The Power of Summer at Battersea Power Station : LOCAL LOVES

Well guys, there's something happening over at the Battersea Power Station! It's the last summer before all those uber rich bods move in to the snazzy flats that are being created there (I bet you can see your neighbour having a wee. Way too much glass.) so something had to be done!

So low and behold.....The Power of Summer was created! Brilliant people like The Indytute, Everyman Cinema and Street Feast have got together and created a riverside haven of outdoor summer fun. There's movies, classes, food stalls, bars, giant connect four...all the essentials one needs for shed loads of sunshine frolicking.

And lucky me, I was invited along by the lovely Sarah from The Prosecco Diaries and The Indytute to take part in a chocolate class and sample the delights on offer! I met Sarah, who runs brill evens and meet ups for bloggers, a few months ago at an Instagram workshop run by Jess aka Miss Underground at the Cath Kidston flagship store on Piccadilly. Sarah also focuses a lot on theatre in her blog so I was hooked at the sheer mention of The Prosecco Diaries.

The chocolate class at the Power Station was arranged by The Indytute who organise fun and inspired classes for adults.Now, I don't know about you but I just LOVE a workshop, I've recently become so obsessed with learning stuff. After uni I'd definitely had enough of education. The essays, the seminars, the books.....and don't get me started on critical theory. But now that I'm a few years clear of those hallowed halls of learning I'm suddenly ready to learn again and very, very happy that there won't be an exam at the end. Broaden your horizons and all that jazz - on your own terms.

So, where were we? CHOCOLATE. Some lovely chaps called Phil and Caesar from a very snazzy chocolatiers called Paul A Young ran the session and they sure knew their stuff. They took us through the origins of cocoa use, where it's traditionally grown, who first found it and the various forms it took before what we know chocolate to be today. Seriously interesting stuff that really makes you appreciate the art of chocolate!

But you can google all that yourselves can't you - what I should tell you is that we got to try some and it was seriously scrummy. Paul is famous for his daring flavours and combinations you wouldn't expect with chocolate (there was mention of marmite truffles and beef bon bons). The first we tried however was a scone, jam and clotted cream one and I absolutely loved it. The individual flavours came through at different times and really was link scone! We also tried Paul's award winning sea salt caramel filled chocolates....gahh my mouth is watering.

John has four shops in London - Soho, Bank, Tottenham Court Road and Camden - and the guys gave me a little voucher so I'm going to pop along to the Soho store asap so make a big purchase.

After getting our sweet fill it was time for some savoury and there is tonnes to choose from. We had a nice wonder round and plumped for an old fave - hot dogs. You can't go wrong with a mustard and ketchup laden hot dog. Ohhh the greasy goodness.

 

The Power of Summer is running until the end of August so pop along, take a class with The Indytute, see a film with Everyman and just sit and stuff your face with the help of Street Feast. 

Happy summering chaps!

xXx

My Week With London, Photos : LOCAL LOVES

Hello, hello! It was quiet week this week. Just the one theatre trip and some riverside catch ups with friends. I spent the weekend having some drinks in the garden (which turned into jagerbombs in Brixton, deary me), doing some life-admin and pretending I'm a grown up by buying peonies from Marks and Sparks. 

The weather was lovely though so here are some sunny snaps...

Embankment footbridge

Covent Garden rickshaws

Bobbing along the Thames

National Portrait Gallery

Next week is looking fun - seeing my new fave band in Soho, drinks with an old school friend and a football bbq at mine!

xXx