering again. Pralus also produce other similar bars, including one nougat. Indeed, they have some 15 products list in the Chocolate Shop, including my hot chocolate mix.

Festival Food & Drink Favourites #3 Bodegas Robles Vermouth VRMT

Festival Food & Drink Favourites #2 8-Degrees "Devil’s Ladder: Belgian Tripel

Festival Food & Drink Favourites #1FabFestive Feast from Glass Curtain

English Market
Cork
Ireland

021-4254448
info@chocolate.ie

Taste of the Week. Treat from The Chocolate Shop

Taste of the Week

Treat from The Chocolate Shop

The Chocolate Shop in Cork’s English Market is a treasure trove, packed with good things. And good people there too in Rose and Niall who’ll help you get exactly what you’re looking for.

I was on the lookout for a Taste of the Week. In truth, I could have had closed my eyes, put out a hand and anything I touched would have fitted the bill. But I asked them to fill a little box with some delicious pieces, some by Wilkies Chocolate from Midleton and the others by Skelligs Chocolate from County Kerry. I had my Taste of the Week, on the double!

They opened in 2000. They know their stuff - were very impressive at a recent Chocolate/Whiskey matching event in the River Lee Hotel.  They are independent of any single manufacturer or franchise and therefore free to source only the best quality chocolate from the best artisan chocolatiers throughout the world.

You’ll also find related items, such as Nougat. And they also sell Hadji Bey’s Turkish Delight, a long standing favourite in these parts. Check them out and find your your own taste of the week!

The Chocolate Shop

English Market

Cork

021-4254448

Email : info@chocolate.ie