Monday, March 21, 2011

Egg-citing Hotel Chocolat Competition

Milk Chocolate Easter Eggsposé

It has to be said that I am partial to a bit of chocolate.
I'm a bit funny about chocolate though. Quite particular. Until very recently, I have to confess that I was a 'cheap chocolate' sort of a girl. I was unimpressed by rich truffles. I eshewed Equador's best dark chocolate. All I was really interested in was overly-sweet milk chocolate. At Christmas, the rest of the family would indulge in sophisticated Bittermints and luxurious Belgian truffles. I would bring my own box of Milk Tray and happily scoff the lot (...with the exception of the Turkish Delight - one has one's limits).

I'm still more than happy with a bar of something cheap and cheerful but, in recent years, I've been persuaded to branch out. I've been seduced by pralines, salted caramels, guianduja and velvety ganaches. I attribute this change of heart entirely to the arrival of Hotel Chocolat on some of the more upmaket high-streets of our nation. Whilst their mail-order and internet service is absolutely first-class, there is nothing to beat actually visiting a store 'in the flesh'. It is a true chocolate emporium with treats to please everyone. There are wonderful slabs of chocolate studded with caramel and cookie pieces, little bags of truffles in every flavour under the sun, gorgeous gift boxes and intriguing cocoa-based ingredients (including chocolate pasta). It really is heaven for chocoholics and I defy you to come out without clutching a little something.

What I particularly love about Hotel Chocolat is that their products are fun. Many have a touch of whimsy about them and this really sets them apart from their competitors. I've been lucky to receive a host of Hotel Chocolat presents recently from visiting friends and also from my lovely husband on Valentine's Day. We've really enjoyed sampling the imaginative offerings in the Sleekster boxes which make a great gift as they will fit through a letterbox!

Anyway, just as we were fighting over the last Caramel Sweetheart, what should arrive but a lovely Easter Egg sent from Hotel Chocolat for me to review. Hurrah! As you would expect, Hotel Chocolat have the most fantastic selection of Easter Gifts at all prices and to suit all ages and tastes. I was sent the Milk Chocolate Easter Egg Eggsposé - a deliciously extra thick milk chocolate half-egg shell filled with delicious mini praline-filled eggies. I was already a fan of the variety of filled mini eggs having given my husband a selection box last year for Easter. I them promptly insisting on sampling at least one of each flavour and particularly liked the pralines. Not only are these mini eggs far prettier than your average, they really deliver on deliciousness too. So I certainly enjoyed the lovely mini eggs. But the actual egg? Now that was very exciting. It was much thicker than a 'normal' Easter Egg and, as such, much more satisfying for the die-hard chocoholic that I am. A delicious thick and creamy 40% milk chocolate - not too sweet, I'd say this is definitely a grown-up Easter Egg.

Wonderfully thick Easter Egg shell

Would you like to win a Hotel Chocolat Eater Egg?

It didn't take us long to polish off this delicious egg (which also comes in a dark chocolate and white chocolate version). The great news is that Hotel Chocolat have kindly provided me with another egg to give away to one of my lucky readers. You could give this egg away to a loved one this Easter, but I suggest you sit back one afternoon with a nice cup of tea and devour the lot yourself (....but you probably shouldn't listen to me!).

To enter the competition:

All you have to do to win this competition is take a look at the Hotel Chocolat website and leave a comment to let me know what Easter gift you would most like to receive this Easter.

For a 'bonus' entry, please follow Hotel Chocolat and Foodglorifood on Twitter and then comment below to let me know you have done so.

Anyone in the UK can enter, bloggers and non-bloggers alike. If you are a non-blogger, please leave details of how I can contact you should you win!

Deadline for entries is midnight on Sunday, 3rd April.

The nitty gritty (dull, but important):

-Regretfully, this competition is only open to those with a UK address.
-Winner will be selected at random.
-Prize cannot be substituted.
-Deadline for entries is Midnight, Sunday 3rd April.

44 comments:

happyfox said...

How dare you send me off looking at chocolate before breakfast :) Love your review - I can almost taste those praline eggs. They're my favourite too, but I've always coveted the Plain Chocolate Ostrich Egg from Hotel Chocolat. If anyone's listening....

Diana
@happyfox

happyfox said...

Following you on Twitter.

Diana
@happyfox

happyfox said...

Already following Hotel Chocolat on Twitter.

Diana
@happyfox

KT said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
KT said...

definitely the little quail eggs, they look so cute and so tasty x

Caroline said...

I would love a milk chocolate ostrich egg

Caroline said...

Following Hotel Chocolat on Twitter
@missgingercat

Caroline said...

Following you on Twitter @missgingercat

Choclette said...

Being a greedy sort of person, I would just love the Ostrich egg - it might actually last me a while!

Choclette said...

Following Hotel Chocolat

Choclette said...

Just about to follow you on Twitter

@Choclette8

Tess said...

I had a rocky road to caramel one last year (bought after easter in the sale!) and I thought I had died and gone to heaven! I would definitely pick that one again.

Tess x
bugget_007@hotmail.com

Anonymous said...

I would love to receive the Essential Easter Egg Collection as it has the best selection of Easter goodies that all look absolutely delicious!

Charlotte
@stickyt_pud

Anonymous said...

I am already following Hotel Chocolat on twitter

Charlotte
@stickyt_pud

Anonymous said...

Following you on twitter.

Charlotte
@stickyt_pud

Katy W said...

I would love the cute eggs and soldiers, they prove top quality chocolate can have a sense of fun too :) (Anything with their caramel chocolate would be a close second, oh my...)

I'm now following both you and HC on Twitter (@ermintrude75)

Corina said...

I'd love to win the ostrich egg!

Corina said...

I'm following you and Hotel Chocolat on Twitter
@Corinathecook

Claire said...

The ostrich eggs look awesome! Also really fancying the rocky road to caramel egg.....decisions decisions....

Twitter follow done!

Simon said...

The Ostrich Egg is the best (and, more importantly, it looks like the biggest!). :o)

Simon.

Simon said...

Following both yourself and Hotel Chocolat on Twitter.

Thanks for the comp!

Simon.

Unknown said...

I would love a milk chocolate ostrich egg, reminds me of a replica ostrich egg my auntie use to have, was in owe of it when i was a wee nipper!!

Don't have a twitter, but would love to be entered.

Great prize, thank you for the opportunity!

Caroline said...

I would love a milk chocolate ostrich egg .

Caroline said...

Following Hotel Chocolat on Twitter
@missgingercat

Caroline said...

Following you on Twitter @missgingercat

Caroline said...

I would love a milk chocolate ostrich egg .

Jo Y said...

I love the look of Hotel Chocolat's Egg and Solidiers :)

Jo Y said...

I follow Hotel Chocolat on Twitter - @Boostieboo

Jo Y said...

I'm now following you on Twitter :)
@BoostieBoo

Unknown said...

I would love to win the milk chocolate ostrich egg! I'd like to think I'd still be eating it at Christmas...but would be fooling noone!

lorna.peppiatt said...

Absolutely loved your review, big fan of Hotel Chocolat, my favourite to receive would be huge Ostrich Egg http://www.hotelchocolat.co.uk/Big-Easter-Egg-P300175/ @ellielucky

lorna.peppiatt said...

Already an eager follower of Hotel Chocolat and now following Foodglorifood too @ellielucky

hoopie said...

mmmm chocolate

i would love someone to buy an ostrich egg for me - they look devine

@claireishoop

hoopie said...

i am following you both on twitter

@claireishoop

thanks for running this comp:)

Nic said...

I would probably buy the Ostrich Egg if I had a spare £65 floating around, lol!

I follow you, and also Hotel Chocolate.

Sonia said...

Oh oh oh!! I need chocolate after visiting!! LOL I would really really love the You crack me up egg! SO much fun :O)

@mummy_loves xx

Sonia said...

I now follow you both on twitter - looking forward to tweting with you x

@mummy_loves

josie301 said...

would love to receive The Essential Easter Collection looks fabulous! x

josie301 said...

I follow you on twitter @josie301
x

josie301 said...

I follow Hotel Chocolat @josie301
x

mummy24 said...

i love the look of the You Crack Me Up Extra Thick Egg.

i follow hotel chocolat on twitter

my twitter id is @ashlallan

gingram said...

very naughty! i would love the easter eggspose! and whats wrong with Turkish Delight??!!!
we'd also like a lovely country house for easter but i dont' suppose they have one of those on hotel chocolat xx

emsiecov said...

Who wouldn't want the Plain Chocolate Ostrich Egg from Hotel Chocolat? It looks so delicious and decadent. I'd hide under the stairs to eat it so no-one could pinch a bit. :)
Happy Easter everyone!
@emma1111111

emsiecov said...

For a 'bonus' entry I also follow
Hotel Chocolat and Foodglorifood on Twitter.
@emma1111111