Win a set of Chocolate Gift Cards #competition

*** THIS COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED *** 

It's competition time again!

To celebrate the launch of our new & unique chocolate greetings cards we are offering you the chance to win a set of all 8 cards (worth £11.95).

The cards are perfect for anyone who loves chocolate as each design incorporates a different chocolate message or saying. All the cards have been designed together with one of our regular customers (Hello Caroline! :-) & all are now on sale online & in store.

The competition is open to anybody who follows us on Twitter (http://twitter.com/#!/welovechocolate), & the prize is a set of our new chocolate gift cards (worth £11.95) which will be delivered to you anywhere in the UK.

You can view all our new card designs here http://www.chocolate-cafe.co.uk/gift-cards/

To enter the competition simply follow us on twitter (so we can tell you if you have won) & tweet or retweet this post. If you do not have a twitter account yet it is really quick & easy to set one up here http://twitter.com/

 The competition is open to UK residents only and will close at noon on Friday 3rd June 2011.

 A winner will be selected at random and notified by direct message on twitter (please make sure you are following us so we can let you know if you have won!).

 Good luck!

Do you like to work with chocolate? The Chocolate Café is searching for its new apprentice

Job Vacancy
 
We currently have a full time vacancy for an enthusiastic school/college leaver to complete a modern apprenticeship at The Chocolate Cafe in Ramsbottom. The position is supported by Bury College and you will have the opportunity to work towards an NVQ qualification in your choice of either food preparation, food service, retail sales or team leading/management. This is a full time paid position for either 1 or 2 years with a view to the applicant developing a successful career in the chocolate/retail or hospitality industry.
 
No previous experience is necessary but applicants must be punctual, reliable, well presented & love great service & lots of chocolate!
 
To apply please email your CV to manager@chocolate-cafe.co.uk

The Chocolate Café Wins Silver at the Academy of Chocolate Awards

We won a Silver at the 2011 Academy of Chocolate Awards!
 
I can hardly believe it but our 'House Truffle- Milk' has been awarded a Silver Medal at the very prestigious Academy of Chocolate Awards.
 
We only decided to enter at the last minute and I owe it to several of our followers on twitter for encouraging us to 'give it a go'.
 
Set up in 2005 to promote the eating of fine chocolate, the Academy of Chocolate has the renowned chef and restaurateur Michael Roux OBE as its patron. The annual Academy of Chocolate awards are the most prestigious in the chocolate industry, attracting entries from chocolate makers and chocolatiers from all over the world. In previous years the awards have been dominated by London based chocolatiers such as William Curley & Paul a Young, & international chocolate companies such as Amedei & Valrhona.
 
This year the net seemed to be cast a little wider and the general impression in the industry was that the Academy were trying to attract more diverse entries while still being true to their aims of promoting real chocolate over chocolate confectionery.
 
We entered 4 categories in total (2 chocolate products & 2 packaging) & while our 'House Truffle- Dark' & our packaging entries were not placed our 'House Truffle - Milk' was awarded a Silver, behind Gold winner - William Curley (for whom I have enormous respect).
 
Our winning milk chocolate truffle is created using a single origin chocolate from Indonesia, a single origin cocoa powder form Tanzania and fresh local cream from Kenyons Dairy in Summerseat, Bury. The truffles are made on site in Ramsbottom and due to their short shelf life they are only created for busy trading periods or for special orders.
 
There was several other first time winners and its good to see so many quality independent chocolate businesses being represented. You can view the full Academy of Chocolate Award results here: http://www.academyofchocolate.org.uk/academy/Awards/2011.html
 
A huge thanks to everyone who has supported us & taken time to share their knowledge of chocolate (you all know who you are!)
 
This has capped of a terrific week for us after a tremendously successful Ramsbottom Chocolate Festival over the weekend. An estimated 27,000 people visited the festival and you can read all about the festival here http://www.aboutmyarea.co.uk/Lancashire/Bury/BL0/News/Local-News/193826-Love-Ramsbottom-Love-Chocolate-Love-Ramsbottom-Chocolate-Festival
 

Win a pair of tickets to The Worlds Biggest Chocolate Tasting! #competition

With this years Ramsbottom Chocolate Festival only 4 days away we thought we would offer you the chance to win a pair of tickets to the opening event - The Worlds Biggest Chocolate Tasting!
 
The competition is open to anybody who follows us on Twitter, & the prize is a pair of tickets to the tasting event on the 15th April 2011 (worth £30). You must be able to make your own way to & from Ramsbottom as no travel or accommodation is included.

To enter the competition simply follow us on twitter (so we can tell you if you have won) & tweet or retweet this post.

The competition is open to UK residents only and will close at noon on Friday 15th April 2011.

About the evening:

The tasting is taking place on Friday 15th April at The Chocolate Café, Ramsbottom from 7.30pm - 10.00pm 

During the evening you will be tasting chocolate from every major cocoa producing country in the world, as well as sampling unusual flavoured chocolates & learning about the process of growing cocoa & making chocolate.

Throughout the evening, John Costello - the current UK Chocolate Master - will be displaying elements of his award winning chocolate showpiece. John will also be selling a very special range of truffles & asking for your feedback ahead of his appearance at the World Chocolate Masters in Paris.
 
Complimentary canapes & a glass of wine or fruit juice will be served on arrival. A range of soft drinks & alcoholic drinks (including chocolate beer & chocolate wine) will be available to purchase throughout the evening.
 
 
To keep up to date with the 2011 Ramsbottom Chocolate Festival on twitter use hashtag #chocfest11
 
To purchase tickets you can call us on 01706 822828
 

Ramsbottom becomes Ramsderriere

Finally our beautiful town of Ramsbottom is to be the butt of jokes no more!
 
At last nights extraordinary business meeting the motion to change the towns name was passed by a majority vote.
 
With immediate effect the town of Ramsbottom will now be known as Ramsderriere.
 
The vote was extremely tense and although we were never 100% confident that the motion would be passed we were very hopeful. The name change was originally suggested back in 2007 but it has taken over 4 years to convince people that the humorous 'Ramsbottom' name was holding the town back.
 
It is not yet clear whether our neighbouring village of Upper Ramsbottom will follow suit. This decision rests with the parish council which are due to meet next week to discuss their options.
 
People can learn more about the name change at www.ramsderriereonline.com or by following hashtag #ramsderriere on twitter
 

Chocolate Happy Hour!

If you've been working hard all week then celebrate POETS DAY (P*** Off Early Tomorrow's Saturday) & start the weekend in style with our Chocolate Happy Hour.
 
During March & April 2011 you can join us every Friday at The Chocolate Cafe in Ramsbottom from 3.00pm - 4.00pm & enjoy 2-for-1 on all the following drinks:
  • Meantime Chocolate Beer (6.5% abv)
  • Chocolate Cafe Real Drinking Chocolate - all 8 flavours!
  • Our Boozy Hot Chocolates (with your choice of Baileys, Amaretto or Grand Marnier)
  • Zotter Drinking Chocolate - all 5 varieties
  • Teapigs Chocolate Flake Tea
  • House Red & White Wine by the glass

You will also receive complementary chocolate nibbles to enjoy with your drink. There is no need to book, just leave work early and come along!

You can check out the full menu here http://www.chocolate-cafe.co.uk/2011.pdf
 
#chocolatehappyhour

Ramsbottom Chocolate Festival 2011

Just four weeks to go until the 2011 Ramsbottom Chocolate Festival which this year takes place on the weekend of the 16th/17th April.
 
The festival will be the biggest we have ever organised and is now the premier chocolate festival in the UK, and one of the largest family orientated food festivals in Europe!
 
Throughout the festival weekend over 30,000 people will visit the town of Ramsbottom to shop, eat, taste, make and learn all about the wonderful world of chocolate.
 
The festival brochures are now available from various venues in and around Ramsbottom including The Chocolate Cafe. You can also the new 2011 Ramsbottom Chocolate Festival website here: http://bit.ly/haMNhB
 
To check out previous years festivals visit http://bit.ly/4Kpz5K
 
The festival kicks off with the 'World Biggest Ever Chocolate Tasting' at The Chocolate Cafe on the Friday evening. For details of how to be involoved visit http://www.chocolate-cafe.co.uk/events/
 
You can also follow the festival on twitter using hashtag: #chocfest11 or on facebook here: http://on.fb.me/glrdU4