Ye Olde Friars of Keswick

Valentines Chocolates and Gifts

2012-01-27T17:12:00.001Z

It will very soon be February and we all know what day that brings with it - Valentines Day of course! Although traditionally a day for lovers to express their feelings for each other it is also an ideal opportunity to show family and friends how much they mean as well.

Although there are many ways of showing people how much they are loved and appreciated not all are quite as tasty as chocolate! This year we have a wide selection of chocolate based gifts, from small tokens to slightly grander gestures, that are sure to delight and set your Valentines heart racing.

For our full selection of Valentines gifts click here.

Lodore Falls Hotel Wedding Fair

2012-01-20T17:09:00.001Z

Lodore Falls Hotel wedding fair will be held on Sunday 19^th February between 12pm to 4pm. We will be attending the wedding fair in order to promote our range of wedding favour boxes. This fabulous hotel on the shore of Derwentwater is a beautiful venue for a wedding fair and an ideal opportunity for brides to meet local wedding suppliers all in one place.

Our table at the fair will feature our full range of favour boxes; from the traditional, decorated with flowers, to more contemporary boxes sealed with a luxurious bow to offer stunning simplicity. Also available to view on the day will be our wide selection of filling options, including decadent truffles and chocolates and more unusual fillings that will add a delightfully fun element.

Low Wood Bay Hotel Wedding Fair

2012-01-10T14:50:00.000Z

The Low Wood Bay Hotel wedding fair, held on Sunday 29^th January, will be our first wedding fair of the year. This 4 star hotel on the shore of Windermere is a beautiful venue for a wedding fair and an ideal opportunity for brides to be to see what is available to them within the local area.

At Friars we understand that a wedding day is very special and hope that our range of delightful boxes combined with superb fillings will help to make the day just that little bit more unique.

You can download our wedding favour brochure here.

Chocolat

2011-12-29T17:00:00.000Z

Chocolat is the French word for chocolate.

Most people love chocolat (or even chocolate) it’s one of those foods that has an illustrious history and has found popularity across the globe.

Chocolate also has some health benefits (in moderation only!) similar to dark vegetables. These benefits are from flavonoids which act as antioxidants. Dark chocolate has over 8 times the number of antioxidants than is found in strawberries.

Chocolat also enhances people’s moods, lower blood pressure and increase energy levels.

FLUSHED WITH SUCCESS

2011-12-02T17:24:00.000Z

ONE of the country’s highest flushing loos has been completed and christened in a mountain ceremony with a difference.

Standing at 2,500ft on the flanks of Helvellyn – the Lake District’s third highest mountain – this is no bog standard privy.

In fact, it has taken 75 years to bring the convenience to one of the most inconvenient locations in the land. But then the water closet’s creator, Lake District Ski Club, thrives on endurance – and challenge.

The Powder Room mission unleashed a chain reaction among the club’s 240 members, many of whom helped with the project. It comes after seven and half decades of skiing on Raise.

Carrying much of the equipment by hand – including the septic tank – up a steep fellside was a huge undertaking, according to committee member, Roger Newbold.

He explained: “Although the ultimate loo with a view had been in our minds for a great many years, the logistics of getting planning permission, putting up a building and organising the plumbing was far from easy.

“However, it is testimony to the true grit of our members that in 300 hours over 38 working days the seemingly impossible was achieved.”

“I guess this brings a whole new meaning to toilet training and we’re inordinately proud to have pulled-off this amazing feat in our anniversary year.

“We think there is only one higher flushing lavatory and that’s in the Civil Aviation Authority’s radar building on Great Dun Fell, near Penrith.”

Leading the project was club stalwart, Bernie Warriner, nearing his 80^th birthday, and the man behind the “Lake District premier ski resort’s” remarkable tow and members’ hut.

“It’s people like Bernie who make this club unique,” added Roger. “By their Herculean efforts, adversity has been turned into adventure and the seemingly impossible always accomplished.”

The 75^th anniversary has also been marked with a Lake District Ski Club Journal, following the tradition of a publication for each 25 year milestone.

Find out more and see the pictures on www.ldscsnowski.co.uk

Christmas Presents Store

2011-12-02T16:29:00.000Z

Christmas presents store is right here at Friars. We have a range of presents which will suit everyones taste. We have something for Mum, Dad and the kids.

We have Christmas Gift Boxes, Chocolate Goodies and Liqueur Chocolates.

With delivery starting at £3.95 to anywhere in the UK regardless of order size now is the time to visit our christmas presents store.

Halloween Chocolate and Treats

2011-10-18T15:49:00.001+01:00

It's Trick or Treat time again! Are you looking for some tempting gifts for your little monsters? Maybe your in need of some chocolate goodies to hand out to the flock of trick or treaters that will be heading to your door? At Ye Olde Friars you will find a selection of fiendishly fun chocolate treats that won't disappoint. From spooky chocolate ghosts lollies to marshmallow pumpkins, our sweet yet spooky treats are sure to keep the little monsters happy this Halloween.

Felt Trick or Treat Bag

Fiendishly fun felt bag with a bright orange pumpkin motif, perfect for trick or treaters to collect all their sweets and chocolate in.

Milk Chocolate Ghost Lolly

Spooky ghost lolly made from deliciously creamy milk chocolate and decorated with dark, white and coloured white chocolate.

Pumpkin Marshmallows

Squishy pumpkin shaped marshmallows, fiendishly fun treats for your little monsters.

Milk Chocolate Pumpkin Balls

Delicious milk chocolate pumpkin balls, individually wrapped in foil these pumpkin faces are ideal for handing out to tick or treaters who come knocking on your door.

Jelly Belly Bean Boozled

2011-09-23T17:34:00.000+01:00

Jelly Belly Bean Boozled is a box of Jelly Belly beans containing 8 classic flavours of jelly belly but with a twist, they have a twin that doesn’t taste quite as good. Each yummy, tasty jelly bean has a counterpart that has a weird and wild flavour instead. The box actually carries a caution label and the words dare to compare.

We all know how true to life the Jelly Belly flavours are and disturbingly the weird and wild flavours are exactly the same. We have all chewed the top of a pencil at some time in our lives and the pencil shavings jelly bean in the Jelly Belly Bean Boozled First Edition tasted exactly like this. They have now brought out the Second Edition and have changed some of the flavours. The list of tasty flavours and not so nice twins is as follows:

Strawberry Jam OR Centipede
Berry Blur OR Toothpaste
Chocolate Pudding OR Canned Dog Food
Peach OR Vomit
Caramel Corn OR Moldy Cheese
Buttered Popcorn OR Rotten Egg
Coconut OR Baby Wipes
Juicy Pear OR Booger

The Jelly Belly Bean Boozled are great for kids parties or even for adults as everyone likes to see someone eat a horrible one, they are also perfect for playing practical jokes on people. Ultimately though if your not willing to try them yourself then you shouldn't trick other people with them - so, do you dare too try them?

Jelly Belly Flavours

2011-09-15T17:25:00.000+01:00

Picking your favourite Jelly Belly flavour is not an easy task by any means, with 50 official flavours to choose from it takes plenty of thought. Then there are the special flavour mixes to consider, and the rookie flavours, when you add these to the mix you have to choose from over 80 different flavours! Surely an almost impossible task!

It must be quite easy for some people as we often have people ordering large amounts of just one flavour, for example Bubblegum, Coconut and Red Apple, but more often than not orders for Jelly Belly beans are usually for at least five different flavours probably because it is just too difficult to pick one favourite Jelly Belly flavour.

If I was forced to choose just one flavour to eat forever more I think I would have to go for Tutti-Frutti, but given the choice of five it would be this plus Sour Watermelon, Cherry Cola, Margarita and Bubblegum. Although to be honest this would probably change numerous times depending on the time of year!

The idea of having rookie flavours is great, brilliant way to see if new flavours appeal to people, the downside of course is that if they prove unpopular then they don't get added to the official 50 Jelly Belly flavours and are dropped. Not good news if one of them turns out to be your favourite. The current rookie flavours are Chilli Mango, Guava, Honey, Lychee and Passion Fruit.

Jelly Belly Machine

2011-09-07T17:00:00.000+01:00

Jelly Belly Bean Machines make brilliant gifts for those with a sweet tooth throughout the year but are especially good gifts for Christmas. One of the good things about jelly belly bean machines is that they need to be fed coins in order to dispense the jelly beans therefore allowing the recipient to save their pennies to buy their next lot of jelly beans.

Jelly Belly bean machines are available in different colours and sizes, here at Ye Olde Friars we sell two different sizes of Jelly Belly bean dispenser in the classic red colour.

Our small jelly belly bean dispenser is 23cm high and holds 650g of Jelly Belly beans. The large Jelly Belly bean dispenser is 28cm and holds 1.35kg of Jelly Belly beans.

Click here to buy Jelly Belly bean machines, and the Jelly Belly beans to fill them, from Ye Olde Friars.

The History of Chocolate

2011-09-02T17:13:00.000+01:00

It is estimated that chocolate has been enjoyed for over 2000 years, it's origins can be traced back to the time of the ancient Mayans and Aztecs. They discovered that the pods of the cacao tree could be ground up and mixed with spices, such as chilli peppers, to make a delicious yet bitter drink.

Both the Mayans and Aztecs believed that cacao beans had magical, even divine, properties so they were offered as gifts to the gods and used in a number of ancient rituals. Cacao was a major commodity for both the Aztecs and the Mayans which could be traded and was eventually used as a currency by the Aztecs.

When Columbus discovered America he brought cocoa beans back to Spain and introduced the beverage to Europe, although sugar and milk were added to lessen the bitterness of the beverage. Many people also replaced the spice of chilli with the sweetness of vanilla and its fame quickly spread as it was believed to have nutritious, medicinal and even aphrodisiac properties. The cocoa beverage however was expensive and so it became a symbol of status and nobility. In France, chocolate was exclusively reserved for members of the royal court.

The invention of the steam engine made mass production possible in the late 1700s and so chocolate became a food for the masses. During the 1800s, an English company, J.S. Fry & Sons, was the first company to make edible, solid chocolate by combining sugar, cocoa powder and cocoa butter and other English companies, such as Cadbury's and Rowntree's, followed suit.

Today some of these companies no longer exist but many more have popped up to replace them and the UK chocolate industry is now worth billions with chocolate sales growing every year, after all it is one of the nation's favourite food stuffs.

What is the Difference Between Dark, Milk and White Chocolate?

2011-08-15T16:45:00.001+01:00

Most people who love chocolate will have a favourite, whether that is dark, milk or white will come down to personal preference, but many probably don't know the fundamental differences between the three types of chocolate available. The crucial element in deciding whether chocolate is classed as dark, milk or white is the amount of cocoa liquor that is added during production.

Cocoa liquor is basically very finely ground cocoa beans, they are processed through a series of grinding stones that cause the beans to heat up and grind down to a thick paste, this is the cocoa liquor.The paste is extremely bitter but when combined with sugars and cocoa butter it creates the delicious product that we all know as chocolate.

Dark chocolate is made from the simple combination of just cocoa liquor, cocoa butter and sugar. The amount of cocoa liquor that is added determines how bitter the dark chocolate is, most dark chocolate will have a cocoa content of between 52% and 99%.

Milk chocolate is again made with cocoa liquor, cocoa butter and sugar but also with the extra addition of milk. It is lighter in colour and also uses less cocoa liquor, most milk chocolate will usually contain between 30% and 38% cocoa solids, however, chocolate producer Montezuma's does have a milk chocolate bar in it's range that contains 54% cocoa solids. Most people would say that milk chocolate is their favourite of the three types available as it does have that hit of chocolate that everyone craves but it is also generally smooth and creamy as well.

White chocolate is often not even considered to be chocolate, this is because no chocolate liquor is used at all in it's production, it is just cocoa butter combined with sugar and milk. Many people like white chocolate because it is sweet and creamy but it does not actually contain any cocoa solids, if cocoa solids are listed in the ingredients it is usually because of the inclusion of cocoa butter.

The three types of chocolate contain many similar components, the reason they differ is due to the amount of cocoa liquor used in the production of each. When more liquor is used dark chocolate is produced, less liquor produces milk chocolate and when no liquor is used then white chocolate is produced.

The History of Jelly Belly Beans

2011-08-08T12:03:00.001+01:00

We have been thinking about Jelly Belly jelly beans a lot at the moment. We recently had a portrait, created by artist Malcolm West, of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge made entirely out of Jelly Belly beans in our shop in Keswick. To commemorate this we held a competition to win £25 worth of, yep, you guessed it, jelly beans! So with jelly beans on our mind we thought we would take a look at the history of the Jelly Belly bean and see how it all started.

The idea for a truly great tasting jelly bean came about in 1960 when 19-year-old Herman Goelitz Rowland took over the family candy business. He was a fourth generation candy maker, his great-grandad Gustav Goelitz, a German immigrant, started the business in 1869 after buying an ice cream and candy store. Herman's idea, and the signature of the company, was to create a jelly bean with flavours in the centre but also the shell of the jelly bean. He also insisted on using the very best ingredients regardless of costs to ensure his jelly beans tasted terrific

The idea for the Jelly Belly beans that we know and love today came about in 1976 with a collaboration between Herman Goelitz and a Los Angeles based candy distributor who had an idea for a jelly bean made with natural flavourings. Together they came up with recipes that used Herman's original idea of flavoured shells and centres but only used, wherever possible natural ingredients to create their flavours and in 1976 the first eight Jelly Belly flavours were created. They were: Very Cherry, Lemon, Cream Soda, Tangerine, Green Apple, Root Beer, Grape and Liquorice. All are still available today and still some of the most popular flavours.

Today, Jelly Belly are still produced by the descendents of the Goelitz family and are the worlds number one jelly bean. There are 50 official flavours in the Jelly Belly range as well as some seasonal flavours and different assortments. Also lets not forget the 'rookie' flavours which if popular enough could move into the top 50, at the moment they include Green Tea, Guava, Lychee, Honey and Dark Chocolate.

Jelly Belly Portrait of Prince William and Kate Middleton

2011-07-08T12:04:00.000+01:00

This fabulous portrait of Prince William and Kate Middleton, made entirely from Jelly Belly jelly beans, is to be displayed in Ye Olde Friars from the 13th July until the 3rd August.

The mouth watering portrait is the work of artist Malcolm West and took five weeks to create the using 11,000 of the famous American Jelly beans. At 1.4m by 1.2m the image comprises 15 different flavours and weighs over 25 kilos.

We are delighted to have such a unique image on display in the shop, it's great to be able to provide the opportunity for our customers to view it. To celebrate having this delicious portrait in Keswick we are holding a competition to win £25 worth of Jelly Belly beans, visit our Facebook page for details and to enter.

Fellgather - A Celebration of Cumbrian Farming and Food

2011-06-10T13:31:00.000+01:00

This weekend sees the return of Fellgather, a great event that gives people a taste of rural life in Cumbria, especially farming and the food that is produced locally. Taking place in Cockermouth on the 11th June it gives people the chance to meet the farm animals that are an important part of life in Lakeland, plus the chance to watch rural crafts and taste some fabulous Cumbrian produce. It's a great day out for the family because there is so much to see and do and it also provides an ideal opportunity to educate children about where their food comes from.

There will be numerous local food, drink and craft producers, from butter makers to beekeepers and butchers to brewers.There will also be plenty of opportunities to learn a new skill with cooking and craft demonstrations galore, including basket making, weaving, spinning and dry stone walling.

Also at the event this year will be the Marston family, whose farm was featured in this years 'Lambing Live', along with some of the lambs that were born on the show.

Keswick Beer Festival 2011

2011-05-09T11:39:00.000+01:00

The Keswick Beer Festival takes place every year on the 1st weekend in June, this year will be the 15th festival and it will be held on the 3rd and 4th June. Started in 1997, the festival is a charitable fundraising event organised by Keswick Rugby Club and Keswick Lions Club.

The festival has grown in popularity over the years and has become the biggest beer festival in the North, with 170 Real Ales plus bottled beers and cider it attracts nearly 6000 beer enthusiasts over the two days and is always a sell out event. Tickets must be bought in advance as there are no ticket sales on the day and the Saturday is already sold out, so be quick if you want to attend the Friday session.

The beer is obviously the main attraction but there will also be live entertainment provided by 6 different bands and plenty of food on offer and hopefully the sun will be shining! For more information about the festival and to buy tickets you can visit the Keswick Beer Festival website.

Keswick's Royal Wedding Street Party - 29th April 2011

2011-05-02T10:50:00.000+01:00

Keswick's street party was a great success with crowds of people turning up to watch the wedding ceremony on the big screen. Tables and chairs were set up in front of the screen which started to fill up quite early in the morning with people securing their spot for the ceremony and by 11 o'clock the street was packed.The following picture was the view down the street from our window.

There were many food stalls for the event with everything from Italian and Mexican food to curries and gourmet burgers. Plus there were plenty of options if you wanted something sweet as many of the stalls were selling cakes and other sweet treats, one stall had, very appropriately, bowls of Eton Mess with a complimentary bucks fizz to toast the happy couple.

After the ceremony was over the party carried on with entertainment from local bands which lasted until late afternoon and with the sun shining for most of the day as well it was a great day out for all.

Keswick's Royal Wedding Street Party

2011-04-22T15:21:00.001+01:00

The Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton will be taking place on the 29th April and Keswick is getting involved in the celebrations with a big street party in the Market Square in the centre of the town. If you are going to be visiting Keswick and the surrounding area over this weekend then make sure you come to Keswick for a fun day out for all.

There are a number of events taking place and the Market Square will be decorated appropriately for a Royal Wedding with bunting and flags and to ensure no-one misses out on viewing the wedding, a 12 square metre screen will be set up by the Moot Hall. There will also be a food fayre, with many local food producers, and entertainment from local bands, so come along to try some Cumbrian food and soak up the atmosphere.

There are other events taking place at Keswick rugby club and at the Royal Oak at Braithwaite and many of the hotels in Keswick are celebrating with 'William and Kate's Afternoon Tea' which includes a slice of wedding cake and a glass of pink bubbly.

With free parking all day why not come along and help Keswick celebrate the wedding of the year.

Keswick Mountain Festival 2011

2011-04-15T14:38:00.000+01:00

If your a fan of the great outdoors and love nothing more than spending the day mountain biking through forests or clambering up fells then Keswick Mountain Festival is the event for you. Taking place between the 18th and 22nd May, the five day festival is packed full of sporting events, challenges, activities and talks by many inspirational speakers.

The main base of the festival is the adventure hub which will be based in Crow park on the edge of Derwentwater. Here you can get expert advice, pick up some cool gear and even taste some Cumbrian food from the many stands that will pack this area. You can also watch demonstrations, try some new activities and enjoy live music whilst also taking in the stunning scenery.

The line-up for the speaker programme, which is hosted by The Theatre by the Lake, is impressive and features something for everyone. Speakers featured include bushcraft and survival expert Ray Mears, record breaking cyclist Mark Beaumont, Britain's best known climber, Sir Chris Bonnington, plus many more speakers from all areas of outdoor adventure.

With so many events and activities going on over 5 days, Keswick Mountain Festival is an event not to be missed so whether you’re taking part in one of the activities or just want a fun family day out head down to Crow park and the adventure hub from the 18th to the 22nd May.

Victory for the Lindt Chocolate Easter Bunny

2011-04-09T13:11:00.000+01:00

After a marathon court battle over their iconic golden bunny, Lindt & Sprungli, the Swiss makers of the Lindt luxury chocolate brand, have finally won their case against an Austrian rival. On Monday a court in Vienna ruled that confectionary company Hauswirth must stop producing and selling it's own gold foil wrapped bunny to avoid any confusion for consumers.

Hauswirth's bunny alongside the original Lindt bunny

Lindt have been producing their Easter bunny with it's gold foil, red ribbon and bell since 1952 and sell millions worldwide every year. Lindt applied for, and received, EU trade mark status in 2000 and began the legal battle with Hauswirth in 2004 as they felt that Hauswirth's bunny was too similar to their own and harmed their trademark. The case has taken so long to resolve as Hauswirth disputed the validity of Lindt's trademark, claiming that chocolate bunnies had been wrapped in gold foil for decades.

Every year we have a good selection of chocolate animals from different chocolate producers but we always make sure we have some Lindt bunnies in stock as they are always popular with consumers. However to offer something different we usually stock the dark and white version which are equally delicious as the milk chocolate, in fact it will be the dark chocolate bunny that I will be nibbling on this Easter.

Keswick Jazz Festival

2011-04-01T21:23:00.000+01:00

Keswick Jazz Festival has grown in popularity over the years due to it's wide selection of traditional and mainstream Jazz performed by artists from all over the world. The festival takes place over 4 days between Thursday 12th May and Sunday 15th May and comprises 124 jazz events hosted in 16 different venues. Also this year there will be four evenings of special pre-festival events at the Theatre by the Lake from the 8th to the 11th may.

There are a variety of different venues for the jazz events, from hotels and bars to the cinema and churches spread around the town and surrounding areas, all providing a unique experience. One of the main highlights of the festival is the street parade with the Camelia Brass Band which begins in the Market Square and finishes in the Packhorse Court. It's a very colourful event due to the brightly decorated umbrellas that many of the participants carry with them, we have a perfect view of the finale of the parade as the fire escape of the shop looks out on to the packhorse court.

Visitors to Keswick over the festival period will find plenty of entertainment, as well as the street parade many artists perform on street corners which creates a fabulous atmosphere. To find out more information about the festival visit www.keswickjazzfestival.co.uk.

Lodore Wedding Fayre

2011-03-11T15:43:00.002Z

Attended the Lodore Falls Hotel Wedding Fayre on Sunday 6th March to promote our range of wedding favours. To one side of the exhibition hall there were some tables set up for the wedding breakfast, each table had the same colour scheme but different combination of wedding favours from our selection. Nearby we also had a table showing our full range of fillings and favours, you can view the photographs below and download our favour brochure here.

Fairtrade Fortnight

2011-02-28T16:49:00.001Z

Fairtrade fortnight is a full two weeks of special events held all over the country from chocolate and wine tasting to Fairtrade tea parties. Established by the Fairtrade Foundation in 2007, this fortnight of events provides the opportunity to make more people aware of Fairtrade and the benefits it provides for producers in developing countries and their communities.

This year the Fairtrade Foundation are encouraging businesses, schools and campaign groups to 'show of your label' and give people in the UK more reasons to choose Fairtrade. An event in Keswick has been organised by Fairtrade Keswick to help make people more aware of how much Fairtrade produce is actually available. Between the 28th February and 13th March both visitors and locals can take part in the Fairtrade Treasure Hunt.

There are 20 shops involved and each one has a Fairtrade item in their window hidden among the normal stock. There are numerous Fairtrade prizes for those who find the most items in each age group. If you are going to be visiting Keswick over the next two weeks and would like to get involved then you can pick up an entry form from the Moot Hall. We are one of the shops taking part in the treasure hunt, unfortunately can't give any hints as to what our product may be. Good luck if you take part.

Keswick's Winter Week of Light

2011-02-19T13:32:00.002Z

Keswick's Winter Week of Light starts this weekend on Sunday 20th February. The week has been organised to welcome the start of spring and includes two free family events, the first of which is on Sunday. The lantern parade begins at 6.30 pm and moves through the streets of Keswick down to the shores of Derwentwater where there will be a celebration of fire and music. The event is open to everyone and doesn't cost a penny, all you need is your own lantern.

The second event will be on Wednesday 23rd February, it involves a performance by a French theatre group, Compagnie des Quidams & Inko'Nito. Again this performance moves through the streets of Keswick, mysterious white figures on stilts appear and beckon you to follow them in search of light and transform into 4m high, majestic characters who start to light up. When they reach their destination they perform a magical rite to beautiful music which involves a luminous star.

Both of these events are free and there are also other music and dance performances throughout the week at Keswick's Theatre by the Lake. If you are unable to make it to these fabulous events then you can watch part of the processions on our webcam, which looks down onto the market square.

Valentines Day

2011-02-09T10:18:00.000Z

At this time of year an estimated one billion cards are sent around the world, not to mention all the chocolates and flowers that are bought all in the name of St.Valentine, the martyred saint the day is named after. Valentines day is a huge event nowadays but traditionally it was simply a chance for people to express their emotions in a time when direct expressions of affections were discouraged.

The tradition of celebrating Valentines day on February 14^th first became popular in Great Britain in the Seventeenth Century and by the Eighteenth Century it was common for people from all social classes to exchange small tokens and hand-written notes. Toward the end of the century, due to the improvements in printing technology, hand-written notes were replaced with printed cards, the predecessors of the wide range of Valentines cards that are available to us today.

In the hectic modern times that we live in it is too easy to let romance fall to the wayside. Valentines day provides the perfect opportunity to address this and show loved ones just how much they mean to us, whether it is with a card, beautiful flowers or delicious chocolate.

We have a selection of various sweet treats available this Valentines Day both online and in the shop to make your loved one feel very special indeed. Whether it is simply a small token, such as a milk chocolate heart or cupid lolly, or a larger gesture of wine and chocolates, you are sure to create a spark and set their heart on fire this Valentines day.

Montezuma's Organic Chocolate

2011-01-22T09:58:00.000Z

We recently added a new range of chocolate bars to the website by a company called Montezuma's. The chocolate bar section of the site was looking a bit sparse as unfortunately some of our previous selections were no longer being made, which was a shame as there were some unusual taste combinations. In our search for new chocolate bars we came across Montezuma's, a British company that uses mainly organic ingredients.

The company was founded in 2000 in a small shop in Brighton and has since grown to become one of Britains leading chocolate producers. From the beginning they have been firm believers in 'trading fairly' and were voted one of The Guardians Top 10 Ethical Chocolate Companies.

The cocoa they use in their products comes from a co-operative of over 9000 small plantations in the Dominican Republic and similar smaller co-ops in Peru.

Their chocolate bars are made with mainly organic ingredients, are suitable for vegetarians and contain no gluten, GM, colourings or preservatives so they are very appealing to people who are looking for a natural chocolate product. On top of this the chocolate is gorgeous; the dark chocolate is rich with a strong but smooth taste and the milk is amazingly creamy. They also have some wonderfully flavoured bars such as Butterscotch and Orange & Geranium. One of our favourites is the Milk Chocolate with Chilli and Lime; smooth, creamy milk chocolate with a strong, but not overpowering, taste of lime and a subtle hint of chilli which works so well with the lime.

If you are a bit of a chocolate connoiseur and fancy trying something new then give Montezuma's a go, you won't be disappointed.

Boxing Day Cricket Test Match on top of Latrigg

2011-01-07T12:14:00.000Z

There may have been snow and ice on the top of Latrigg on Boxing day but the village teams of Threlkeld and Braithwaite put their thermals on under their cricket whites and braved the cold to hold the 1st Boxing Day Cricket Test Match.

With the fabulous views of Derwentwater in the background the eight-a-side teams played a 12-over match to raise funds for Threlkeld Junior Cricket. Threlkeld won the toss and opted to bat, they finished with 92 for 5 off their 12 overs and ultimately won the match as Braithwaite ended up 7 runs short.

A 100 strong crowd of locals turned up to cheer on the teams and tourists who were out walking joined in the fun by partaking in the mulled wine and hot dogs that were on offer. For a while afterwards our cups of tea had a hint of mulled wine, as it was the Friars kettle that was used to warm the wine up on Latrigg, facilities were limited as you can imagine. In total £100 was raised for the Threlkeld Junior cricket team and a great day was had by all.

A Delicious Alternative to the Traditional Mince Pie

2010-12-18T10:47:00.002Z

Don't get me wrong I love mince pies, they really make my Christmas, but sometimes all that pastry just gets to be too much. I wanted to make a delicious treat that had that amazing taste of Christmas but wasn't quite so heavy.

After a little looking around I found the following recipe by Jane Hornby which is a moist cake with mincemeat and spiced pears, it was absolutely delicious with a dollop of cream and a cup of tea. I adapted the recipe slightly from the original by folding some of the mincemeat into the cake mix to ensure you can taste the mincemeat in every bite. I used our Rum and Sherry mincemeat to give the cake a bit of a boozy kick, it is nearly Christmas after all.

So if you will be having plenty of visitors over the Christmas season why not offer them a piece of this lovely cake instead of the usual mince pie.

Pear and Mincemeat Crumble cake

Ingredients

For the pears

4 firm pears, peeled, cored and cut into thumb-size pieces
2 tbsp golden caster sugar
1 tsp mixed spice

For the cake mix

250g pack salted butter , softened (use a tiny bit for greasing)
250g golden caster sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract or vanilla paste
5 large eggs
200g self-raising flour
100g ground almonds
7 tbsp plain flour
6 tbsp rum and sherry mincemeat
1 tbsp golden caster sugar for sprinkling

Method

Put pears into a non-stick frying pan with the sugar, mixed spice and 2 tbsp water. Cover, then cook over a medium heat for 10 mins until just tender, stirring every so often. There shouldn't be juices once the pears are cooked. Leave to cool.
Heat oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3. Butter then line the base and sides of a 20cm round, deep cake tin. Put butter, sugar, vanilla and ¼ tsp salt into a large bowl. Beat with an electric hand whisk until pale and fluffy. Add eggs and flour, beat until smooth, then fold in almonds with a spoon.
Remove 85g of the cake mix into a small bowl and add the plain flour, chop into the mix with a cutlery knife to make a soft, crumbly-looking mix. With the remaining cake mix, fold 3 tbsp of the mincemeat in with a spoon.
Spoon half the cake mix into the tin, top with half the pears, dot over some mincemeat, then dollop the rest of the cake mix on top. Scatter with remaining pears, more mincemeat, then the crumble mix. Sprinkle with 1 tbsp sugar.

5.Bake for 1½ hrs, covering with foil after 1 hr, until golden, risen and a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean. Cool in the tin for 10 mins, then cool on a rack. Keep it in the lining paper, as this will help it stay moist. Will keep, well wrapped in an airtight tin, for 5 days. Freeze for 1 month.

Marzipan

2010-12-13T16:45:00.000Z

One of our most popular products at this time of year is marzipan, so we always add a few extra lines to our already quite extensive range of products to give people even more choice. Festive favourites include traditional marzipan fruits, a giant bar of chocolate covered marzipan and a German spiced marzipan which is the taste of Christmas.

Marzipan differs greatly in both taste and the way it is made depending on where it comes from. The marzipan that we sell mainly comes from Germany, where it is made by grinding whole almonds with sugar and partially drying the paste. We also sell English marzipan which is a bit sweeter, coated in either milk or white chocolate, so that everyones taste is catered for.

The taste and quality of marzipan is also dependent on the percentage of almonds used, for example the range of marzipans that we stock have an almond percentage of between 20 and 46%, the highest of which can be found in the Niederegger marzipan range. Niederegger is a German company that produces fine quality marzipan and is one of our most popular lines. The range includes both plain and flavoured bars, such as orange and maple & walnut, as well as gift boxes filled with small bars with a variety of flavours.

Whether you prefer your marzipan to be traditional and coated in dark chocolate or sweeter and coated in milk chocolate you are sure to find something in our range to satisfy your taste buds.

Traditional Wooden Christmas Pyramids @ Friars of Keswick

2010-12-03T14:36:00.001Z

The Christmas pyramid is a kind of carousel with different tiers often depicting the nativity, although other motifs such as angels are also used. Candles are traditionally used to achieve the spinning motion and help to create a warm atmosphere, however, you can also find electric versions with a motor to make the pyramid turn.

The Christmas pyramid originated in Erzgebirge, a mountain range that creates a natural border between Germany and the Czech Republic. The predecessor of the Christmas pyramid is the Lichtergestelle, a construction of 4 poles decorated with evergreen branches that were tied together at the top and then lit with candles. To form the pyramid that we see today another pole with a propeller was added to the centre of the construction, the heat from candles that featured on the original Lichtergestelle were then used to make the pyramid spin.

Today there are many different and elaborate designs available in various different sizes, often you will see giant pyramids in the centre of Germany's bustling Christmas markets.

This will be the fourth year that we have had Christmas pyramids available in our shop and they are proving to be as popular as ever. We also sell the candles to go with the pyramids as they have to be of a certain size. If they are too large they can scorch the wood which apart from ruining these beautiful ornaments can obviously be dangerous. So if you add a pyramid to your Christmas decorations this year make sure you buy the correct candles to ensure you enjoy your pyramid year after year.

Keswick Traditional Christmas Fayre

2010-11-26T15:23:00.004Z

Keswick's traditional Christmas fayre takes place every year on the first Sunday of December, this year it will be on the 5^th. The fayre is organised by representatives from Keswick Lions Club, Keswick and Bassenthwaite Rotary Clubs, Keswick Inner Wheel and other local volunteers. The fair is a mixture of market stalls and street entertainment and for small children there is a small funfair and santa's grotto.

The whole event is run on a non-profit making basis and the stalls are for local charities and organisations only and provide the opportunity to raise funds for their specific good causes.

Traditionally the fayre marks the start of the festive season in Keswick and it certainly looks the part with the Christmas lights and the decorated market stalls. It is one of the busiest weekends of the year and here at Friars we like to get involved and get into the festive spirit by wearing santa hats or angel wings. This year we will also have a couple of staff members dressed up in chilli costumes to sell our hot chilli jelly sweets around the market, the profits of which will be going to a local organisation. It would be great if we could all wear full fancy dress but as it's not very practical it's unlikely to happen, shame really, the boss would making a cracking elf!

Lake District Ski Club 2011 Season starts early

2010-11-15T08:48:00.001Z

Last Wednesday (10^th November) saw the lift turning for the first time up on Raise in the Helvellyn range, providing snow sports in early November!
The Lake District Ski Club operates a drag lift (110m of vertical uplift) powered by a diesel generator which gives skiers and boarders access to some varied and challenging terrain.

Set up 75 years ago the club is run entirely by volunteers and last year provided over 60 days of snow sports.

There is also a club hut complete with lights and heating which is perfect after the hour long walk from Greenside mines.

A few of us from Friars like to go up whenever possible (often during the week as weekends are pretty busy) and we always make sure to take some chocolate covered mint cake for energy!

They have a webcam which updates daily and a ‘snowline’ (015395 35456) which you can ring for a report on the conditions.

It’s something different which not many people who live here realise is there and it provides some surprisingly good skiing.

Christmas Lights Switch On In Keswick

2010-11-12T15:26:00.001Z

On the 19^th of November Keswick's Christmas lights will be turned on and to mark the event there will also be a Cumbrian food fayre in the market square. This is an opportunity for visitor's to try the fine, locally produced food that Cumbria has to offer.

The town council and local businesses invested in new Christmas lights with a lake district theme, they feature walkers and landscapes of fells, a couple of years ago and they are displayed down the full length of the main street. The packhorse court also has a good display with wreaths and baubles that light up and sparkle once it gets dark.

Last years event drew a large crowd due to the fact that the Christmas lights were switched on by Prince Charles. He was in Cumbria to visit the towns affected by the floods that devastated the area last November. It's probably quite safe to say we won't have such a high profile visitor this year but the event will still be worth a visit as there will be plenty of delicious Cumbrian fare to sample and many of the shops will be staying open later than usual. We will be open until 7pm so if you are in the area make sure you pop in and make a start on your Christmas shopping and if you can't make it you can still see the lights being turned on via our webcam.

Keswick Christmas Window Displays 2010

2010-11-05T17:10:00.025Z

As the seasons change so do our window displays. In Summer they are always bright and colourful, Autumn sees them looking rustic with hues of brown, orange and gold and in Winter they become very seasonal indeed with Christmas trees and other festive delights. The Christmas window displays are the most fun to design as there are so many options to choose from and they always look extra special filled with sparkling lights which really stand out as the nights close in.

The window displays change every year to keep them fresh, this year it was decided that they would be rather glamourous filled with shiny, sparkly baubles in red and gold, but it's not just the windows that get dressed, we also decorate the rest of the shop to complement the window display.

It actually only takes a couple of days to put the window displays in but the planning actually begins in February with the trade fairs, it's at this time that we make sure we have enough decorations for both the shop and the window. It then has to be set up to make sure everything works together, if it is successful then we take photographs to work off when we put the actual display into the window. Also during this planning time the decorations for the shop usually have to be made. So all in all it's rather a long process condsidering they are only in for about 8 weeks, but we think it's worth it and we may be biased but we think they look rather good this year!

Traditional Rum Butter - A Cumbrian Delicacy

2010-10-29T14:28:00.000+01:00

Many myths surround the origin of Rum Butter yet no-one knows for sure who actually invented it. It first appeared in Cumbrian larders in the late 18^th century, it was around this time that merchant ships from the West Indies first brought exotic foods such as nutmeg and rum to the region through the busy ports of Whitehaven, Workington and Maryport. By the time Queen Victoria came to the throne in 1837 Rum Butter was an integral to every Christening celebration. It was traditional to pass a bowl around the assembled guests and it was given to the mother to help restore her to health.

Traditionally it is eaten on toast, oatcakes, scones and fruit bread but today it is also well known as a Christmas favourite and is a equally delicious on mince pies and Christmas pudding. With the Christmas season fast approaching it is the ideal opportunity to sample this delicious Cumbrian delicacy.

If you would like to know a bit more about Rum Butter the there will be an article about in the food section of the Cumberland and Westmorland Herald in late November which will also include a voucher for a free 100g tub of Rum Butter courtesy of Friars of Keswick.

Corporate Gifts Cumbria

2010-10-25T10:00:00.001+01:00

With such a fantastic array of local produce available here in Cumbria it is little wonder that the corporate section is one of the fastest growing areas of our business. Corporate gifts allow companies to improve relationships with clients, staff and add a little extra to promotional campaigns.

Our unique range of gifts allows companies to get something a little bit different. We’ve supplied everything from chocolate lipsticks to a national cosmetics firm to tool kits to a multinational financial firm.

The backbone of our corporate business however, is here in Cumbria. Particularly around Christmas local companies often request gift hampers tailored to their specific requirements. We also have strong links to several local hotels.

As one of the larger independent retailers in the UK we can secure very competitive prices and if we don’t stock it, we can get it.

Halloween and Fireworks in Keswick

2010-10-15T12:54:00.000+01:00

Its safe to say that Autumn is here. It's turning chilly and the nights are getting longer, in fact it's actually only two weeks until the clocks go back an hour and the days will be very short indeed.

It's also only two weeks until it is Halloween. Traditionally falling on the 31^st of October because of the Celtic festival of Samhain, this festival celebrates the end of the lighter half of the year and the beginning of the darker half. It was believed at this time of year that spirits could cross over from the otherworld so people would dress up to ward them off. Also known as all hallows eve, the festival has adapted to become what we now know as Halloween and this is why we dress up in scary costumes, go trick or treating and carve pumpkins.

If you are expecting lots of trick or treaters this year or are having a Halloween party then you should check out our range of decorations and chocolate treats to make sure you keep all the little monsters happy this year.

The Halloween weekend also coincides with Keswick's fireworks display that is held every year at Keswick rugby club. It promises to be a spectacular show so if you are going to be in the Lake district over that weekend make sure you don't miss it and don't forget your sparklers.

Traditional English Chocolates and confectionary @ Friars of Keswick

2010-10-09T12:42:00.000+01:00

Rose and Violet Creams, Chocolate Ginger, Hard Centred Caramels, Crystallised Fondants and Vanilla Creams. These chocolates often spark fantastic reactions from customers in our shop. Many haven’t seen them for years or they just don’t know where else to get them from.

The responses and enthusiasm we get to these chocolates is brilliant as they are an essential part of our history. I am reliably informed that these traditional chocolates are the longest standing product in our shop, over 40 years!

Hopefully these chocolates will remain a success in the future particularly with the emergence of the perhaps more fashionable truffle and more unusual flavour combinations. Our large selection of chocolates now includes Mousse au Chocolat, Baileys Truffles and Pink Champagne and Strawberry Truffles, which we feel complement our more traditional range rather well.

The good news is we are going to keep selling them as they taste great and we feel they are a vital part of the chocolate making culture in Britain.

Scrumptiously Fudgey Brownies made with Hachez Mango and Chilli Chocolate

2010-09-25T17:14:00.000+01:00

Thought it was about time we added a recipe to the blog, had thought about making cupcakes but then decided some gooey, fudgey brownies would be much better. The recipe called for dark chocolate so I substituted it with Hachez's Mango and Chilli dark chocolate, with 77% cocoa solids the brownies would still be rich but hopefully have a fruity taste with a hint of spice.

The taste of the mango came through really well, it didn't hit you in the face but, it was definitely there. My only complaint was the spice of the chilli was lost, possibly diffused by the added sugar that was necessary for the recipe. There was a slight tingle but I think if I made these again I would add some chilli powder to the mix to ensure that the chilli kick was there as it does work so well with the fruity mango. Either way the brownies were exactly as they should be, dense and fudgey. Here is the recipe so you can try it yourself.

Ingredients

185g unsalted butter
185g Hachez Mango and Chilli dark chocolate
85g plain flour
40g cocoa powder
3 large eggs
275g golden caster sugar

Method

Cut the butter into small cubes and put in a medium sized bowl. Break the chocolate into small pieces and add to the butter. Place the bowl over a pan of hot water on a low heat, don't let the bowl touch the water, and stir occasionally until it is all melted and glossy. Allow to cool to room temperature.

Turn the oven on to fan 160C/180C/gas mark 4. Line a shallow 20cm square cake tin with parchment paper, or foil and grease with butter.

You will have to buy two bars of chocolate so chop up what is left over into small chunks, we will add this to the mix later.

Break the eggs into a bowl and add the sugar. Use an electric whisk to beat the egg and sugar together until it is creamy and doubled in size. This could take up to 10 mins, be patient it will happen. Next fold in the cooled chocolate mixture, don't stir it too vigorously or you will knock out the air you just spent 10 mins putting in.

Once this is folded together sift in the flour and cocoa powder and again fold it in gently, then stir in the broken chocolate pieces. Pour in to your prepared tin and push towards the edges.

Place in the oven for 25 mins. Check whether it is done by inserting a cocktail stick, if it comes out clean then remove from oven, if it comes out with cake mix on it put it back in for another 5 mins.

Let the brownie cool completely in the tin, then turn out and cut into 16 squares, or if you want smaller pieces cut again diagonally to make 32 triangles. Then enjoy :)

Traditional Cumbrian crafts and events on show in Borrowdale

2010-09-20T12:54:00.000+01:00

Yesterday was the Borrowdale Sheperd's Meet and Show, these traditional shows take place throughout Cumbria over the Summer and Autumn and provide an opportunity for visitor's to take part in some traditional Cumbrian events, from fell races to Cumbrian wrestling.

They also provide the opportunity to see demonstrations of traditional crafts such as dry-stone walling , which you can see examples of throughout Cumbria. Constructed without mortar, stones are carefully selected and interlocked to create a strong, stable structure, this is a specialised craft and skilled wallers are now few in number.

The shows also have many other attractions which include pipe bands, country dancers and the very traditional sheep dog trials. For those who like to get involved there is also a craft marquee where visitors can try their hand at traditional crafts such as making willow baskets, rugs and wool spinning and knitting.

Usually Keswick also has it's own Sheperd's Show and Meet, just on the outskirts of town, but unfortunately this year it had to be cancelled. We look forward to it coming back next year with all the traditional crafts and events and also the obligatory beer tent, an essential part of the show.

Kendal Mint Cake - A Cumbrian Speciality.

2010-09-11T17:33:00.001+01:00

Obviously being based in the Lake District we are surrounded by lots of lovely fells and lakes which provide the perfect opportunity to try many outdoor pursuits. Keswick is a perfect base whatever your prefered activity, especially as the town has a number of outdoor shops where you can pick up essential supplies and kit.

One item that many people feel is essential for outdoor pursuits is Kendal Mint Cake as it is perfect for providing plenty of energy when you feel yourself flagging. It is also an enjoyable minty treat even if your not a big fan of outdoor activities.

Mint cake has been used as a source of energy on many important expeditions over the years. In 1953 it was used by Sir Edmund Hillary and his team on the first succesful ascent of everest and in more recent years Ewan Mcgregor and Charlie Boorman took it with them when they motorcycled around the world in the TV programme 'The Long Way Round'.

There are numerous types of mint cake available although it is all made with the same basic ingredients, sugar, glucose, water and peppermint oil. The different varieties available are white or brown, the difference being the type of sugar used, chocolate covered, extra strong and aniseed.

So next time you go for a long hike, or maybe you prefer climbing or kayaking, make sure you take some mint cake along, just in case you need a quick burst of energy.

The Search For Unique Giftware @ Friars of Keswick

2010-09-04T19:06:00.001+01:00

When people talk about Friars of Keswick they often refer to it as 'the chocolate shop', for obvious reasons, but something else that we are well known for is our range of giftware. As well as stocking an extensive range of all things chocolatey we also try to ensure that we have a good selection of non-edible gifts that cover all occasions and all age ranges.

Although most of our giftware is unique to us in the fact that we customise everything by adding sweets or chocolate we also like to have a few items that customers will be unlikely to find elsewhere. Twice a year we visit various trade shows to buy stock, a year in advance of when we actually need it, and to find those interesting items that keep people coming back. As well as the usual shows in the UK we also ensure that we make a trip to Frankfurt, this provides an opportunity to meet new suppliers and to find giftware that will, hopefully, be unique to our shop.

Our most recent trip to Frankfurt was just over a week ago the purpose of which was to buy next years Summer stock, we also have a show in the UK to visit this week. It sounds like it would be fun but with everyone focused on Christmas at the moment it is actually quite a hard task to think about summer even though it's only just over with. It's definitely worth it though when people tell us that an item we have bought will make the perfect gift.

adidas Adventure Race Lakes 2010 in Keswick

2010-08-20T10:43:00.002+01:00

The adidias TERREX Adventure Race will be taking place in the Lake District over the August bank holiday weekend. The race begins in the early hours of Friday the 27th and ends on Monday the 30th at the Moot Hall in Keswick town centre. The organisers are expecting competitors to finish through Sunday night up to Monday lunch time so we will be moving our webcam to focus on the Moot Hall to watch the entrants cross the finish line.

The event will cover a distance of 400km and includes a combination of fell running, orienteering, mountain biking and paddling, there could also be some rope work involved with competitors abseiling or scrambling over our lovely Lakeland fells. The main event has 30 teams, each with four members, who will all be carrying a tracker so you can track their progress in real time on the event website which is at www.adidas-ar.com/newsite/index.php. The ultimate winner will be the team who finish in the shortest time including penalties.

The event is open to all levels of experience and starting on the thursday is the Prologue Adventure Race, a free mini adventure race for those who want to test out their skills without commiting to the main event. The main emphasis with this event is to have fun and it also provides the opportunity to win some adidas TERREX goodies. So if you haven't got any plans and you and your friends fancy testing out your skills why not head to Keswick next weekend and take part in the adidas Prologue Adventure Race.

Deliciously Dark Chocolate.

2010-08-13T14:05:00.000+01:00

Dark chocolate, not to everyones taste, but usually just one small square can satisfy even the strongest chocolate craving. Many people say they don't like dark chocolate but this is probably because they have only tried a lower grade chocolate. A good quality chocolate is rich and smooth with a melt in the mouth texture, it can have a bitter edge but this all depends on the cocoa content. The higher percentage of cocoa used the more bitter the chocolate becomes. In Britain we are used to eating milk chocolate that is very sweet and usually you would need to eat the whole bar to feel that your chocolate craving has been satisfied.

Dark chocolate comes in a variety of cocoa percentages, our range varies from 52% to 99%, and often vanilla will be added to counteract the bitterness of the cocoa, this means it is usually possible to find a dark chocolate to suit even the sweetest taste buds.

The flavour of dark chocolate can also vary depending on the region in which the cocoa is grown, for example Madagascan cocoa beans are grown among banana plants therefore there is often has a subtle hint of natural banana flavour in the chocolate that is produced using this cocoa. However it is often the case that other natural flavours will be added as dark chocolate works very well with both fruity and spicy flavours, some of our most popular ones are chilli, ginger and orange.

So if you never have dark chocolate because you think it will be too bitter try and give it another go, maybe with a lower cocoa percentage or a flavoured bar, you may like it and find you don't go back to milk chocolate again.

How are our novelty chocolates decorated?

2010-08-07T08:31:00.000+01:00

We sell a large range of chocolate novelties, such as tool kits, lipsticks, PC mice, mobile phones and much more. Many people assume that they are decorated (i.e. the detail which is depicted using white and dark chocolate on a milk chocolate tool kit) by a machine and the process is completely automated.
This couldn’t be further from the truth; every single item is decorated by hand. The process starts with the inside of the mould being ‘painted’ in different types of chocolate, in the case of the screwdriver below, dark chocolate would be painted into the handle area of the mould. Milk chocolate is then poured into the mould. When it cools and sets the result is a perfectly decorated screwdriver complete with detail.

Machines are available to do this but it is a very delicate process which is unique to each product. Machines are horrendously expensive and do not offer the flexibility of a human.
The quality of the final product depends on the skill of the chocolatier and the quality control process in place.
Generally the quality we receive is good, sometimes it falls well below par. The problem arises when you spot a product in a catalogue such as an Easter bunny. The seasonal items are invariably made in Germany or Belgium and the UK importers don’t hold samples. So based on the photograph in the brochure you then place an order for several hundred bunnies.
99 times out of 100 the quality is fine, occasionally it’s not. We had some bunnies this year with legs missing and eyes which looked like they’d been wearing their mascara in the rain!
Sometimes we claim off the supplier for these, other times we sell them off as broken chocolate or at a reduced price.

So now you know the work that goes into a decorated chocolate novelty item!

Keswick Convention 2010

2010-07-29T13:00:00.001+01:00

Some of you may already know that a 3 week religious convention takes place in Keswick every year, originally starting in 1875. Today is the end of week 2.

Up to 4000 people descend on the town each week, bringing challenges for local residents and businesses.

Due to religious events taking place throughout the day the town can be quiet for long periods and then suddenly get busy once they’ve finished the seminar/event they were attending. Also trade is pretty slow on a Sunday morning as you might expect!

Rising Cocoa Prices

2010-07-23T11:52:00.004+01:00

There was an interesting article in the news this week with regards to cocoa prices, they have been pushed to their highest level since 1977 by one man, a hedge fund manager who has purchased nearly all of Europe's physical stock of cocoa, worth £650 million. This has led to speculation that the cost of chocolate is going to soar just in time for Christmas.

We feel here at Friars that this will not be the case, or at least not for us anyway. We placed our Christmas chocolate orders months ago and in fact, as I have said in a previous post, some of it has already arrived. Due to the fact that we bought our Christmas stock so far in advance and secured the price we can keep many of our prices the same as last year, any increases that will be applied will be in line with inflation as opposed to any rise in cocoa prices. There may be a possibility that this situation could affect the price of chocolate for Easter as we don't buy that stock until September, the next cocoa harvest is not due until late September and October.

At least for now we can expect that prices for at Christmas will be the same or at least very similar to last year, so maybe it will be a chocolatey Christmas after all.

You can read the article at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-10684323

Christmas Gifts and Chocolate at Ye Olde Friars

2010-07-16T11:48:00.000+01:00

The first of our Christmas stock was delivered on Monday morning, 1.5 tonnes of chocolate balls covered in christmas themed foil, a delightful start to the week, but we have to get used to it as this is just the beginning.

Some of the chocolate balls will be weighed up into 200g bags to be sold in the shop as stocking fillers but much of it will be used on our giftware. Nearly every piece of giftware that we sell will have some chocolate or other type of sweet attached to it; we feel that adding chocolate coins to a money box, for example, makes it more of a gift.

All of the products that are used on our giftware or in our gift boxes and hampers are prepared with plenty of time to spare so that when it comes to making them up half the job is already done. That means that we will start this preparation in the next week or so as our Christmas stock usually goes out in the middle of September, which seems ages away now but is actually only about 8 weeks. Some people complain that Christmas starts too early, but there is the demand for it; many of our customers come back year after year to buy their Christmas presents from us as our gifts are unique and interesting. We often get asked in August when our Christmas stock is going to be put out.

It seems quite ridiculous that in the middle of Summer we are preparing for Christmas, although today it is grey, dull and very wet outside so you could easily pretend it's actually winter. The fact is that Christmas doesn't really stop here at Friars, we are thinking about or preparing for Christmas most of the year, we have maybe 2 or 3 months where it isn't really a factor. You would think that we would all hate Christmas having to think about it most of the year, but the fact is for most of us it's actually our favourite time of year, personally I can't wait.

Diabetic chocolates and sweets.

2010-07-09T11:33:00.000+01:00

Here at Friars we are firm believers that everyone should be able to enjoy the wonder that is chocolate. Unfortunately, some people find that they can't enjoy the treats they used to have because of health issues such as diabetes.

Many diabetes charities suggest that the best thing to have if you fancy some chocolate is a small quantity of the real thing but for those who feel more reassured by the no added sugar/sugar free versions we have an extensive range available.

Our no added sugar chocolates are made by a company called Cavalier, a Belgian company founded in 1996 that is commited to researching and developing alternative sweeteners, such as maltitol, in order to provide a chocolate that is suitable for people who either need or want to have a low sugar diet without compromising on taste. We have recently added two new products to the range available, a gift box containing 4 filled chocolate bars, one with classic fillings such as praline and one with fruity fillings such as raspberry & strawberry and banana with cocoa nibs.

As well as chocolate we also stock a range of sugar free sweets by a company called de Bron, the range includes fruity jellies, liquorice and toffees. Made with natural flavours and colourings where possible, these enjoyable treats are sweetened with maltitol.

So if you suffer from diabetes, or maybe you are just trying to lead a healthier lifestyle, you are sure to find something to tempt your taste buds without having to worry about risking your health or your waistline.

Chilli Chocolate, Fudge, Sweets and More!

2010-07-03T10:52:00.000+01:00

Chilli is becoming more and more popular in both cooking and confectionary as the chilli adds a fragrant quality to a dish and depending on which chilli variety is used either a subtle or strong heat. Here at Friars we stock a wide range of chilli based products including rich dark chocolate with a hint of chilli, truffles that are dusted in a mix of cocoa and chilli powder, creamy fudge that is flecked with dried chilli flakes and pickles and chutneys that will set your mouth on fire and have you reaching for a glass of milk! This is my top tip when it comes to eating chilli, don't drink water if something is too spicy as it will only make the heat worse, always go for milk or a yoghurt based drink such as lassi.

To keep our range of products fresh we have recently added some new products that are quite firey, the first of which is a chilli sweet. It may look quite innocent and when you first pop it into your mouth it is sweet, but you will soon start to feel the heat coming through and it gets quite strong, the perfect treat for those who have a sweet tooth but also have a preference for anything hot.

The other new products that we have recently added are a range of chutneys and pickles produced by a local company who only use fresh ingredients and authentic recipes. Mr Vikki's chutneys and pickles range from a delicious apricot chutney with a subtle hint of chilli, a perfect alternative to mango chutney, to a hot pickle called HHH - Hell Hot Habenero, a fragrant, flavourful pickle that has a really good hot chilli kick to it. One of their more unusual pickles is their Banana Habenero, a unique recipe that combines ripe bananas with flavourful Habenero chillies to create an utterly delicious pickle that is both fruity and hot.

If you prefer your pickles to be scorching hot though then you really want to try King Naga. This pickle is made using the Naga chilli, one of the hottest in the world, and with a content of 80% chilli it really does set your tongue on fire. Try it if you dare and make sure you have that glass of milk handy!

Product Tasting

2010-06-28T10:25:00.000+01:00

We currently sell over 600 edible lines (excluding all our giftware – mugs, moneyboxes, soft toys etc) and before we choose to stock anything it needs to be tested! From chutney to chocolate, at least 4 people need to try it and come to a decision.
This week we have been refreshing our loose chocolate selection. Currently we have over 40 different loose chocolates. Over time peoples tastes change and customers are always looking for something new.
We had 14 new chocolates to taste, ranging from Tia Maria to Four Berry. To many, this might sound like an ideal way to spend half an hour, but in reality it’s hard work!

We usually start by chopping each chocolate in half. We do this for 2 reasons;
1.To look at the colour and consistency of the centre
2.To increase the amount of time until we’ve ‘had enough!’

After this we each try the chocolate, talk about it and then make a decision.

It’s important that the chocolate complements our range and doesn’t ‘overlap’ onto other chocolates that we sell. Consistency in supply and quality are also essential criteria which need to be met before we decide to stock the item.

After about 6 chocolates you start to feel a little full and it can often be a chore to continue!

There are currently no vacancies for this role.

Chocolate Filled Wedding Favour Boxes

2010-06-19T11:26:00.000+01:00

It's summer and that means it is wedding season. One of the products that we offer is wedding favours and this year we have attended many of the local wedding fairs to try and reach a wider audience, some were better than others but all have been a wonderful learning curve. Although we already have quite a selection of favour boxes we felt that possibly we were a bit limited with our selection of colours so with that in mind we have recently introduced two new boxes. The new boxes are simple but elegant and are available in 19 different colours.

We have numerous fillings for the favour boxes from delicious truffles and hand made chocolates to novelty items such as chocolate hedgehogs and ladybirds for children, we like to make sure that every guest is catered for.

Other new ideas we have introduced this year include edible chocolate boxes made from fine milk or white chocolate and filled with a selection of delicious truffles, a wonderful alternative to having individual favours for each guest. Another alternative to individual favours that we offer is the hire of large wine glasses which are filled to the brim with scrumptious chocolates and truffles, these can be placed on a table to make an ideal centrepiece that guests can help themselves to.

We only have one more fair to attend this season at The Inn on the Lake in Ullswater, we are really looking forward to it as it is in a stunning location. It isn't for another two weeks but we have been busy preparing everything for our display, changing things around to incorporate our new favour boxes, making sure everything is perfect.

Father's day @ Ye Olde Friars

2010-06-11T12:49:00.000+01:00

Spent some time making changes to the website last week to reflect the fact that it will soon be Father's day. We added a new banner to the hompage and also a Father's day occasion section with lots of ideas to help our customers find that perfect gift for dad. Luckily my dad is the easiest person in the world to buy for, give him chocolate and he's happy, fortunate due to the fact i'm surrounded by it all day. We really had fun designing the banner for Father's day, using a chalk board background and then adding the products on torn pieces of paper so it looked like an idea board, like someone couldn't decide which product to buy.

The banner also incorporated another important event that starts this month, that would be today in fact, the World Cup! Football fever is everywhere at the moment, as I write this the new World Cup song is actually playing on the radio. We have a selection of football themed chocolate all year round but we have added a special world cup section to the Occasion menu on the website so footie fans can easily find what they are looking for. We also intend to have a football themed homepage for as long as England are in the competition, which will be going on the site once Father's day has passed.

Ye Olde Friars of Keswick about our blog

2010-06-04T10:57:00.000+01:00

Things are changing at a rapid pace here at Friars, at the start of the year we launched our website, that was then followed by a Facebook page, twitter account and now a blog. The aim of which is to give you an insight into what goes on behind the scenes, for example would you believe it but for the last month we have been finalising our Christmas range! Which giving the current glorious sunny weather feels a bit strange.

We also intend to keep you informed about anything going on in Keswick, new product launches, ideas for cooking with our chocolate and other products, plus anything else that crops up that might be of interest.

So if your a fan of all things chocolatey then this is the blog for you.