Due to be aired TONIGHT, 15th July (8pm, ITV1), artisan chocolatier Fiona Sciolti of North Lincolnshire is to feature on the Alan Titchmarsh ‘Love Your Garden’ programme; showing top chef Valentine Warner how she makes her Lavender & Vanilla chocolate ganache.
The three minute feature was filmed just a few weeks ago when Valentine came to visit Fiona at her home in Brigg, to see for himself just how she uses the flowers from her own garden to make her delicious, botanical chocolates. Fiona lovingly hand-crafts each individual chocolate in her dedicated studio-kitchen in the garden. “The botanical reference is because I use real flowers, fruit, teas, herbs and honey, locally sourced where possible” she says.
Initially, Fiona is seen with Valentine as they wander through the garden chatting about how the different flowers in the garden can be used in the kitchen. The action then moves into Fiona’s kitchen as she works through the recipe for her Lavender and Vanilla ganache; and Valentine lends a hand throughout whilst talking to Fiona about her craft. Fiona uses only natural ingredients: “I pride myself on never using any essences or flavourings in my chocolates, so with the Lavender chocolate for example, I infuse the whole flower head to get the real flavour, just as nature intended.”
Fiona was thrilled and delighted to have such a celebrity chef come and work with her, “It was great to meet Valentine, he’s a real inspiration and he showed a genuine interest in my work.”
This will be Fiona’s third appearance on television this year: In February, she featured in the first episode of The Secret Supper Club with Ollie Smith on Channel 4 and with another local foodie, she helped prepare a three course meal in an old working windmill. More recently, she featured in a three minute television advert with another top celebrity chef, Jean-Christophe Novelli when she won a National competition run by the Potato Council, to come up with a quick and easy, but nutritious and original way of serving potatoes. She won with her recipe for crushed Lincolnshire Maris Piper potatoes with pesto, served with pan-seared mackerel.
Fiona’s chocolates are available through local farm shops and delicatessens as well as Farmers Markets and Food Festivals up and down the country. They will also soon be available online through her website www.scioltichocolates.com due shortly to be re-launched
The three minute feature was filmed just a few weeks ago when Valentine came to visit Fiona at her home in Brigg, to see for himself just how she uses the flowers from her own garden to make her delicious, botanical chocolates. Fiona lovingly hand-crafts each individual chocolate in her dedicated studio-kitchen in the garden. “The botanical reference is because I use real flowers, fruit, teas, herbs and honey, locally sourced where possible” she says.
Initially, Fiona is seen with Valentine as they wander through the garden chatting about how the different flowers in the garden can be used in the kitchen. The action then moves into Fiona’s kitchen as she works through the recipe for her Lavender and Vanilla ganache; and Valentine lends a hand throughout whilst talking to Fiona about her craft. Fiona uses only natural ingredients: “I pride myself on never using any essences or flavourings in my chocolates, so with the Lavender chocolate for example, I infuse the whole flower head to get the real flavour, just as nature intended.”
Fiona was thrilled and delighted to have such a celebrity chef come and work with her, “It was great to meet Valentine, he’s a real inspiration and he showed a genuine interest in my work.”
This will be Fiona’s third appearance on television this year: In February, she featured in the first episode of The Secret Supper Club with Ollie Smith on Channel 4 and with another local foodie, she helped prepare a three course meal in an old working windmill. More recently, she featured in a three minute television advert with another top celebrity chef, Jean-Christophe Novelli when she won a National competition run by the Potato Council, to come up with a quick and easy, but nutritious and original way of serving potatoes. She won with her recipe for crushed Lincolnshire Maris Piper potatoes with pesto, served with pan-seared mackerel.
Fiona’s chocolates are available through local farm shops and delicatessens as well as Farmers Markets and Food Festivals up and down the country. They will also soon be available online through her website www.scioltichocolates.com due shortly to be re-launched
