There are a lot more options than the basic bar when it comes to chocolate: chocolatiers based all over the world have showcased creations that are genuine edible works of art. This article will pick out some of the best.
1. Famous buildings
A recent exhibition saw one chocolatier showing off his recreations of buildings like the Arc de Triomphe, Stonehenge and the Colosseum. These are remarkably complex to make, involving intricate carving and modelling – as well as large amounts of white chocolate (well in excess of 60kg each). All this means that they will take days of work to complete, although the results are indisputably impressive. For this reason, this is likely to be something only professionals have the time to try.
2. Chess set
For the board you will need a block of chocolate roughly the size of a normal chessboard, although you will also need to make separate thin squares of normal and white chocolate for the grid. The really difficult, and time-consuming, part will be the pieces – again using milk (or dark) chocolate and white. You can either do this by cooling chocolate mixed with something like corn syrup and then moulding it like clay, or by purchasing moulds and pouring the melted chocolate into them. This latter option is much quicker, but the results will probably feel less impressive to you than if you try the crafting yourself.
3. Ladbrokes chocolate roulette wheel
This has some similarities with the chess set, in that the main wheel is relatively simple – requiring approximately 60kg of chocolate and plastic moulds for the wheel’s inner and outer rings. A mould can also be used to create features of the wheel like the frets and deflectors, while the pockets under the frets are cut out of a sheet of chocolate, before being given lower support by an additional layer of it. Finally, edible gold food colouring and cocoa butter can be used for the numbers and famed roulette colours of black and red. The overall effect is pretty stunning, but it will take close to three days to complete.
4. Swan
This may be a little easier, and can be supported by a base – either made from chocolate, or using a wooden platform to begin the build. The amount of chocolate needed will depend on what size swan you want to make (and whether you also want to make a base) but the main body should be sculpted out of white chocolate, with milk or dark used for the eye area and beak. The basic shape of the swan, complete with wings, is comparatively simple, but you will want to spend some time on carving to create the effect of feathers and wing patterns. Overall this could take around two-three days again, but will make an amazing party centrepiece.
As you can see, chocolate sculptures are really popular now, so why not try one yourself?
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