Luxury chocolate amateur tasting take 1 - Pierre Marcolini

Like most girls, Munchasaurus Pi loves chocolate for any occasions, any where, any time. However, I have never really treated myself with luxurious chocolate much. Probably cause the price of the chocolates scared me million miles away back in the days when I was still a poor student :P

The other day, while I visited London (as I was lucky enough to get tickets to see Miss Saigon with my theatre buddy <3), I decided to go and hunt down a luxury chocolate brand to splurge out -  you got to indulge yourself once in a while right?

As it was a planned day, I decided to do my research before heading down as I only had limited time. I found a few famous names amongst a few I have heard before such as Paul A Young, Maison Du Chocolat, Godiva. As I was going to be adventurous with other brands, I thought I'll go and try out a chocolatier I have never heard of; Pierre Marcolini in Selfridges London.

The brand is quite recently launched their first concession store in London (Selfridges) on Oct 2013 (not even a year yet), and as Selfridges puts it:

"Belgium's finest master chocolate craftsman"  

Belgium; being world famous for chocolates, and "Pierre is renowned for his exceptional creations and is the only chocolatier to select and roast his own cocoa beans in Brussels." - I have got to give it a munch.

As you can imagine from a chocolate concession, there were plenty to chose from, prices weren't cheap so I can't really justify buying lots of things to try. All the chocolates were stored on a regulated temperature fridge, very fancy indeed. I was approached by a sales assistant lady at first, can't say she was particularly friendly but okay and knowledgeable still. After pondering around the concession a few times, I've decided to try out the classic chocolate truffles:

 

 Simplistic and elegant packaging; the box quality is excellent, you can be sure your chocolate doesn't squash in transport from store to home.

£18 for a box of 15 truffles, £1.20 per truffle - it definitely isn't cheap. 

I, not being as fancy and doesn't have a regulated temperature fridge dedicated for chocolates at home, have just put them in my normal fridge. Before eating it, I do take it out and leave it in room temperature for a little while to make sure the chocolate taste doesn't get 'distorted'.

The taste; the chocolate are real smooth, I believe the outer shell is actually dark chocolate as it is a little bitter than I imagined, though very thin and still very smooth. The cocoa power is just the perfect ratio, an extremely thin layer yet fully covered. And the chocolate after taste lasted....forever.

This no doubts is one of the most pricey chocolate I had purchased before. I'm not too sure if I'm loving the bitterness on the shell though, it is just to the point where it is a touch sour for my liking (i guess I'm just very used to my low cost sugary and milky chocolates) which a little shame...

Authentic French Baguette [Homemade]

Ever since munchasaurus pi been to France, I have totally fallen in love with authentic baguettes.

Living in UK, most baguette are crispy in the middle and very soft in the middle, and that's how I always thought how a baguette should be. After visiting France, baguette to me now has totally changed - they should be much more chewy and crispy on the outside while in the middle it's not flakey soft, but chewy soft!

I love French baguette, my only problem was I can't actually find them in the UK (Or at least outside London)... I can't afford to go to London every weekend let alone going to France. I've been missing them so very much until I came across this *amazing*, simple recipe from foodwishes.com - I can't be more thankful to those guys; my French grumpasaurus adores me so much everytime I make French baguettes now (he even said it's the best bread he tasted in uk.. slightly bias I think) hehe

The receipt is as below, the link to the original recipe page even have a step-by-step video:

For 4 smaller or 2 large baguette:

1/4 tsp dry active yeast (I used Fleischmann's Rapid Rise Yeast)

(Note: if you want to use a traditional bread technique, add the whole package of yeast (2 1/4 tsp) and proceed as usual)

1 1/2 cups water (325 grams)

1 3/4 tsp salt

18 oz by weight all-purpose flour (500 grams), about 4 cups

- Mix dough and let rise 12-14 hours or until doubled

- Punch down and shape loaves, let rise covered with floured plastic 1 to 1 1/2 hr or until almost doubled

- Bake at 550 F. about 15 minutes or until well-browned

- Spray with water before baking, at 5 minutes, and at 10 minutes during cooking time

http://foodwishes.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/perfect-french-baguette-at-home-only.html?m=1

Good luck baking all munchaurus, wishing yummy baguettes can be tasted by each and every!! 

So, sweet potato crisps?

Was on my lunch break and look what I've found in Marks & Spencer -  Purple & Orange Sweet Potato Crisps.
 

 

We have all tried normal potatoes crisps, some of us adventurous lot might have also tried vegetable crisps (which just on the note, munchaurus pi, I, do not enjoy very much...)

The idea of sweet potatoes does ponder me, for 80p, I got to give it a go.

I normally find orange sweet potatoes quite sweet and I don't like it very much in mash form, so what about salted crisp form? Also I do wonder what purple sweet potatoes taste like, I guess like most others in UK, Munchaurus Pi had never eaten purple sweet potatoes as their don't really exist in UK supermarket, or at least the local ones.

After giving it a tasting session, I decided I like purple sweet potatoes, it's not sweet like the orange potatoes and it has a nice potatoey after taste. And the orange sweet potatoes? It's just, again, too sweet for my liking...

Summary: Probably won't have it again as I don't really like the orange sweet potatoes (which is half of the pack). But if M&S decides to come out with purple sweet potato solo then I'll totally dig it!

Oyatsu Box

Lets change the topic for a little today because I've received a very exciting gift from my friend as a birthday surprise - An Oyatsu box.

 

 This is all a recent new concept to me, a monthly subscription service of a small range of Japanese snacks that is only sold in Japan delivered to your doorstep… sounds brilliant! why didn't i think of it before? So happy that my friend told me she got me this for 2 months. 

Day 4 in Hong Kong

A typical Hong Kong outdoor food market... quite a stinky place really...

Day 3 in Hong Kong

Hi everyone~~ yes, i know i haven't been updating, again.. So day 3...

Day 2 in Hong Kong

As promised my munchasaurus friends, now Munchasurus Pi is back to daily track, I can update the holiday adventure again - 2nd day in Hong Kong...

O.M.G

I don't believe it... got back from my epic holiday not that long ago, and my house have got broken in the other day!
Sorry my Munchasaurus friends, it's just taken me a little while to get back to the normal daily life again and I  promise will continue with my holiday adventure soon!

Day 1 in Hong Kong

Sorry all munchasaurus, it has been a while but I am finally back and settled from my Asia travels, which means do expect a lot of my coming up posts being based on my travels experience and hopefully you'll enjoy them ;)

Sorry!!

I'm really sorry munchasaurus Pi haven't been updating lately!

Just been on holiday and too busy munching away in Asia as all you munchasaurus can appreciate I'm sure

I'm back to UK now and will update shortly... Watch this space~

Byron Hamburgers [UK, Milton Keynes]

Munchasaurus Pi have been trying to be really good with money lately so you can see I haven't been very active with her munchasurus journey (a little heads up - I'm saving for an epic munch journey in the East so remember to watch this space). But Byron hamburgers just opened up like 5 minutes from where i live.. how can I resist the temptation?

Crepe Day [Home DIY]

Good day all Munchasaurus!
How did time fly by? it's already mid March and Pancake Day already passed a little while ago, hope every ate plenty of pancakes? Munchasaurus Pi had Crepe (french pancakes) instead, thought I'll add a bit of culture in the mix :)

Akaska [UK, Milton Keynes]

You might be wondering if Munchasaurus Pi is talking about yet another Japanese restaurant; the simple answer is yes, I am.

Where I live, there's never been any Japanese restaurant around, and Japanese is my number one all time favourite cuisine sadly. One of my Munchasaurus friend have told me about a new Japanese place next to my work, how can resist I not try it out right?

It's not Romantic but it's Steak! [Home DIY]

So Valentine's day have just went by, some of you might love the day like Munchasaurus Pi, or hate the day like my Grumpasaurus. Either way, I hope you all had a lovely day.

To Munchasaurus Pi, Valentine's Day might be a hallmark holiday but I love the concept of a day of celebration with the loved ones, not merely your partner, but you family, friends, pets and whoever you love.

Chinese Sponge/Cream Cake with Fruits [Home DIY]

Hello all munchasaurus! It's taken Pi a little longer than most people to get back to daily routine after Christmas! (and can you believe it, it's already Feb!!)

Last month was my grumpasaurus' birthday, to make it a little extra special, munchasaurus pi decided to roll her sleeves up and make a birthday cake. Grumpasaurus isn't a big fan of sweet stuff but one cake he does like is a chinese sponge/cream cake with lots of yummy fruits!