Ren Behan - Author Wild Honey and Rye

Food Writer

Review Hotel Chocolat – The Classic Christmas Basket (Giveaway Closed)

This weekend I have another great Christmas giveaway for you, this time for The Classic Christmas Basket from the Hotel Chocolat Christmas gift range, which I was also sent to try. I have to say, that I always consider Hotel Chocolat to be ‘special occasion chocolate’ and Christmas is the perfect time of year to pop something a little bit classy under the tree.  It’s fair to say that The Classic Christmas Basket isn’t cheap, but then again, Hotel Chocolate have placed themselves in the ‘luxury chocolate gifts’ end of the spectrum and have built up a reputation of producing chocolate of exceptional quality, grown and sourced ethically.

I chose to review The Classic Christmas Basket because I thought that of all the Christmas gifts on offer this year from Hotel Chocolat, it offered a variety of goodies and would therefore make a good gift for friends and family. The Classic Christmas Basket offers something for everyone, the kids can be kept happy with the Tiddly Milk Reindeer whilst the adults get stuck into the rest –  Cinnamon Almonds, Orange Nice Spice Puddles, 6 Alternative Mince Pies and the  Winter Liquid Chocolat. As it happens, my grand plan failed at the first hurdle as the Tiddly Milk Reindeer were actuallys my favourite, although I did then share the Alternative Mince Pies (milk chocolate cups filled praline and salted caramel) with my little fox cubs who made the obligatory mess with them. I found them quite sweet, so one was enough for me.

I think I’m a bit of a purist when it comes to chocolate and I don’t usually go for flavours, unless it’s chocolate orange, in which case bring it on. So it was quite nice to push the boat out and try the Orange Nice Spice Puddles which had a tiny bit of a chilli kick to them, as did the Winter Liquid Chocolate, again very gently spiced up for Christmas. I’d definitely say that both the puddles and the liquid chocolate were warming and did make me feel like grabbing a big blanket and curling up next to the fire.

Overall, we did very much enjoy sampling The Classic Christmas Basket, although one thing niggled me. It was definitely beautifully presented, and the gold ribbon and red highlights on the packaging did add an extra touch, but if someone had bought it for me, I would never have attached a value of £35 to it.  I know that if all the items were picked out from the shop and were put together they would come to around the same price ( theTiddly Milk Reindeer are £5.50, the Alternative Mince Pies are £7.50, the Milk Cinnamon Almonds and Winter Liquid Chocolat are £10.00 but smaller packets are included in the basket)…so you can see how it starts to add up. However, overall, for £35 you do not get a huge amount of chocolate and when wrapped, the box wouldn’t be very big under the tree. Hmn.

There is lots to chose from in the Hotel Chocolat Christmas range so I would probably explore it a little more. I have bought the Rather Large Christmas Cracker for my brother and sister-in-law before and that seemed to have a little more of the wow factor, for just three pounds more.  The Christmas Stocking is new to the range this year and I think would also make a nice gift priced at £22.

 Hotel Chocolat have kindly offered me a second Classic Christmas Basket to giveaway so you could be in with the chance of trying this basket of goodies for yourself this Christmas.

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THE CLASSIC CHRISTMAS BASKET GIVEAWAY

 

NOW CLOSED:

 

1. Visit the Hotel Chocolat website and tell me in the comment box below which of their Christmas range is your favourite. (Whatever your selection, you will still receive the Classic Christmas Hamper as your prize)

2. Either “Like” the Hotel Chocolat Facebook Page and/or follow @HotelChocolat on Twitter and then come back to me to let me know that you have done so, again by leaving a comment on this blog post.

3. Copy and tweet the following “I would love to win the Hotel Chocolat Classic Christmas Basket on #Fabulicious Food! (RRP£35)”

4. Follow me @RenBehan on Twitter or “like”  Fabulicious Food on Facebook and again leave a comment in the box below to tell me that you have done so, including your Twitter username.

5. Follow Fabulicious Food! on Networked Blogs or Google Friend Connect for more bonus entries, just let me know you are doing so.
 

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You can enter this competition via any of the five ways described above but you please leave me a separate comment for each time you have entered to make it easier to count your individual entries.  No details of any of the entrants will be passed onto anyone else.
 
The winner will be chosen by an online randomiser.  I will be able to see your email and contact you if you have won, but your email will not be visible to the public and will NOT be passed on.
This giveaway is open to all UK readers.

Closing date: Thursday 1st December 2011 and the winner will be announced by Friday 2nd December 2011.
 
Good Luck!
 
Thank You to Hotel Chocolat for sending me this product for review.

About Ren

Ren Behan is a British-born food writer of Polish descent. She is a mum to three young children (13, 10 and 5) and spends lots of time with them in the kitchen. Ren writes about seasonal, family-friendly food on her blog www.renbehan.com. She also contributes recipes and articles to online and print food publications, such as Food52.com, GreatBritishChefs.com, Huff Post Food and JamieOliver.com. She holds a Diploma in Food Journalism with Distinction and has completed a Food Styling course at Leiths School of Food and Wine.

Ren’s cookbook, Wild Honey and Rye: Modern Polish Recipes, draws upon her Polish heritage and regular travels to Poland.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Do you have a spam problem on this blog; I also am a blogger, and I was wondering your situation;
    many of us have created some nice methods and we are looking to swap strategies with other folks, please shoot me an e-mail if
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    Reply

  12. Love the Christmas goody bag

    I follow Hotel Chocolat on twitter and like on facebook

    I follow @renbehan on twitter and fabulicious food on facebook.
    Great comp – fingers crossed for a win

    Reply

  52. I have liked the Hotel Chocolat Facebook Page. Following @HotelChocolat on Twitter.
    My Twitter user name is: @1953barbie

    Reply

  84. The chocolate Christmas wreaths looks absolutely gorgeous. I wouldn’t hang one on the front door though – the neighbours would only stare if I popped out to nibble it 🙂

    Reply

  86. It has to be the Alternative mince pies so much easier than making pastry ! Have followed on facebook and twitter and tweeted @flowrypot

    Reply

  185. I love the ‘Rather Large Cracker’ – two of my favourite things, delicious chocolate and crackers, combined into one fun package!!!

    Reply

  193. I have tweeted I would love to win the Hotel Ccocolat Classic Christmas Basket on #Fabulicious Food! (RRP£35)”@potplant113

    Reply

  207. I’ve also tweeted the phrase as instructed above
    (“I would love to win the Hotel Ccocolat Classic Christmas Basket on #Fabulicious Food! (RRP£35)”). My username is @NiceMovesIsla

    Reply

  211. I have also followed you on twitter – my username is Melanie858 and retweeted the phrase above about the contests.

    Reply

  220. I have tweeted “I would love to win the Hotel Ccocolat Classic Christmas Basket on #Fabulicious Food! (RRP£35)”

    @green_day87

    Reply

  224. Follow me @RenBehan on Twitter or “like” Fabulicious Food on Facebook and again leave a comment in the box below to tell me that you have done so, – done @clairew137

    Reply

  225. Copy and tweet the following “I would love to win the Hotel Ccocolat Classic Christmas Basket on #Fabulicious Food! (RRP£35)” – done @clairew137

    Reply

  226. Either “Like” the Hotel Chocolat Facebook Page and/or follow @HotelChocolat on Twitter

    done both _ @clairew137

    Reply

  243. I Love the Christmas Table Crackers – they would be special on the dinner table and be a hit with the kids and the adults.

    Reply

  264. 1. How amazing do the ‘Alternative Mince Pies’ look?
    Perfect alternative for those of us who dislike the traditional type!

    Reply

  266. The ones with the chilli in them sound good… I certainly wouldn’t turn down any of those items if someone offered them to me. Our perception of value for money seems to go out of the window at Christmas time though. Vendors seem to think that putting something in a little piece of cardboard and calling it a “Gift pack” doubles its value! (It does, because people buy them).

    Reply

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