The grand Harrods Chocolate Hall – with its ornate Edwardian tilework and shining marble floor – has welcomed a new concession just in time for Valentine’s Day. Milanese pastry house Marchesi 1824 (one of Italy’s oldest) has branched out from its store in Mount Street, Mayfair and established itself permanently at Harrods, with a bright corner space under one of the hall’s amber-tiled arches. Here, customers will find the brand’s classic chocolate creations like pralines, dragées and biscuits, all elegantly packaged in the brand’s signature pastel-coloured boxes. There’s also an exclusive new chocolate line, offering extra reason to venture to Knightsbridge.
“The creation of the new Marchesi 1824 chocolate line is the culmination of a year-long journey of research and refinement,” says Diego Crosara, Marchesi 1824 pastry art director. “Before production begins, we dedicate extensive time to selecting the finest cocoa varieties, exploring flavour pairings, and designing shapes and textures that best enhance each ingredient’s character.”
The result? A line of chocolates made with the brand’s new Grand Cru Venezuela cocoa mass, using cocoa beans that were sourced in an area south of Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela. Crosara’s team then worked its magic in the Marchesi 1824 laboratory: “Beans are carefully roasted to intensify their aromas, conching is performed with meticulous attention to harmonise flavours, and tempering ensures a velvety texture.”
Alongside the new chocolate line, there’ll also be an exclusive line of cremini: cream-filled chocolates that Crosara has tweaked with spices and dried fruits to create “unexpected and contemporary flavour combinations”. Another product specially created for Harrods will be the 1 kilogram hand-decorated gianduione, a creamy, boat-shaped chocolate-hazelnut treat.
Marchesi 1824 was founded in Milan in 1824, and acquired by Prada in 2014. Since then, the historic brand has expanded into other locations in Milan and to Mayfair. “We are thrilled to enter the world of Harrods,” Crosara said in a statement. “It is a great honour for us to bring our craftsmanship and the Italian artistry of our products into such an iconic location.”
Marchesi 1824 at the Harrods Chocolate Hall
Ground floor, Harrods, 87–135 Brompton Road, SW1X 7XL.
Hours:
Mon to Sat 10am–9pm
Sun 11.30am–6pm
