Saturday saw me being invited to review Hotel Chocolat’s restaurant Roast + Conch in Leeds-their second fine dining restaurant in the UK with the first in Borough Market, London and the original created in 2011 in the open air cocoa estate kitchen of their Boucan restaurant in Saint Lucia (can’t think why they didn’t want to send me to the there can you?!!))
Next time!
The Leeds branch was staggeringly beautiful none the less…who needs Saint Lucia hey…
With Peter, my husband and photographer extraordinaire behind the camera taking shots between courses (well he had to work for his lunch didn’t he)… this might well have been the best date of all time!
Entering through the exquisite side tracking chocolate boutique on the ground floor, the second floor, upstairs houses a sit down restaurant for some serious Anglo-West cocoa fuelled dining.
A destination restaurant, this place is utterly ideal for dates, girly parties and special occasions and what a beauty it is too!
In chic, modern and tranquil surroundings, we chose a welcoming table by the window..
Every dish on the menu features West Indian herbs and roasted cocoa and you’re offered to try the roasted cocoa on arrival (below).
Having produced a documentary on chocolate at uni, I was aware of the history of cocoa and its use in savoury cuisine for thousands of years but I’d never actually sat down and eaten it in dishes at a restaurant until Saturday! And let me tell you, I wasn’t disappointed…
First off, the food at Roast + Conch is made from beans roasted and conched by chocolatiers on site, hence their name!
I must also state as the dishes are made with quality, high percentage cocoa too, you never get a sugar rush or crash and feel energised with every bite!…
With sparkling water and a Bloody Mary to kick off proceedings, followed by ‘the kind my mother makes’ style sweet potato and butternut squash amuse-bouches topped with cocoa nibs and chilli oil, we were both excited for what was to come…
Then it was time for some cocoa nib bread and dips with the heavenly chocolate balsamic I fell for: a perfect marriage of flavours made in chocolate heaven-part sweet, part savoury, it literally danced on my tongue, tickling my tastebuds and I simply had to request more, dipping my sweet potato ribbons (cooked in cocoa butter) with my main course later on! DIVINE!
The most moorishly good cocoa balsamic!
…Below is a little dish of cocoa pesto my husband demolished with bread.
Then it was starters or ‘Small Tastes’ as they call them, a Crab and Callaloo Broth for Peter, a delicate, light coconut broth with flaked crab, okra, spinach (callaloo in Saint Lucian) and mild chilli. Delicious!
I opted for the vegetable carpaccio, thinly sliced veggies with balsamic-cocoa dressing, beetroot puree and nibbled cheese bread. Refreshing, tasty, seasonal bites in a tangy sauce with crunchy bread which made for the perfect starter!
My main course was a cocoa-marinated chunky rib eye of beef, a beautiful fillet steak (locally reared and 28 day aged no less) marinated in cocoa nibs and accompanied by sauteed spinach, ground provision gratin and a creamy cocoa nib and rum pepper sauce I loved.
The sweet, crunchy garlic it was garnished with, were caramelised bites of wonderment too!
A dish from their Boucan restaurant in Saint Lucia, it took me to the Caribbean instantly.
What a hunk of steak, huh?!
My pescatarian husband opted for the fish roti, Roast + Conch’s spin on a traditional Saint Lucian staple.
A homemade cocoa nip wrap of fish filled with ground provision vegetables, slowly cooked in curried coconut sauce, cocoa pilau rice, sweet potato ribbons, raita and green leaf salad, it is glorious sunshine on a
Look at these pretties
…Fear not though, there was still room (only just) for the pièce de résistance of the meal-you guessed it, the desserts! It had to be Chocolate Lava molten cake for me, a chocolate sponge dome served on cacao nib-infused ice cream which happened to be the most splendid chocolate creation I’ve ever eaten. Fact.
Food porn at its finest…
And more. You’re welcome…
We also shared (begrudgingly) a Roast + Conch Mousse Cake, made downstairs from single estate cocoa beans, with a hint of coffee, vanilla ice cream and chocolate rice crispies that I could have eaten forever…
Then it was coffee o’clock for fine cappuccino and espresso…
We literally (and sadly) had no more room after that cocoa feast of a meal for more but I had to share their Tray of Temptation, where you can choose from 16 creations lovingly made from their chocolatiers.
A stellar chocolate hit to end your magnificent meal on!
…With knowledgeable, friendly service, stunning surroundings and the most sumptuously splendid food, you’ll never quite have an experience like it-unless you head to their flagship restaurant in Saint Lucia of course (hint hint)…
Simply WOW!
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Oh my goodness this looks and sounds amazing! I was overexcited when we gained a Hotel Chocolat branch in Liverpool last Christmas and then it became a cafe in the summer but I didn’t realise they did fine dining! Actually heaven for chocoholics!! 🙂 Stunning photos x
Thanks so much, they have one in Leeds, London and Saint Lucia, thinking they should send me to SL next don’t you reckon?! x
this is amazing , so beautiful food
Thanks lovely, really is amazing there!
I am such a foodie and this place is now next on my list. If not in Leeds, I may have to visit the one in London. Nom nom nom Thanks for sharing on #britmumsreviews
Pleasure, it was spectacular-do try the London one!
OK that is just plain cruel!!! I am a huge fan of ‘proper’ chocolate and this looks like my version of heaven!! All those photos have made me drool. How lucky are you having a photographer husband?! He certainly earned his meal! Thanks for making me incredibly jealous! 😉
Very lucky Vicki, he is an IT developer too so I really got lucky with him (and generally too of course) xx
A fabulous restaurant for anyone who’s a chocoholic! All looks perfect to me!!
It really is x
What amazing foodie photographs! This restaurant looks amazing! x #TastyTuesdays
Thanks lovely, an incredible restaurant x
Looks absolutely fabulous! Definitely will be trying this place out next weekend. Thank you for sharing can’t wait!
It really is incredible Harry!
Vicki, you really do have THE best job in the entire world lovely lady! This place sounds heavenly, and your hubby’s photos really do the review justice. Good luck with getting out to St. Lucia xx
Ha! Yes! This place is wonderful! Fingers crossed for SL 😉 x
I am going. That is all! Xx
You must Franki!
Oh my, what an amazing dining experience. Everything looks absolutely delicious. I really like the sound of the cocoa balsamic, I’m going to see if they sell it in store. Stunning photos too.
They sell a variation Julie but not the exact version in the restaurant-truly incredible x
My mouth is literally watering. I want to eat everything on this page. And the restaurant looks amazing – love the whole industrial vibe. I MUST try the Borough Market branch – feeling so hungry now 🙂 Amazingly stunning photos too. You can almost taste the food, they are that good.
Nomita, it is incredible, we must go together in London sometime x
Oh my word this looks divine!!! So hungry now. Love the nautical dress too 😉 xxx
Thanks darling, the dress is so cute with its shell print-a full post on it will be on my style blog soon! THe restaurant is insanely good!
What a fabulous evening. Your pictures are great and the food very well presented. Since starting my blog, I’ve made quite a lot of savoury chocolate dishes, but I don’t think any of them are on a par with these. I think I’m going to have to wangle myself a review invite for next time I’m in London.
Your chocolate documentary sounds interesting. What was your degree?
@Choclette, truly wonderful restaurant, first degree-BA was in Media and Communications at Goldsmiths, specialising in Journalism and Documentary, MA was in Screen Direction (directed a short film) before a career as a screenwriter and director (now a full time professional blogger).
I am literally going to fly/drive to Leeds for this restaurant!!! Love your review – they made a great choice inviting you & your personal photographer 🙂
Thanks so much Steph, you would adore it, maybe we can meet in Saint Lucia?!
Another Leeds place I’ve been dying to try, I love Hotel Chocolat, must add it to the list!
It is stunning Annwen!