Hello Amelia Rope Chocolate, You So Fine

I believe there is chocolate, and then, there is chocolate. The latter variant of chocolate is one that compels you to eat with your eyes closed. It commands a special occasion, a special person, a special moment.

Amelia Rope makes such divine artisanal chocolate. Handmade, individually numbered, beautifully packaged, the chocolate bars make exquisite gifts, if not pure self-indulgence.

I tried a friend’s chocolate bar – Pale Coffee Bean Edition 01 – just two days ago. After my first bite, I was determined to stock up on the chocolate. I ordered the same chocolate bar, along with two other (award-winning) flavors: the Pale Rose Edition 01 and the Pale Lemon & Sea Salt Edition 01. All three of them came in the mail today – along with a handwritten note from Amelia and labeled chocolate samples from the kitchen.

Amelia Rope chocolate

I’m not a big chocolate person, so when I say these chocolates are fantastic and to-die-for, my endorsement is worth double. The flavors are smooth, quirky and novel. And as banal-sounding as rose chocolate is – this one is something else. The Pale Coffee Bean Edition 01 is great if you want to try something new. You’ll find crisp whole coffee beans embedded in the bars whose flavors add to the depth of the chocolate.

Pale Coffee Bean Edition 01

If I had to pick one though – which is obviously a hypothetical case since I could never buy any less than these three solid flavors – it has to be the Pale Lemon & Sea Salt Edition 01. I bought this one partially craving for some sea salt and caramel chocolate. Amelia Rope does not make sea salt and caramel chocolate, but the lemon, I assure you, is a million times better than any caramel combination. The lemon is artless – almost a stark combination with the chocolate.

Pale Lemon & Sea Salt Edition 01 (left), Pale Rose Edition 01

All in all, Amelia Rope will make you re-think what you know about chocolate. If you have never lavished on yummy top end chocolate before, do yourself a favor and order a chocolate bar.

www.ameliarope.com

Hold Me, Thrill me, Kiss Me

The new She & Him album, Volume 3, is officially out today and already I know what I’ll be listening to all summer.

In summary, the album is playful, springlike, unapologetically sweet and nostalgic. M. Ward’s energetic arrangement coupled with Deschanel’s honest lyrics makes the album a timeless anthem for reckless lovers. Those of us trying to get over a complicated relationship will be needing this album like a sick person desperate for NyQuil.

Yes, yes, there is plenty to love in this album. “Never Wanted Your Love”, the first single from the album, released in March, became an instant hit and now resonating in the aisles of Topshop and Primark. The cover of “Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me” is absolutely brilliant and is my favorite in the whole album even though the mellow ballad is slightly out of character from the rest of the album.

Other noteworthy songs include “Turn to White”, “I Could’ve Been Your Girl”, “Something’s Haunting You”.

Click here to check out the track list and tour dates.

Ramen Calling

When I heard about a new “authentic” ramen house just opened in London, I got so excited I had to see it for myself. The city’s food scene has certainly grown at staggering rate in recent years. I’ve been keeping a bucket list of restaurants to visit, but when it’s ramen calling, I forget about the list and get on the next bus to London.

Bone Daddies just opened three months ago, but London ramen fans are already torn between keeping allegiance to all-time favorite Tonkotsu and crowning Bone Daddies as the new ramen king in town. The difference between the two is slight and it all comes down to your personal preferences. Regardless if you have been to Tonkotsu, I would still recommend going to Bone Daddies for their fun sake list and ramen variety.

I went there today with my friend S. We came in to an empty restaurant at noon and within less than half an hour the whole restaurant was jam packed. For starters, we got their signature soft shell crab with punchy ginger and green chili sauce and my god, they sure did a great job with that crab.

It was the most succulent soft shell crab I’ve had in my life. The outer shell was crispy, but the inside was moist andflavorful, which almost never happens with the typical deep fried soft shell crab.

Bone Daddies does a variety of ramen with both chicken bone broth and pork bone broth. To try both, S ordered the tantanmen (ramen in spicy chicken bone broth) and and I the tonkotsu (ramen in 20 hour long-simmered pork bone broth). The tonkotsu was wonderfully intense and smoky with a hint of garlic oil. Noodles firm, thin and crispy. But the chashu was austere and nondescript, and will invariably disappoint those who are expecting their tastebuds to be bombarded with fireworks of marbled animal fat.

Chasumen

I’ve always had preference for tonkotsu broth but I must say the tantanmen was much more remarkable than the tonkotsu. Indeed, Bone Daddies is known for its tantanmen. I suppose it just never occurred to me tantanmen could be that good.

The tantanmen was unapologetically spicy and sesame-rich. When you sip the broth, you first taste the peanut in the soup, but it ends with heat at the back of your throat. The minced pork was juicy and wholesome. A dash of lime ultimately balanced the palate and alluded to the composition of Thai food.

Tantanmen

Next time you’re out in Soho for a boozy night, you know where to stop by for your ramen.

Bone Daddies
31 Peter Street,
W1F 0AR, London
+4420 7287 8581
bonedaddiesramen.com