The Chocolate Queen

Sarah Hodgson, Wednesday 13 October 2010

Yael Rose, Director, Chocolate Festival, Kingston answers T&L’s questions about chocolate, dinner parties, and waist lines

T&L: Where are you from?
Yael Rose: Israel. I grew up in a small community called a Kibbutz.

What made you first interested in chocolate?
Ever since I remember myself my mum would make me a daily cup of cocoa. (drinking chocolate) I think that had something with my ‘addiction’ today. I decided I want to organise a chocolate festival after watching a channel 4 programme about a guy who bought a plantation in Venezuela. He grew and imported the beans into the UK and started making his own chocolate from them. It completely changed the way I thought of chocolate and I started buying and tasting more fine chocolate.

Why have you chosen Kingston as your chocolate festival site? (any previous connections)
After running the festival successfully at London Southbank Centre and in Brighton I was looking for another London location for the festival. Then I was approached by Kingston First, who wanted to hold a chocolate festival in Kingston town centre. I visited Market House (in Market Place) and immediately knew it was the right place for my event.

Personal Preference? White, dark or milk?
I have to admit I am a real chocoholic – I can’t really say no to any type of chocolate. But if I have to choose one it would have to be a good dark chocolate.

Product Preference… cake/pancake/milkshake etc
Again, I love them all!! Pancakes are a great favourite and chocolate cake is always tempting. However I definitely couldn’t live without hot chocolate.

How about chilli chocolate and chocolate used as a cooking ingredient (e.g. red meat and chocolate sauce, or chilli con carne with chocolate)?
I like hot chocolate with chilli, Rabot Estate in Borough market sell a gorgeous one, and one of my exhibitors gave me a recipe for a chocolate sauce that goes with meat and I really like it.

What sorts of people usually go to the chocolate fair?
Chocoholics like me! It’s mostly woman – about 70% (no surprise there) but chocolate has a mass appeal and the love of it knows no boundaries, so people come of all ages, countries and genders. I always say it’s like there’s a ‘clan’ of chocoholics, I can see a certain look in people’s faces when I tell them what I do or give them a business card or a flyer, their eyes just lit up...

Is there any danger of chocolate becoming snobby like wine? Can you enjoy a Dairy Milk/Crunchie Bar or are your tastes more refined?
I hope not! Food snobs really annoy me! After all we all have a ‘palette’ and taste buds! But there is a difference you can’t deny (like in every food / drink) between mass produced chocolate with artificial additives etc., and artisan, made from quality pure ingredients chocolate. And I have to say the more I taste good chocolate the more I prefer it.

What about our waist lines? Please tell me chocolate is good for me!
I think moderation is key – obviously easier said than done when confronted with really nice chocolates! The good news is that - there is a lot of research suggesting that in its pure form chocolate is actually good for us. (check labels to make sure fat and sugar quantities are low and good quality ingredients are used)

Ideal dinner party – guests and food? Gourmet or takeaway?
Stuck on this question but definitely Gourmet food and lots of chocolates! Will be great to have guests like Bob Dylan and Johnny Depp...

Famous chocolatiers you admire
Damian Allsop, William Curley and Paul Wayne Gregory are the three chocolatiers who believed in what I was doing and supported me when I first started organising the chocolate festival. They all make amazing chocolate and are lovely down-to-earth people. All three chocolatiers will be exhibiting at the Kingston chocolate festival.

Have you ever tried/succeeded in going without chocolate for Lent etc?
No way!

The Chocolate Festival takes place from 2-4 December in Kingston.
www.festivalchocolate.co.uk