Chocolate heaven

Tasty WI meeting
Chocolate making was the theme for the Old Buckenham WI meeting in September, with Angela Ruthven of ‘Saffire Chocolates’. What a treat it proved to be. Angela explained how she began to learn the art of chocolate making when she retired as a headteacher of a Norwich school. She had time on her hands and looked for a new hobby. Not like the other hobbies she had tried that ended up as ‘loft insulation’. She enrolled on a long distance course via the internet and three months later was in receipt of her certificate for chocolate making. Using the finest Belgian chocolate Angela proceeded to experiment with flavours and started to sell her wares at farmers’ markets. Business was good and next came a lease on a very small Norwich shop, and then a larger one. Angela can now be found in a unit at Taverham Garden Centre and has over fifty outlets in Norfolk and Suffolk selling her chocolates.
Next came the chocolate tasting and members were all willing participants. Angela explained that the finest chocolate should be tasted much like a fine wine should be appreciated. So one should look for shine, appreciate the aroma, hear the snap when the chocolate is broken and taste the smooth, creamy and silky texture.
During the tea break many members took the opportunity to buy some of the chocolates that Angela had brought with her. Some flavours are unique and the chilli and lime white chocolate was particularly enjoyed. Novelties were on display too, such as the winter scene and the mini chocolate pizzas in their own pizza boxes. Angela continues to experiment and her enthusiasm for her ‘hobby’ was infectious.
The next meeting is the Birthday Party on Thursday 27 October. This is an opportunity for husbands and friends to join in for a buffet supper followed by entertainment provided by the Old Buckenham Players.