Photo: Emma LeeWillie Takes Chocolate Obsession to Sydney
Anybody who has even a passing interest in chocolate will have heard of Willie Harcourt-Cooze, the British eccentric whose obsession with top-notch chocolate has been documented in various television series and books.
He will be one of the top drawcards at the Crave Sydney International Food Festival next month, where he will be sharing his passion for chocolate.
"I can't wait to bring the fine flavours of chocolate and the culinary delights of cacao to the Australian kitchen," says Harcourt-Cooze.
He has visited our shores before. In fact, he came to live and work here in WA as a teenager for six months, following the death of his father in England.
"My most memorable time of being in Australia was when I was 18," he says.
"I worked on a couple of different sheep ranches outside Bridgetown, and in Kojonup. It was some of the hardest and most enjoyable work I've ever done.
"There's nothing I'd love more than to go back and see the people I worked with again, but it's not going to be on this trip unfortunately."
Harcourt-Cooze's future plans include the launch of a new fruit chocolate range that features Cuban Orange, Sierra Leone Ginger and Lime and Peruvian Fruit and Nut.
"The new range will deliver classic flavours paired with fine beans to the heart of all chocolate lovers," he says.
"And, of course, I'll continue to spread the love of chocolate."
His cacao chocolate is available in Australia from Jones the Grocer. His books Willie's Chocolate Factory Cookbook and Willie's Chocolate Bible are available from book stores now.
The Crave Sydney International Food Festival will run throughout October. For more information, head to cravesydney.com.
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