Lick Me

Fashion folk, please. Chocolatiers are the new store-front trend setters. From former Marco protégé Paul A Young's dapper Islington shop to the chi-chi Melt in Notting Hill, the sweet brown stuff is suddenly on the most style conscious of lips.

Walking into the latest choc-atelier, Cocomaya, is a bit like stepping onto the set of the film Chocolat, if Alexander McQueen had been the art director. Antique mirrors nudge up to glossy pink cabinets displaying shoes, insects, violins and other extraordinary objects - all made of chocolate, of course. Better yet, you can take a bit of chic home with you, as the single estate delicacies are presented, jewel-like, in pink, green and turquoise boxes.

Such is the swishness, it's no surprise to learn that the trio behind this shrine to cocoa have more than their fair share of classy credentials. Gail Mejia founded Baker & Spice, Joel Bernstein used to be Head of Concept at Liberty and Walid Al-Damirji is a respected (formerly fashion, now accessories) designer.

The chocolatier himself is one Jonathan Suthee Phelk Deddis, an Irish-Cambodian former private chef who is on site every day creating cinnamon sticks dipped in chocolate for coffee stirring and bespoke pieces for the most exotic of occasions.

Chocolate, it's so molten right now.

Cocomaya
35 Connaught Street, W2 2AZ - 020 7706 2770

by SL

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Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved.