Local events and openings to whet your appetite
Discover French wines
Cambridge Cookery School is having a wine and food tasting on 14 February, 7.30-10pm, focusing on the Languedoc-Roussillon region of southern France, and finishing off with a light-hearted quiz. Tickets are £50pp.
“As we’ve chosen 14 February for this event, we thought wines from this blisteringly hot part of France would be just the ticket,” says Cambridge Cookery School director Tine Roche. “The region is also home to the little-known vin doux naturel, which is a fortified wine made in a similar fashion to port, and definitely an acquaintance worth making if you’re not familiar with it.”
Market House, on Cambridge market square, is also planning a tasting event on 26 February at 7pm, for £105pp. Special guest Andrew Bayley will guide diners through six exceptional wines from the prestigious Famille Perrin winery, paired with a five-course menu. Canapés will be offered on arrival, followed by sumptuous halibut, venison, artisan cheeses and a decadent dessert, each course matched with wines from Famille Perrin’s prestigious collection. Booking is advised.
Chocolate festival returns
The fourth annual Cambridge Chocolate Festival will take place on Saturday 15 February at the Debating Chamber of Cambridge Union Society, from 10am to 5pm; tickets cost £1. The event was founded in 2022 by artisan chocolatier Riadh Falvo of Bumble and Oak and workshop timetables will be posted on Instagram (@camchocofest). Confirmed events include tasting sessions that pair wine or cheese and chocolate, as well as an all-day, drop-in children’s workshop.
New Eddington Foodpark line-up
New for this year, there will be two pop-up foodie trucks every month at Eddington. With a line-up organised by Foodpark Cambridge (@foodpark_cam), the trucks will be parking up every second Wednesday and last Saturday of the month. It’s the perfect excuse to explore new flavours, hang out with friends and support local food trucks.
Foodpark is a collective of Cambridge-based street-food traders operating at regular lunchtime markets on weekdays and evenings throughout the year. The vendors trade all year at University of Cambridge’s West Cambridge Campus, Cambridge Science Park, Cambridge University Library, Eddington and the CB1 development at Cambridge Railway Station.
Participating traders are all independent owner-operated businesses with an emphasis on quality and carefully sourced ingredients, including Pizza Mondo, Buffalo Joe’s, Pimp My Fish, Steak & Honour and Nomadough. Find out more at foodparkcam.com/whos-trading
Top of the chocs
Cambridge’s chocolatiers are gearing up for Valentine’s Day, designing ever- more sophisticated treats for the city’s chocoholics. Grand Arcade’s Hotel Chocolat offers a mix of new confections and old favourites, many of them made at its Huntingdon premises, which has a factory outlet. “This year, we’re bringing back some well-loved recipes that are sure to make a romantic statement,” says spokesperson Courtney Rogers. “We’ve got The Nice Slice, Valentine’s Edition, which is the luxury version of a fridge cake, decorated with solid caramel milk chocolate love hearts. There’s also the Straight from the Heart box and Hotel Chocolat’s barista-grade drinking chocolate system, the Velvetiser.” Other gift ideas include the With Love Sleekster box.
Knoops on Green Street specialises in luxurious drinking chocolates paired with different flavour notes: spicy, herby, fruity or floral. Choose from a menu of dark, white or milk chocolate buttons to melt down, then add your own choice of flavourings, such as cardamom, chilli or ginger root – and marshmallows or whipped cream.
At Hill St on All Saints Passage, Paris-trained chocolatier Chris Smith and his brother Greg have come up with some exciting flavour options. “Our creations allow the flavour of the chocolate to come through without interference,” says Chris. “For example, the vibrancy of fresh lime juice invigorates a cushion of ganache, while masterful orange complements Earl Grey tea and ginger-and-lime marzipan pairs well with a green-tea ganache.”
Chocolat Chocolat, based in Hatley St George, south-west Cambridge, is another option for bespoke chocolate gift ideas. We love its colourful chocolate bouquets, made from four or five handmade chocolate sheets in dark, milk, white or caramel with natural extracts, sprinkled with nuts, fruits and spices – they’re a charming idea that’s delicious too.
February favourites
Luxury chocolate box
From £17.50/160g at hill.st
Smeg hot chocolate maker with ten tubes bundle,
£259 at knoops.co.uk
Small handmade chocolate bouquet,
£11.95/150g at chocolatchocolat.co.uk
With Love Sleekster box,
£29.95 at hotelchocolat.com
Chunky stuffed cookies,
£2.80 each at norfolkstbakery.co.uk
