Rumsey’s Chocolaterie of Wendover: The Old Bank, 26 High Street, Wendover, Bucks, HP22 6EA
There is nothing like a hot chocolate and a slice of cake on a cold day! And what better way than to kick off 2013?
Rumsey’s has been creating chocolate since 1991, but the Wendover branch was opened in 2004. It’s a lovely environment in which to sit and relax and you can even see the chocolates been handmade through the glass windows into the catering unit downstairs. It’s always a lively and busy shop, where tables are much sought after, and the food even more so!
The menu includes soups, salads and small main dishes but we were here for cake. The house espresso hot chocolate is a neat shot of dark chocolate, subtly spiced with orange, ginger and other warming flavours. The texture was thick and rich, wonderful for dipping in the coated chocolate gingerbread wafers served with it. The regular hot chocolate with whipped cream is better for those who like their drink a little sweeter, matched by a dark chocolate leaf draped over the rim of the cup to melt into the cream – a beautiful touch.
The cake list is extensive and comprehensive, combining fruity flavours of the lumberjack cake (apples, dates and a coconut topping) along with chocolate torte, blueberry cheesecake and lemon tart. The chocolate banana bread was a thick slab of moist sponge. It was more of a cake than a bread but very light and the chocolate flavour allowed the sweetness of the banana to come through still. A hot chocolate brownie was dark and velvety, but typically sweet, with a slightly hardened topping that caved in under your fork to reveal a gooey, spongy centre stuffed with walnuts. The nuts added great texture to what is often too soft a dessert, but this brownie held its form wonderfully. A scoop of vanilla ice cream, studded with vanilla seeds, was rich, creamy and melted into the dark chocolate sauce, lifting the intensity brilliantly. A definite addition! Finally, came a coffee and walnut cake. A classic, and something that doesn’t include Rumsey’s favourite ingredient. It was tall and majestic, topped with a large walnut half-dipped in chocolate. The sponge was light and subtly exuded coffee, though it was slightly dry. The icing was thick and sweet, sometimes a little too much, but the texture was like liquid satin, the walnuts crumbling and crunching within it. Perhaps not as successful, but certainly delicious!
Great value for money and the staff are friendly, helpful and always willing to recommend their favourite from the menu! You can also buy chocolates, shortbread, cakes and other goodies to go, so if you ever get the chance to pop in either at Wendover or Thame then don’t hesitate to do so!
scotch pancakes 