Working with artisans

One incredible thing that has come out of starting Spice Kitchen has been connecting and working with lots of other artisan producers. From bakers, butchers, cocktail makers, gin companies, chefs, preserve makers, crisp makers and everything else in between. 

One of the most amazing has been working with the guys from Fifth Dimension Chocolates, Albert & Russell. Introduced by my good friend Zoe Perrett back in 2014, I met the guys at the BBC Good Food Show just to get a better understanding of trade and consumer shows, as was thinking about biting the bullet and doing our first one! Little did I know we would then go on to win the BBC Food Show Bursary, receiving a free stand at one of the shows the following year, and this would be the catalyst for a whole array of trade and consumer shows to come. 

We then kept in touch and met on a number of occasions at various shows including the London Chocolate Show and through Small Business Saturday. I was honoured to be asked to develop an Indian inspired curry powder for them for a new flavour which was later named "Cape Town" and forms a part of their range of 18 chocolates. We have also just heard it has been awarded a gold at the International Chocolate Awards British National Competition awards! 

The whole creative process is amazing from creating the blend, them testing with various chocolates, sampling (it's a hard job but someone has to do it, and then retesting and sampling until we get to something we both love. 

The guys are amazing and I am double honoured as we are developing a new flavour with them to be released later in the year. 

If you are an artisan producer or chef of any sort and are looking for some spice development then do get in touch!