An Interview with The Chocolate Cafe

Paul & Myself showcasing The Chocolate Cafe's finest work

I would like to introduce you to Paul, who is the owner of The Chocolate Cafe, which is based in Ramsbottom.
      The Chocolate Cafe prides itself on hand making all their chocolate bars, by using the very finest cocoa & other ingredients, as well as inventing new varieties of chocolate combinations that will excite palette.

If you would visit The Chocolate Cafe website it's www.chocolate-cafe.co.uk

What do you like about Bolton in general?
It's my home town and it is very special. It's all about the people!

How did you first hear about the Bolton Food & Drink Festival?
I first heard about the Bolton Food & Drink Festival from Stuart at The Vineyard Wine Merchants in Ramsbottom.

How does the Bolton Food & Drink Festival stand out from other food festivals?
The festival is right in the heart of the town which means you get a varied selection of visitors; from dedicated foodies to local people doing their weekly shop.

What is it about the Bolton Food & Drink Festival that keeps attracting you back year after year?
It is a very friendly and well organised festival, for us it feels like home.

How long have you been selling your products at the Bolton Food & Drink Festival?
We have been at the festival since 2009.

What do you think will be the Chocolate Cafe's best selling product while at the festival?
Historically our handmade chocolate bars have always sold very well. Our best seller is usually our Milk Chocolate Rocky Road or Dark Chocolate Habanero Chilli.

What makes the Chocolate Cafe stand out from the rest?
We take the finest Fino de Aroma cocoa from Colombia and blend it with the very best British ingredients. Quite simply we think our chocolate tastes better.

If you could choose one product to every customer; what would it be?
If I could choose one product to recommend to each customer it would be our Milk Chocolate Salt & Vinegar bar. It epitomises everything about us in that it's quality, innovative and fun.

Would you recommend the Bolton Food & Drink Festival to family, friends & other businesses?
Yes.

An Interview with Signature Soaps Ltd

Brian & Myself showcasing some of Signature Soaps best sellers

I would like to introduce you to Brian, who is the owner and artisan of Signature Soaps Ltd.
      Signature Soaps prides itself on making products using all natural ingredients. All the products that are sold by Signature Soaps are all hand made with love & care, and are a pleasure to use at anytime of year.

If you like to visit the Signature Soaps website it's www.signaturesoaps.co.uk

What do you like about Bolton in general?
Its a friendly town, not too big or too small and well situated for travel to larger cities and down the motorways.

How did you first hear about the Bolton Food & Drink Festival?
From the market team as a loyal trader on the monthly local produce market.

How does the Bolton Food & Drink Festival stand out from other festivals?
The fantastic variety of traders situated over the nucleus of the town centre creates a vibrant atmosphere. The council make a great effort to put on a whole range of entertainment in addition to the world famous chefs that demonstrate at the festival. The very fact that it attracts more and more visitors year in year out speaks volumes.

What is it about the Bolton Food & Drink Festival that keeps attracting you back year after year?
As a local producer it gives me a great opportunity to showcase my products, especially my food related chocolate soaps, traditional soaps and specialist cook's soap and goat's milk soap. They are all made from food ingredients, including 80% single origin dark Belgian chocolate!

How long have you been selling your products at the Bolton Food & Drink Festival?
For the last 4 years.

What do you think will be Signature Soaps best selling product while at the festival?
My traditional cold pressed soaps, which are suitable for all skin types, especially sensitive skin types.

What makes Signature Soaps stand out from the rest?
I hope the sheer quality of our products and our commitment to customer care excellence.

If you could choose one product to sell to every customer; what would it be?
Either or forming shower/ bath wash or our cold pressed soap.

Would you recommend the Bolton Food & Drink Festival to family, friends & other businesses?
Yes, it makes a great family day out with something for everyone.

Products I Would Repurchase - Part Two

Nuxe Reve de Miel Lipbalm
This lipbalm is great to use before you go to be; as it's quite thick, but it provides the lips with an intensive moisture boost. The scent is lovely, as its a mixture of lemon & peppermint. I do notice a difference when I've used this, as my lips feel lovely and soft. But, when I don't use this my lips then start too get dry.

Lush Bubblegum Lip Scrub
The bubblegum lip scrub is scented with Lush's Snow Fairy fragrance. It's a great lip scrub, as it gets rid of any dryness on your lips & leaves them feeling silky smooth and very soft.

Soap & Glory Hand Food Hand Cream
I absolutely love this hand cream, so much so that I have one in my handbag and also on my bedside table. It has the traditional sweet and girlie Soap & Glory scent. It's a really nice, hydrating hand cream; which isn't sticky or greasy. It's also great to use before you go to bed, as well as throughout the day.

Toni & Guy Firm Hold Hairspray
This was my first Toni & Guy haircare product that I'd brought, and I really like it. Especially, if I'm putting my hair up in a French Flip, as it holds it in place really well. It also has a really lovely scent; and its not overpowering. The fragrance of the hairspray smells really luxurious.

Nuxe Reve de Miel Lipbalm £9.50
Lush Bubblegum Lip Scrub £4.95
Soap & Glory Hand Food Hand Cream £2.50 - £7.00
Toni & Guy Firm Hold Hairspray £2.50 - £7.50

Products I Would Repurchase - Part 1

Biotherm Biosource Hydra-Mineral Cleanser Toning Mousse
This is a really nice forming cleanser, and it also works brilliantly as a hot cloth cleanser. I've been using this for around six months, and I really like it. It also has the added benefit on containing Zinc; which is good for combating acne. I've recently repurchased this again, as I'm due for running out of my current one very soon.

Biotherm Biosource Instant Hydration Toning Lotion
I really like using this, as its very cooling when applied to the skin. I use this as my second toning step in my skincare routine, and I've also been using toner for around six months. Also, this contains Zinc; which again is good for combating acne. I've recently repurchased it again, as I'm due to run out of my current one very soon.

Biotherm Aquasource Moisturiser
This moisturiser is great at getting hydration back into the skin, as well as having a loving cooling effect when its applied to the skin. I've been using this moisturiser on and off for around six months, as my skin has been playing up over the past few months. But I do come back to this once my skin is back to normal. I have repurchased it again, but as a back up.

Aveda Scalp Benefits Shampoo
This a great clarifying shampoo, as it gets my hair really clean and feeling as if I've just walked out of the hairdressers, I would repurchase it again in the future, as its very soothing on the scalp, and also as a little treat for my hair.

Bioderma Crealine H2O Solution Micellaire
This is brilliant at removing all the last traces of make up; after you have used a make up wipe. It's also great at getting all the rubbish off your face that has been picked up throughout the day. It's a great product, as its suitable for all skin types; especially sensitive skin. Due to it being formulated for sensitive skin, its safe to use as an eye make up remover.

My Jo Malone Birthday Treat Experience

I really look forward to having this around this time of year, as its a little treat for me from Jo Malone.

The Birthday Treat consists of an hand & arm message; using a fragrance combination of your choice, a glass of champagne & some chocolates, which are specially made for Jo Malone. Also, as part of the Birthday Treat you will receive a little complementary gift.

For my hand & arm message I chose the fragrance combination of Wild Fig & Cassis, & English Pear & Freesia. I had the English Pear & Freesia as my base scent, followed by Wild Fig & Cassis cologne. My hand & arm message was carried out by the lovely Matthew at the Jo Malone counter in Selfridges, Manchester, & he couldn't do enough for me.

Also, while I was at the Jo Malone counter I purchased a small bottle of the Wild Fig & Cassis cologne, as I hadn't brought a Jo Malone fragrance in a while.

The complementary gift really put a smile on my face, as I didn't know what it was. But when I opened it I received a miniature bottle of the Nectarine Blossom & Honey cologne, and also a small Orange Blossom Body Creme.

I would personally like to say "Thank you" to Matthew from Jo Malone for giving me such a wonderful birthday treat, as well as providing great customer service :)

Disclaimer: This post is NOT sponsored 

My Jo Malone Collection Part 2

Wild Bluebell

Notes: Top Note - Bluebell, Heart Note - Persimmon, Base Note - White Musk

This fragrance is a sweet and girlie scent, and its another fantastic summer fragrance which Jo Malone offer. Wild Bluebell is a very light and floral scent, as well as being one my personal favourites from the Jo Malone Collection. It's also pretty unique in my perfume collection, as I don't own anything else like it.

Orange Blossom

Notes: Tope Note -Clementine Flower, Heart Note - White Lilac, Base Note - Orriswood

I got the Orange Blossom fragrance as a birthday treat to myself last year. The only way I can describe this fragrance is a sweet orange floral with a little bit of bitterness thrown in.
      Also, did you know that Kate Middleton used this scent to fragrance Westminster Abbey; as she walked to down the aisle to marry Prince William.

Red Roses

Notes: Top Note - Lemon, Heart Note - Scalet Velvet Rose, Base Note - Honeycomb

This is a glorious roses scent, as it doesn't smell artifical like some rose scented products do. The only description I can as a wearer of this fragrance is that you walk round smelling like a freshly made bouquet of roses. It's the ideal Valentine's day fragrance, or just as a great pick-me-up scent. It's a pleasure to wear.
    The Red Roses cologne is formulated with 27 rare rose varieties from around the world.

Disclaimer: Everything I show on my blog I personally buy myself, and all opinions are my own

My Jo Malone Collection Part 1

I've been collecting the Jo Malone fragrances since I was around 17/ 18, and I've gained quite a little collection of the colognes. So I thought I would tell you which ones they are as well as sharing my thoughts on each individual fragrance.

Verbenas of Provence (Discontinued)

Notes: Top Note - Lemon & Verbena, Heart Note - Juniper Berries, Rose & Jasmine, Base Note - Sandalwood & Oakwood

This was my very first Jo Malone fragrance that I ever purchased. The scent is a mixture of citrus, sweetness with a little bit of tartness. I love to wear this scent when I go to anywhere special. Sadly, Jo Malone discontinued this fragrance last year :(

Nectarine Blossom & Honey

Notes: Top Note - Cassis, Heart Note - Acacia Honey, Base Note - Peach

This was my second fragrance purchase from Jo Malone. I can only describe this scent as sweet and girlie, but with a grown side to it. This is the perfect summer fragrance for anyone who likes sweet, fruity scents.

Pomegranate Noir

Notes: Top Note - Pomegranate, Heart Note - Casablanca Lily, Base Note - Guaiacwood

This is my Autumn/ Winter/ Christmas scent, as it has a warmth and cosiness to it; which I love. It is a spicy scent, but it has the fruitiness of the pomegranate. Once it has been sprayed it does go on quite strong; but once it settled it turns into something completely different. Also, because it is a lovely Christmas scent I would strongly recommend to get the home candle; as its also a great home fragrance.

Disclaimer: Everything I show on my blog I personally buy myself, and all opinions are my own