The Bite Magazine - Autumn/Winter 2022 - Issue 32

bitechocolate C hristmas in Italy is when family and friends come together to celebrate the festivities. We already know panettone and pandora are seasonal sweet treats, but chocolate is an indulgence delight, especially when Venchi makes it. The luxury chocolate and gelato purveyor, whose origins derive from Turin, the capital city of Piedmont in northern Italy, known for its refined archi- tecture and cuisine, has over 140 years of experience pro- viding mouth-watering chocolates and gelato. The initial creation of nougatine, chocolate with chopped, caramelised Piedmont Hazelnuts coated with extra-dark chocolate, followed by chocoviar, truffles, gianduiotti, cremini, bars, suprema spread, gelato and gourmet eggs, are centred on founder Silviano Venchi’s influences and achievements. Venchi Spa, Piedmont’s most elegant choco- late shop, was awarded ‘Purveyor to the Royal Household’. Whilst the royal coat of arms is no longer on the packag- ing, the passion, meticulous care and courage remain. Venchi has more than 350 chocolate recipes and 90 gela- to flavours, in over 70 countries, including London, Hong Kong, Dubai and New York, with the biggest chocolate wa- terfall of all time. The luxury confectioner is also based in Taiwan, Jakarta, Shanghai and Tokyo, turning the ‘Made in Italy’ into ‘Experienced like in Italy’ with over 150 shops worldwide. Its delicious, healthy, natural products are made with the best ingredients and intentions. For Christmas, Venchi delivers a gourmet collection pay- ing homage to tales like Dicken’s A Christmas Carol and Andersen’s classics passed down from generations and read aloud while gathered around the tree on Christmas Eve. Venchi’s fairytale captured on its chocolate boxes features a colourful intertwining of berries and flowers in shades of red, gold, and green creating the backdrop to a joyful dance of foxes, squirrels, robins and festive reindeer. Panettone Chocoviar, a handmade speciality of Italian pas- try, is paired with Venchi chocolate enriched with candied orange peels from Calabria and honey and gran crus va- nilla from Tahiti. It is hand-dressed with dark chocolate and a cascade of extra dark 75% chocoviar microspheres. Its gorgeous centre, filled with decadent chunks of dark chocolate, makes this unique panettone the best for Venchi chocolate lovers to celebrate traditional Italian Christmas. Venchi’s Traditional Panettone, made by Michelin-starred chef Gian Piero Vivaldi of the Antica Corona Reale in Cervere, is also available. The long natural leavening sour- dough mixed with Italian wheat flour contains candied oranges, raisins and Inalpi butter certified from Piedmont and Sparea water from the Alps. Other combinations in- clude the Panettone Chocoviar & Xmas Tin Hamper Duo, Traditional Panettone & Buona Natale Maxi Bar Duo and Traditional & Chocoviar Panettone Duo. The extra-large classic Cremino Chunk block with al- ternating layers of milk, dark and white chocolate and Piedmont Hazelnut paste is the perfect gift, snack or din- ner-party treat to satisfy your or a gift recipient’s chocolate and hazelnut cravings. Decorate your Christmas tree with hanging Merry Xmas festive metal tin bauble with glitter- ing assorted Comet chocolates. Another great present is the Reindeer Gift Tin with assorted milk and dark choco- late squares in Christmas-themed wrappers. The fairytale theme continues with the Xmas Mini Book, a forest green or candy cane-red book-shaped metal tin filled with chocoviar crème brûlée and crème suprema chocolates. Other gifts include the festive Red Xmas Mini Book with assorted cremino 1878, pistachio and extra dark chocolates or the Green Xmas Mini Book with milk and dark granblend chocolates. The Large Xmas Book is filled with chocoviar, granblend, cremino, nougatine, ingots, pearl, cube and gianduiotto chocolates. Let festive music play while you enjoy tantalising assorted chocomousse and pearl chocolate in the Musical Carillon Box Hamper. Brimming with the magic of Christmas, the Xmas Hatbox delivers a selection of dark and milk choc- omousse and gianduia hazelnut pearl chocolate. The ele- gantly presented Champagne Buon Natale Box has milk and dark granblend chocolate squares that would delight any chocolate fan and celebrate the magic of chocolate. Similarly, the Champagne Xmas Gift Box contains sweet three-layered classic 1878, pistachio and extra-dark crem- ino chocolate squares in an elegant champagne-coloured package that embraces tradition and creative innovation in perfect Italian style. The Baroque Xmas Gift Box contains assorted Venchi pearl and chocomousse chocolates paying tribute to a fairytale world filled with magic. Also, with milk and dark chocomousse chocolate, the Golden Collec- tion Gift Box gives you the best of both worlds. Get interactive with the Mr Venchi Experience Box con- taining the most iconic Venchi chocolate recipes in dif- ferent formats via the QR code. This never-before-seen chocolate experience with GB Mantelli, the actual creative soul of Venchi, takes you to an exclusive video tasting with Mr Venchi. The package includes a chocoviar dispenser tin, white salted bars, tiramisu bar, coconut filled bar, ba- ciodidama bar, supreme XV milk chocolate spread and a rich assortment of granblend, chocoviar and gianduiotto chocolates. Pace yourself to Christmas with the luxury book-shaped Prestige Advent Calendar with 31 Venchi chocolates hid- den in small drawers. The package features a colourful Christmas tree with a group of joyous dancing creatures awaiting Father Christmas with the same excitement and anticipation we felt as kids. The Advent Calendar Choc- olate Factory allows you to enjoy a moment of sweetness daily with milk and dark granblend Christmas chocolates. The classic Advent Calendar Christmas Tales is also filled with magic and 25 milk and dark granblend chocolates. Venchi’s 2022 Christmas collection can be found online, at their nine stores in London, including Piccadilly, South Kensington and Richmond and at luxury wholesalers Har- rods, Selfridges, Eataly and Fenwick. Its chocolate and ge- lato are also online and at the nine London-based shops. https://uk.venchi.com