Bernard Pertois Champagne...oui s’il vous plaît!

Understood the confusion when wondering what a University student is doing drinking a bottle of Bernard Pertois phenomenal champagne; “Reserve Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru”. My Aunt and Uncle drink this stuff like it’s water, and I can’t blame them. Omnipotent wine connoisseur, my uncle, Kamal introduced me to fine wines and champagnes from the age of 17. Each visit, I’m utterly seduced by their fantastic wine cellar, with collections from the finest parts of France. Red, White, Rose, Champagne – you name it, they’ve got it.

I’ve tried this champagne more times than I can count on one hand. This champagne is a Blanc de Blanc, which means it’s made from 100% Chardonnay grape. Crafted and created by the family themselves in their Grand Cru Vineyard, Cuvée de Réserve Grand Cru is made in the village of Le Mesnil sur Oger. The village sits in the heart of the Côte des Blancs region, an area and terroir renowned for its Chardonnay grapes. The Pertois family have been growing grapes for more than 10 generations, and own 15 hectares of Vineyard, 7 of which are Grand Cru Chardonnay.

This champagne is an outstanding example of Blanc de Blanc champagne, with its light and smooth body paired with a gorgeous aroma and spectacular flavour. It produces elegant yet fine bubbles, and is fresh and mineral-like to the palette. Suitable for any occasion, which is perfect as I could drink it all day. Santé!

The Other Woman Made Me Do It...Literally

If I were to tell you that I don’t pay attention to set locations in films that I want to visit, I’d be lying. The Other Woman, one of my favourite movies, has some of the best set locations and designs. Extremely modernised to go with certain characters, and to obviously reveal the type of lifestyle they live due to their well-paid jobs and personal preferences.

From the main character’s houses, their cars, even their sky-scraper, modernised and elegant offices. But one location in this film really caught my eye, so much so I’ve had to add it to my bucket list. After hunting around, I’ve found it’s called the Isola Trattoria & Cruda Bar, located near the Nomo Soho Hotel, New York. The hotel is complete with stunning rooms and balcony suites, a beautiful lobby, and an exclusively alluring stylish penthouse with panoramic vistas.

This location is shown in the last final scenes of the film, and as soon as I laid my eyes on the hanging crystal white chandeliers, tropical yet vegetational interior accessories with green house-like open glass foundations. Complimented by the glamorous yet pleasantly beverage stacked shelves, located just behind and around the bar, it was love at first sight. One of the best features of the bar would be the  dark mahogany wooden structure of shelving design, which displays crystal glasses, as well as wine and spirits to advertise what drinks are on offer.

After research, it was now not only the interior that had won me over. With prices varying from $18-$60, their menu of Italian Cuisine - which appears to of taken inspiration from locations such as Sicily and the Italian Rivera, explains their choices of dishes from seafood such as Tuna Tarte, Octopus and Hamachi to more common Italian main course favourites such as Smoked Ricotta Ravioli, Chitarra and Margherita Pizza's.

This is definitely a place I will be visiting when I’m next in New York, and I’m hopeful I’ve inspired someone else to make the journey as much as I want too! Pick you up at 7?

A Review of Your Job? Well, It Is Hotel Chocolat...

“How can you work in here all day?”, “Does temptation ever get the best of you?”, “Are you allowed to try every chocolate because you work here?”, “Is the hotel chocolat water…chocolate?” – these are just some of the questions I face daily when working as a sales assistant at my job, Hotel Chocolat.  Hotel Chocolat is a great company to work for, and a fantastic brand to represent. It’s been such a thrill to learn about the brands history, apply your knowledge to your service, and be taught an excellent level of customer service to apply to our customers, skills that will stick with me for life.

What does a day in the life of a sales assistant at Hotel Chocolat look like, you may ask? Well, weekdays would include a decrease in customers due to work and it being a Tuesday. Online click and collects can appear, as well as shuttle bus collections. Preparing gift bags for customers if specified, replenishing the stock and cupboards, even cleaning up the stock room so it’s ready for delivery.

A Saturday at Hotel Chocolat? Apply your bullet proof vest. I’m just kidding, but really – do consider taking caution when it comes to telling a hotel chocolat customer their favourite product is no longer in stock, the look they give you will allow you to experience a pain that mimics being shot. In the chest. Twice.

At first, the prestige brand was slightly intimidating to represent, as such high-quality products and powerful company status within its sector felt like a daunting aspect to take under my wing. However, with my enthusiastic passionate manager and colleagues who were always happy to answer my 50 questions an hour, I became confident quicker than I thought.

Being somebody who has desires of getting a career within the luxury sector, it’s also great to meet such diverse clientele that the brand cater too. Every day is different, and you never know who is going to pop into the store. You can always recognise the efforts from customers who may be in town who are familiar with the brand, coming in to especially visit us.

Working at Hotel Chocolat throughout the seasonal period of Christmas was especially heart-warming yet humorous – as this was my first retail experience I couldn’t help but pay attention to detail at the way flustered shoppers would take out their crumpled shopping lists from their bags. By shopping list, I mean specifically a Hotel Chocolat shopping list. Ticking and checking off each product their loved ones had asked for, it really made me appreciate and wonder how something as much as chocolate can bring people together.

My favourite day to work? Fridays. Friday afternoon, from around 4pm until close, we get the usual crowd of workers who will visit us, after a long hard week, ready to pick up their favourite treat and indulge throughout their evening. The sighs of relief we receive when customers get to the till, to which they can finally take in that it is Friday, and work is over until Monday (in most cases).

Better yet, we do sell Gin, Vodka, Red Wine, Champagne, and Prosecco – so we’ve already saved you a trip to the supermarket to pick up your weekly alcohol fix. You’re welcome!

So to answer your questions, Yes I can work in here all day – the chocolate here is all for you and out of my reach unless I open my purse. Secondly, Yes temptation can get the best of me and sometimes my breaks may include a purchase of my favourite selectors. Thirdly, If I wasn’t allowed to try the chocolate, how would I be giving you such phenomenal reviews on its taste, texture, consistency, and overall impression? And finally, no, the Hotel Chocolat water is not made of chocolate. However, Angus and the chocolatiers are a smart bunch, it will only be a matter of time before they come up with something.