Melt, Notting Hill, London

Wow wow wow wow wow. This place is a chocoholic nirvana. I don’t even conside myself the cocoa bean’s biggest fan, but if you don’t walk out of this shop having bought something then there’s something wrong with you.

Even just the smell of the place as go through the front door is incredible and the staff are so friendly and helpful that you’re bound to find something you like, whether it’s seasalt caramels, chilli chocolate or even white chocolate that puts Milky Bars well into the shade.

We organised a chocolate tasting for a few Qypers and they all had a great time, we were really well looked after and master chocolatier Keith is a top bloke.

Next time you get a chocolate craving give this place a try, you’ll love it.

If chic chocolate is on your craving list, this is the perfect venue. As soon as you enter, your senses are assaulted - in the most enticing way - by the warm, enveloping aroma of the dark stuff (mixed with complementary notes from the milk and the white).

If you’re lucky enough to be part of a Melt chocolate soirée, you’re in for a very special treat. You’ll be led into the pristine chocolate kitchen and welcomed warmly by chief chocolate guru, Keith. Then the talking and the tasting begins…

Starting with the white stuff (not really chocolate at all but rather a sweet concoction contrived from cocoa butter) through milk to the dark, culminating in the stunning ganache and truffles. The mango and passion fruit ganache was awesome, extraordinary, sumptuous and the scent so sweetly intense I was tempted to rub it on rather than eat it (I restrained myself though…).

It’s fascinating to learn of the provenance of the pod and its contents and to discover how national tastes vary and affect production. From sweet, creamy Swiss to more sophisticated French through blander Belgian, then on a virtual trip with Keith as he guides you through his recent cacao travels in Columbia.

When the talking and tasting wraps, you can complete your ‘fix’ by exploring the alluring array of in-house-goodies and make the tough choice of what to take away with you. Instead of aloof assistants, the hands-on experience continues and it’s up to you to serve yourself, on little trays, before your sweet selection is expertly wrapped in an elegant white box within a chocolate brown Melt bag.

A chocolate boutique and kitchen is the way Melt describes its chic and intoxicating shop in Notting Hill. I walked into Melt and immediately felt like doing a little dance. The aroma, the vast array of interesting and unique chocolates on offer, and the open kitchen where you can see the master chefs creating their heavenly delights… And speaking of heavenly, the hot chocolate I had was amazing and should not be missed. Pure liquid, rich, indulgent heaven.

I want to live here. I want to get fat and live in a chocolate shop.

Melt is amaaaaaaazing. It’s the best chocolate shop I’ve ever been in. I spend a lot of time in chocolate shops.I’m not addicted, I think the chocs are really pretty, but I don’t just have to look, I can eat them too. Brilliant.

Last night, a happy group of Qypers toddled off to taste lots of chocs and watch them make tasty treats. I’ve never seen a group of people so excited and mesmerised by melting chocolate.

And rightly so. Melt’s chocolate is the best I’ve ever eaten. I’ve eaten a lot of it since I won the raffle at the Qype party! Yay! So instead of buying chocolate this time I picked up some caramels which is even yummier. I’ve eaten it all this morning…

The shop itself is very ‘Notting Hill’ - all whitewashed walls and prettiness. Usually I avoid this part of town, but the staff here are so lovely and they really care about what they do. That added with great chocolatey treats is worth the trip across town. I’ll be back. Maybe even this afternoon to buy more peanut caramel.

Wow.

Melt isn’t just another pretty shop in Notting Hill. Walk in the front door and you’ll know that you’re being given a chance to experience something special. Melt is chocolate heaven: a collision of taste and art that makes you realise that some luxuries are worth every penny.

They make chocolates here by hand. Master-Chocolatier Keith Hurdman and his apprentices fashion all sorts of treats from several of the world’s finest chocolates. None of the combinations are too far out since they believe that what grows together goes together, but this still permits them to develop tropical combinations of chocolate with mango, banana, chili, sesame, and lots more.

There’s as much attention to artistry as taste, and you’ll find some elaborate creations in the elegant white-walled shop.

You can often see them making the chocolates in their workspace at the back. They can also do private group bookings for corporate events, etc. Until I came here I didn’t realise that chocolate was (nearly) as wonderful to watch as it is to eat.

Ultimately, though, the taste of the chocolates I had here was as mind-blowing as any I’ve ever had. You’ll never feel like having a Mars bar again.