I am in Bath. It’s been decades since I last visited and I was too young and stupid, then, to really appreciate how beautiful this city is. Every building looks as if it’s been brushed with tea to age it à la school project (yes I realise the buildings are already old) and it’s surprisingly hilly – some so steep they took my socks off.
If you go, and you should, visit Topping: not chocolate, but an amazing bookshop, they serve you free tea in china cups and post your books if you don’t live locally (for £2.95, bargain). Also, while not on the subject of chocolate: very good cinnamon twists from the Bertinet bakery.
Chocolate! I bought some lovely Hárth Peanut Butter bonbons, £8/75g, from the delightful Hidden Store, and also some really expensive handpainted glasses, but shhh. Hárth also does some hot chocolate that contains corn powder, which apparently mixes up to a thick Spanish-style drink, but my bag was already getting heavy.
I visited one posh chocolate shop not once but twice in the hope of any sort of service, but none was forthcoming. If you’re selling truffles for £25 a box you should at least engage with your customers and maybe let them try some things.
Quite the opposite at the Bath Chocolate Company where the young man behind the counter couldn’t have been more friendly and helpful and I bought two delicious soft centres (hazelnut and coffee) for £1.20 each. Sadly no mail order, so you’ll have to visit.
Gloriously, the Cortado café on Bridge Street sells Sur alfajores, £4.20, as well as lovely food and great coffee.
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