A giant hand-made chocolate egg that stands two feet tall is set to help dreams come true for youngsters this Easter, thanks to Bodnant Welsh Food.
The mega-egg, streaked with gold, has been created by specialist chocolatier Baravelli’s of Conwy, and is being raffled to raise money for Tŷ Gobaith children’s hospice – with the winning ticket drawn on Easter Sunday.
The giant egg now has a star place behind the tills at Bodnant Welsh Food centre at Tal-y-Cafn, in the Conwy valley, where it’s already getting interest from customers.
The centre has recently handed nearly £560 for the hospice at nearby Tyn y Groes, raised by donations from its carrier bags and a spring wine tasting session.
Chocolate supremo Mark Baravelli, whose other hand-made sweet creations are on sale at Bodnant Welsh foods, is also planning to send all the youngsters at Tŷ Gobaith a special surprise mini-treat for Easter.
The giant egg weighs in at a whopping 10 kilos and is equal to more than 60 standard sized Easter eggs, said Mark, who runs the company with his wife Emma and their apprentice Charlie Wilson.
It took the trio three days to make the egg from cocoa beans imported from Costa Rica and Ecuador, and is the largest the company has ever created, said Charlie.
“We decided to create it from milk chocolate and edible colours, so first we had to find a mould that was big enough. Then we poured in the gold and red colours, followed by a layer of white chocolate and finally the milk chocolate. We had to do it in stages, each took about 30 minutes and then we had to leave it to set before adding the next layer.
“Finally we had to glue the two halves together with melted chocolate. The scary bit was transporting it – very carefully – from our chocolate workshop down the Conwy valley to Bodnant Welsh Foods. Although the egg was well wrapped up, we felt every bump, although the road has been recently re-surfaced. I was very relieved when we got it in through the doors at Bodnant safely.”
“The raffle tickets only cost £1 but they’re already selling well,” said Hayley Roberts, shop supervisor for Bodnant Welsh Foods.
“It is a very generous donation by Mark and his team at Baravelli’s. His creations are already very popular with our customers and so we know that whoever wins this is going to have a cracking Easter.
“The winner’s only headache will be making sure they can get it safely home – and then who to share it with. Somebody is in for a mouth-watering treat.”
Tŷ Gobaith was established in 2004 to provide care and support to life-limited children, young people and their families from across North Wales. It offers a range of services, including respite and end-of-life care 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Bodnant Welsh Food is a strong supporter of the hospice, with money from its carrier bag charge going to the charity.
Fundraising Manager, Sarah Kearsely-Wooller MBE said: “This giant egg is amazing – what a generous gift by Mark and everybody at Baravelli’s. I am also very grateful for the offer of a mini-treat for our young patients for Easter.
“We are delighted to be working in partnership with Bodnant Welsh Food, with their support including acting as hosts for our sell-out clay pigeon shoot on May 21 as well as well as providing donations from the carrier bag charge.
“At Tŷ Gobaith – just 2.5 miles away – we are indebted to Bodnant Welsh Food for their continued commitment to our work at the hospice, caring for life threatened babies, children, young people and their families.
“We really enjoy working alongside the Bodnant Welsh Food team and will do, especially in 2014, when we are celebrating our 10th birthday.”
For more information about Tŷ Gobaith visit www.hopehouse.org.uk and for more information about Bodnant Welsh Food visit www.bodnant-welshfood.co.uk
