There’s No Place Like Home..

I’m writing this post in an Italian coffee shop, La Torretta, in Rochester High Street. I’m sipping an Americano and trying to resist the temptations displayed beautifully in the counter next to me. There’s a huge selection of delicious Italian treats to satisfy anyone’s appetite, and it’s worth noting too that their tomato and basil soup is, quite literally, to die for. Served with a little toasted ciabatta it feels crazily indulgent whilst simultaneously almost virtuous.

The high street is dotted with many an independent coffee shop or cafe, along with charity shops and quirky one-of-a-kind shops. Tourists visiting the historic castle and cathedral jingle in amongst locals who come to enjoy one of the handful of places in Medway to exude charm and tranquility.

On the third Sunday of every month Rochester has it’s very own farmers market. Being from here it’s probably the market I’m proudest to attend. From local meat, veg and fish to Kentish beers and ciders, preserves, sweet treats and cheese with a healthy dash of local crafts, it really is a great shopping experience. Oh and coincidentally it’s this Sunday…!

So get up this Sunday morning, get dressed, grab your shopping basket and make like a true ‘farmers market shopper’. Head down to Corporation Street Car Park and browse around. There’s live music this month too so get a coffee and something for breakfast, sit down and soak up the atmosphere for a while.

Avoid the supermarket rush and do your weekly shop with us!

See you there :)

Nic X

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From Humble Beginnings…

I have so much I could write about as a first ‘blog post’ but think most appropriately we should introduce ourselves and get to know each other a little better..! So here we go.

My name is Nic, or Nicola, and I am The Chocolate Hut. I’m a one man band operating with a lot of help from family and friends to bring tasty treats to the general kentish public! The Chocolate Hut started as a dream in late 2010 as I stood making delicious sweet and salty chocolate bars for Christmas presents and testing fudge and sweet recipes from the Christmas edition of Good Housekeeping (I was 25 but old before my time…). The recipe for the sweet and salty chocolate bars is adapted but still used every week now, and I still have that crumpled page from Good Housekeeping.

By May 2011 I’d completed all relevant paperwork, and the show was on the road with our first ever event, Sweeps Festival, Rochester 2011. Positioned right next to a bandstand filled with questionable but extremely loud talent and battling galeforce winds that whipped plates filled with delectable chocolates and treats straight off the table, that first weekend was a definite learning curve – it certainly couldn’t get any worse!

Regular farmers markets followed and the direction of the business changed week by week, as we followed trends and tried to work out a winning formula! In 2014 we have our very successful range of Granola Bars. There are 7 varieties ranging from the classic Mixed Berry (cranberries, sour cherries, blueberries and golden raisins) to our newest member of the gang, Salted Peanut. They are all finished with a base of dark Belgian chocolate. We’ve also just launched our range of gourmet brownies – inspired by America, made in the Garden of England… More on these guys another time. ;)

– the chocolate hut

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