School For Chocoholics

Karens Birthday Treat with the Girls from the gym!

2011-09-16T11:22:00.000-07:00

Last night after work Karen was brought to our workshop in Congresbury for her Girlie B Day suprise treat with all her friends from the gym! A little extra few minutes worksout today please girls! Sorry the eat as much as you like policy is public knowledge.........
See what they created!

Pop up Chocolate School at Bristol Zoo

2011-09-13T14:49:00.000-07:00

We are excitedly preparing for our Pop Up chocolate school that will be happening at Bristol Zoo and Gardens on Saturday and Sunday. Fabulous zoo animal moulds are being unpacked and prepared for making some samples. I think we'll start with a blue crodile and a union jack gorilla! Because we can do what we like!!
Photos to follow............

1ST WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

2011-08-20T10:34:00.000-07:00

Love was in the air this morning when romantic James brought wife Katie as a surprise 1st Wedding Anniversary treat to The Chocolate Tart. Whist reminiscing about their big day a year ago they made a superb collection of chocolates and will no doubt spend the rest of the day snuggled up somewhere romantic eating their hard work! Will their family get to try any? I somehow doubt it !! So here's the photographic proof that they did indeed make some fabulous handmade creations.

Medical Hens !

2011-05-03T09:17:00.000-07:00

All of us (doctors, physios and pharmacists) had a wonderful time on Sunday morning making chocolate hens/dogs/cats, truffles, and knackali. We loved the fact we could eat as much chocolate as we liked along the way too! You and your team were fanastic teachers, very relaxed and easy going. Being able to package it beautifully too was excellent as I was able to give one of mine away as a gift for my Granny's 90th birthday - she was very impressed! Thanks again and I would love to come back to do another class - I've already recommended it to my sister!
Jo Grogono (Chief Hen)

Home for Easter

2011-04-22T14:28:00.000-07:00

When Emma flew into Bristol Airport at 8 o clock this morning on the Newcastle flight , little did she know that Mum Caroline had a arranged to treat her and sister Kat to a two hour Easter chocolate workshop. Granny and the girls boyfriends are in for a fabulous surprise on Easter
Day !
Check out Carolines helium balloon business based locally www.allgassedup.co.uk she is an expert on wedding and special celebration balloon displays.

Sweet Sixteen !

2011-04-22T14:11:00.001-07:00

What better way to celebrate your 16th birthday than with Lisa at the Chocolate Tart and what a great compliment to Lisa that Lilah came all the way from Israel to join her Bristol based father for her birthday treat on Wednesday ! What could top that? Well Lilah was joined by her Grandmother Judith who had flown in from New Zealand!

The Jades

2011-04-18T01:52:00.001-07:00

Wd had the pleasure of best friends Jade and Jade in our Easter class last week. They both decided to create Easter dogs rather than Easter chickens or eggs and we think their creations are fabulous ! The dogs are called Aqua and Aqua and the girls have no immediate plans to eat them !

10 French Hens !

2011-04-16T11:13:00.000-07:00

We have had a flurry of feathered friends here in our chocolate workshops today. Thirty three hens in total ! We started our day with Sarah and her French styled friends ( she's a French teacher !!)who created some beautiful chocolate hens, truffles and knackali. Then along came Jenny ( and more teachers!) with her lovely hens all wearing floral head gear and finally Clare and her gorgeous hens. We wish all our Brides a lovely Wedding Day and thanks so much for coming and entertaining us !

This is Your Kingdom

2011-04-04T10:45:00.000-07:00

I found a fabulous website today called This is Your Kingdom. You must ALL check it out ! They will tell you all about what is happening in your home county or where ever you go on holiday. They are running a wonderful competition for anyone who wants to write about their favourite activity in their 'own kingdom' and the winner gets to go and stay at Fforest, which is famous for 'Glamping' - That's 'glamorous camping' for those of you not 'up to the minute' with the lingo !! go to www.thisisyourkingdom.co.uk/competition.php Good luck everyone x

Mothers Day and Easter

2011-04-03T13:43:00.000-07:00

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY !

One lucky chap is going to be thrilled with his Portmouth

themed Easter egg lovingly made by his wife Nicola this weekend!

We had scores of chocolate makers this weekend making delicious treats for their Mothers, so Happy Chocolatey Mothering Sunday to all you lucky Mothers who received freshly made chocolates on your breakfast tray this morning !

2011-04-03T13:30:00.000-07:00

Getting into the Royal Wedding mood !

2011-03-15T06:04:00.000-07:00

Look what we made today !
Do you think Kate and Wills would like this as a
wedding present? Come and make your own!

Mothers Day - be prepared !!

2011-03-02T11:59:00.001-08:00

Why not come and make handmade chocolates for your Mother, Grandmother, Aunt, next door neighbour or if you are a Mother for yourself !!
We are holding classes on Friday 1st April 6-9pm with wine and soft drinks included and alsoSaturday 9th April 5-6.30pm.
What a wonderful way to show your Mother you love her than by giving her a selection of handmade chocolates made by you and packaged with love by you !

Calling all Romantics !!

2011-01-27T13:03:00.000-08:00

PRESS RELEASE

27^th January 2011

Love is in the chocolate – an opportunity for the MOST Romantic Valentine !

A unique opportunity to propose in the most romantic, memorable fashion is being offered by The Chocolate Tart, the well renowned Congresbury Chocolate School.

Romantics have the chance to design, create and package their very own chocolate heart sealing inside a ring or a love note by sending an email to

info@thechocolatetart.co.uk explain in no more than 100 words why you deserve this romantic opportunity to melt the heart of your chocolate lover !

Lisa Clarke, owner of The Chocolate Tart, commented; ‘Men and women of all ages love learning how to make beautiful chocolates and what more romantic way to express your feelings than to personally craft your own chocolate gift. I want to give one lucky person the chance to create the ultimate Valentine’s present.

The winner will be announced on 11^th February when a date and time will be agreed for the winner to make their chocolate heart ready for Valentines Day.

2011-01-13T02:20:00.000-08:00

Our amazing Chocolate Valentine Workshops are now available ! Come and make a beautiful chocolate heart, personalise it with coloured cocoa butter to wow your loved one or just give yourself a valentine treat. Buy a voucher for an unusual Valentine gift.
Call 01934 876849 to book and purchase vouchers

Waitrose News

2011-01-12T13:01:00.000-08:00

We had a packed workshop on Sunday thanks to the Waitrose News ''whats on in your area'' coverage in this weeks Waitrose News. Check out our dates page for availability on our wide selection of fabulous chocolate making classes. No experience at all needed !

2011-01-07T11:08:00.000-08:00

In October I met Marco Pierre White and made him some chocolates using one of Willie Harcourt Coozes dark bars with a delicious passion fruit flavour note. When you come to a class I'll show you his favourite !

In November we took delivery of these fab
Christmas moulds and for the first time we ran 2 hour Christmas classes. Making the dream to be one of Santas elves a reality for so many of our clients ! Talk about making the Office Christmas Party a memorable one ! And not a single slice of turkey in sight !
Come December and the snow we made white chocolate snowmen and started enrobing our Balvenie whisky truffles in white chocolate to give our little snowmen an accessory ! Packaged in pvc sticks we had created our very first Chocolate crackers which looked fabulous on the tree or the Christmas table. Book early next year to avoid disappointment !

2011 starts with our brand new Retro 3 hour course which will excite our regulars with a new workshop and watch out for our new moulds coming in over the next few months !

2010-08-26T08:03:00.000-07:00

Chocolate at Chepstow Races!

What fun we had yesterday at Chepstow Racecourse presenting a chocolate and beer matching tutored tasting and a one hour hands on chocolate class. Admiral Car Insurance, Swansea did their customer service team proud with their choice of day out !

The Bristol Beer Factories Milk Stout and Valrhonas Jivara 40% milk was the star match of the morning and thanks to Chepstow Racecourse in house events team for the tea and bacon sarnies !

2010-07-10T11:49:00.000-07:00

DESIGNERS FROM NESTLE

Last week we had a fantasically fun workshop with a selection of the Nestle design team from Epoch, Bristol.

Their finished products were immaculately presented, very elegant packaging choices, stunning. Thanks for coming and inspiring me guys - especially Janes hen. I will be copying I'm afraid !

2010-07-10T11:45:00.000-07:00

CHOCOLATE VETS !

We were delighted to have Steve Tasker from Watkins and Tasker and his team of vets and vetinary nurses come to one of our chocolate animal workshops.

They made a selection of anatomically perfect cats, dogs and hens ! Brilliant !

NEW MOULDS !!

2010-06-19T05:46:00.000-07:00

Fresh in today, we now have beautiful hen moulds ! What a great idea to bring a 'Hen' on her Hen Day to make a chocolate hen !!

The Chocolate Tart gets into P.R !!

2010-06-15T04:55:00.000-07:00

I had a very exciting meeting yesterday with Karen Morledge of Plum Communications and PR. Karen is going to be looking after my advertising and marketing strategy from September.

I can't wait !

www.plum-communications.co.uk

2010-05-31T13:35:00.001-07:00

Thanks to Fran Baker and all her Hens for entertaining me on Saturday - great chocolate cats and dogs girls, what a great teacher I am !! Have a fabulous wedding day Fran, enjoy munching your way through all that chocolate. The Chocolate Tart x

Chocolate Brownie with white chocolate and cranberries

2010-05-21T05:06:00.000-07:00

I just made the most amazing chocolate brownie, here's the recipe........

250 g dark chocolate

250g butter

Melt together in micorwave

4 eggs

300g caster sugar

Whisk with hand whisk until ribbon stage

Add melted choc and butter to the egg mixture, fold in 150g plain flour - add a handful of white chocolate drops and dried cranberries if you like !

and cook on 160c for about 18 minutes. It must be unset in the middle. Leave to cool before cutting and eat with a large cup of Amedei hot chocolate !!

Delish x

The Chocolate Tart - never be faithful to one bar of chocolate !!

2010-05-19T04:39:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my blog. A place for chocoholics to hang out !

I am Lisa Clarke, my chocolate school is called The Chocolate Tart. We are here in Congresbury near to Bristol (and the M5) in a beautiful converted barn kitchen offering chocolate making classes to the general public.

Come and make fresh cream truffles, moulded fondants and many more goodies.

Check out our website thechocolatetart.co.uk for available dates or call us up on 01934 876881 and make your own date.