To create some buzz for the upcoming re-launch of their popular Wispa chocolate bar in the United Kingdom, Cadbury tried to do something that some marketing guru probably thought was genius: They made a gold-covered Wispa bar and tried to sell it off to the highest bidder earlier this month.

The bar is worth approximately US$1600, and not only is the chocolate gold-leafed, but the wrapper itself is too.
The problem, though, was that no one stepped forward to snatch up the elegant chocolate treat (I can’t imagine why…), so Cadbury re-took possession of it and decided to just put it …read more

I always like hearing about things that would usually be tossed out as waste used instead in a beneficial way.

Take, for example, this race car recently developed in the United Kingdom.
Called the WorldFirst F3, it’s made of byproducts from carrots, potatoes and soy and runs on biodiesel derived from waste chocolate and vegetable oil!
The steering wheel is made of curran, which is derived from carrots and will possibly be replacing glass fiber and carbon fiber; the seat made of SoyFoam, a soybean oil-based foam material; and the mirrors use materials derived from potato starch.
“The project’s goal is …read more

I am so amused by this story: The Oreo – an American treat staple since 1912 – has just this month been launched in Great Britain, and some Brits don’t know what to make of it!
Apparently it’s too sweet, doesn’t hold up well in tea (most Brits have never seen a biscuit [cookie] dipped in milk before!), the cream filling is too toothpasty, and the color of the cookie is too dark.
In fact, the tea dipping is such an important part of biscuit enjoyment that one British author says:
“Our love of tea-dipping has influenced the selection of flour …read more

Today kicks of Chocolate Week in the UK, running from October 15th to October 21st.
Chocolate Week involves several UK-based chocolatiers who, throughout the week, will be participating with classes, demos, and samplings at their individual stores.
Oh to be in London right now!