Guest Blog By Simon Shrouder
There is nothing like a local village shop staffed by people who care about the customers who come their way. Shopping becomes a personal, friendly experience with a smile, a chat and useful, helpful advice.
It’s something a supermarket will always struggle to match. And it’s just one of the reasons why The Chocolate Shop in Churchtown Village near Southport is so special. But that is not the only reason!
I am diabetic. Type 2 diabetic to be precise. I am currently in remission thanks to brilliant advice from the wonderful Dr David Unwin – a world leader on diabetes and also a Norwood Road GP.
David explained to me that for many Type 2 diabetics, the disease can be controlled by ensuring you put the right fuel in your body. Basically, many carbohydrate foods contain large amounts of glucose and this is too much for a body burdened with insulin resistance.
But there are things you can eat and enjoy – and dark chocolate is one of them! So… when I walked into The Chocolate Shop in Churchtown and asked if they had any bars of 80 per cent cocoa dark chocolate with hazelnuts which would be safe for me to eat – I didn’t expect the answer I got from co-owner of the shop, Jo Swinden.
“No, we haven’t, I’m afraid, but we can make you one!”
Good luck getting an answer like that in one of the big four supermarkets!
Within a week I got a text back from Jo saying “Your chocolate’s ready.” I was round like a flash and the bar was not only ready – it was packaged, labelled and ready for consumption!
It was sublime. And, at less than £5 a bar, it is an affordable occasional treat. So, how is it that a shop like this in a local village can respond to specific customer requests so readily? Understand a little more of the story of The Chocolate Shop and the answer becomes clear.
Jo and Robert Swinden, who run the shop, are coming up to the 10th Anniversary of The Chocolate Shop. For the first four years they were located in Ainsdale – but now they are a firm fixture on Churchtown’s Botanic Road amidst a high quality spread of artisan businesses and eateries.
What many will not know is that the Chocolatier Robert was trained in Australia by Belgium, French and German chocolatiers, one of which used to make chocolates for the late Queen Elizabeth!
“Robert is the creative part of the business,” says Jo, “I am the one who keeps him organised and who works on the marketing. He makes everything from scratch, so putting your bar together was not a problem.”
She said Robert prides himself on lending his hand to making anything, and, when you take a look at the range of boutique chocolates on offer in the shop and online – this quickly becomes very evident.
“Robert was trained as a chef and patissier,” says Jo, “but after meeting the owners of Koko Black in Melbourne in 2003, he moved into chocolate work full time! Having more time at home and no late nights.
“The key raw ingredient we use is Belgium couverture chocolate that we blend with cocoa butter to make various percentages of chocolate.”
“Chocolate making is a science,” says Jo, “and when Robert started, he was hand tempering in microwaves and pans (which he still does for smaller batches). But now he has larger tempering machines which help him control temperatures and prepare the perfect chocolate for working. We specialise in making ganache Belgian style chocolate.”
While the couple spent 10 years down under, it was when their daughter came along that they decided to return to the UK. Australia’s loss was Churchtown’s gain.
“We will always try to accommodate requests, “says Jo. “For us it is all about building relationships and a loyal customer base.”
While I for one, can add myself to that ‘customer base’ there may well be other diabetics who had not thought they could get luxury chocolate and safely eat it – who may wish to give The Churchtown Chocolate shop a try!
And, if you’re not diabetic, then the world’s your oyster, or squirrel, or cat or dog or hamster – or whatever creation chocolatier Robert Swinden decides to try out next!
- To find out more either pop into the shop for a chat to Jo, Robert or one of the team or go online to www.rsfinechocolate.com
- Do you know a remarkable Southport business that deserves a shout out? We’d love to see your Guest Blogs! Please email us at: [email protected]
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