Previous
It’s piece of – chocolate! – cake for newly-weds
Added: (Mon Jul 11 2005)
Skipton chocolatier Robert Walker has teamed up with a living legend in the trade to launch a new range of hand-sculptured chocolate wedding cakes.
Robert, who runs Walkers Exclusive Chocolates in the town’s Water Street, has joined forces with John Costello, from Bury, and is now selling the cakes - including a number of new and unique creations – through his recently opened second chocolate shop in Newmarket Street, Skipton.
John, 30, like Robert a baker by trade, has been working with chocolate for the past 12 years, having developed his skills in both Belgium and Switzerland, the world’s recognised chocolate-making capitals.
Two years ago, John won a bronze award for a chocolate sculpture of a Hawaiian dancer at the industry-leading Hotel Olympia Exhibition in London. He has also passed on his chocolate skills to catering students as a tutor at Southbank University in London and now teaches privately throughout the UK on the art of making chocolate wedding cakes.
“It’s surprising just how many cake decorators don’t have the necessary chocolate skills,” notes John, who has produced a two-and-a-half hour DVD – “The Artistry of Chocolate,” demonstrating just how to craft chocolate wedding cakes and small chocolate items. It is now available at Walkers’ two chocolate shops.
Robert, 34, from Carleton, comments: “We feel confident that we are filling a market niche with our new range of chocolate wedding cakes. In fact, the table has turned and interest is growing all the time. There’s now a 60:40 split in demand for chocolate cakes in comparison to traditional wedding cakes. Anything that can be done in sugar paste can also be done in chocolate.
“In addition, the cakes can prove cost-effective by doubling up to replace desserts at wedding receptions. They have a chocolate sponge interior, with chocolate ganache layers – the whole coated in pure chocolate, with all decorations in chocolate too.”
Walkers Exclusive Chocolate Wedding Cakes are priced from £90 and examples are on display at the Newmarket Street shop in Skipton.
ENDS
Pic caption: Chocolatiers Robert Walker, right, and John Costello are pictured with a selection of the new range of exclusive chocolate wedding cakes.
PICS AVAILABLE ON REQUEST FROM BELOW
For further info, contact Robin Moule, Moule Media, on 01756-794027, mobile 07976-559961, e-mail: robin@moulemedia.com
Robert Walker can be contacted on 01756-791494.