The recent craft chocolate takeover at Canopy Market provided the perfect venue for the launch of the Cocoa Runners Craft Chocolate Book Club. For this collaboration with Cocoa Runners I am very excited to have teamed up with artist, writer and chocolate expert Cat Black to produce what will be a dream for lovers of literature and fine chocolate.
Though a series of recorded tastings and conversations, we will be presenting the joys and intrigue of a good read along with the sensory experience and fascinating stories behind some of the world’s finest chocolate.
Both book clubs and individuals can taste along with our recording and the Craft Chocolate Book Club box sets will be available to buy through Cocoa Runners.
The first pairing of the series explores the themes of repression and expression in life and chocolate.
The book chosen to launch the initiative is Matt Cain’s captivating and heart-warming latest novel, ‘The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle’.
Through a tasting of white and dark chocolate bars made with cocoa beans from countries where homosexuality is either illegal or a social taboo, or crafted to perfection with some unconventional flavour combinations, this first pairing of the series explores the themes of repression and expression in both life and chocolate.
It was a shared passion for literature and fine chocolate that brought me and Cat Black together.
…tasting, is a universal shared experience. It is a primary experience, deeply instinctive and involving all our senses. Somehow, placing this alongside a text, can allow us to wake up to certain thoughts and ideas.
“My primary purpose for doing this is a great desire to share wonderful books and fine chocolate” says Cat.
“Reading is one of my most precious life experiences. It starts in the head, in our thoughts, but it needs not to be a passive thing. We know that books can hold up a mirror and teach us things about ourselves, and they can also open doors and teach us about other people, other lived experiences. Eating, tasting, is a universal shared experience. It is a primary experience, deeply instinctive and involving all our senses. Somehow, placing this alongside a text, can allow us to wake up to certain thoughts and ideas. If nothing else it serves as a prompt, a conversation starter. And as far as I am concerned anything that gets us deepening our experience of reading, or tasting, is a good idea”.
The passion that Cat and Kathryn have for this concept is intoxicating.
Nick Saxby, from Cocoa Runners, explained why they are excited about this new endeavour: “The passion that Cat and Kathryn have for this concept is intoxicating. We are thrilled to be able to facilitate people’s discovery of this amazing relationship between craft chocolate and the written word”.
Cocoa Runners is a leading retailer, distributor, and platform for craft chocolate in the UK. Their role in the Craft Chocolate Book Clubs will be to host the video content; where Cat and Kathryn will share their thoughts, feelings and ideas about the pairings; and also deliver the logistics for club members to receive their chocolate.
“Our mission is to make sure that the amazing work of craft chocolate makers reaches the widest audience possible. Craft chocolate not only tastes better, but it’s better for farmers and the planet too. So we are always looking for opportunities to get this positive message to more people, and give them a positive experience along the way”.
For anyone curious who wishes to join the Craft Chocolate Book Club, they can sign up on the Cocoa Runners website.
