Aromas of cocoa filled the air in Brentford as the doors to a new chocolate shop opened on London Road.
Chocolatier Bianca Marton, 56, was delighted to welcome Mayor of Hounslow Corinna Smart to cut the signature orange ribbon, which marked the launch of a joint venture with writer, broadcaster and voiceover for video games, Jeremy Nicholas.
More than 100 people came to support the duo last night (27), at the chocolate lovers paradise, sampling the artisan chocolate truffles and sea-salted caramels freshly made in the basement kitchen.
Ms Marton who is thrilled to be open in time for Christmas, said: "I’m very excited we are finally open and it was so great to see many friendly faces, of customers we’ve only served outdoors at markets up till now.
"I love making chocolates. I love to make something that makes people happy and I’ve spent years getting the recipes just right.
"You get used to working with all the aromas of chocolate making.
"At first you want to eat them all the time, but after a while you become accustomed to the smell and you stop craving them."
Bianca has been making the dairy free chocolate truffles, bars and homemade cakes in her home kitchen since 2010 and selling them in Brentford and Richmond markets.
She started making chocolates because her brother and his family were dairy intolerant, experimented with lots of recipes until she found the one.
But the business was given a new lease of life when Mr Nicholas who liked the chocolates so much decided to invest in the company, and has bigger dreams of taking over the chocolate world.
Mr Nicholas, 52, of Old Isleworth, added: "I’ve been enjoying Bianca’s chocolates for four years and she’s been a friend for a lot longer.
"She is such a gifted chocolatier that I know Bianca Marton Chocolates will be huge one day.
"I love programmes like The Apprentice and Dragons’ Den, so I was really keen to invest.
"I’d like to have a van that says Bianca Marton Chocolates – Berlin, Budapest, Brentford on the side.
"My dream is to take over the chocolate world, opening stores in places beginning with ‘B’.
"It’s an odd dream, but it’s surprising what happens when you tell people.
"At the opening last night there were people from Bracknell and Balham, who’d love us to open in their backyards."
The team make 20 different chocolate truffles and specials in the Christmas line-up include ginger truffles, vodka cherry truffles and honeycomb, and florentines will be added to the homemade cakes.
The business also offers chocolate making classes, an ideal gift for chocolate lovers.
http://www.biancamarton.com/
