A childhood novel and fantasy brought to life with dessert delights in London.

Our experience

Being raised by strict parents meant that instead of Nintendos and computer games, leisure time as a child meant books. Towers of books by the likes of Enid Blyton, Robert Louis Stephenson, Beatrix Potter, Roald Dahl etc etc. One of the all-time favourite novel of these Dessert Correspondents, and undoubtedly, millions of children around the world, is Roald Dahl’s magical, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.” We absolutely blame him for setting us on the dessert frenzy that defines who we are today. So you can imagine our delight when, on a recent trip to London, we heard not only of the book being brought to life as a musical in London’s West End, but also the book’s dessert dreams being realised by the pastry chefs at the Hyatt Regency Churchill’s Montagu.

For a very short time during the summer months in London, the Montagu offered six desserts inspired by the “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” book-turned-to-musical phenomena. There was a “Spicy Chocolate Soup” sparked with red chilli, cinnamon and star anise in honour of Augustus Gloop, a trio of bubblegum flavoured macarons, and a gold-foiled “Willy Wonka Crazy Brownie.” We sampled “Mike Teavee’s Chocolate Cake,” two seriously decadent pieces of chocolate cake decorated like a TV and a remote control.  The “Violet’s Blueberry Mousse” was a far lighter option, and although deceptively simple-looking, the blueberry flavour of the thin chocolate cup and the mousse was three-dimensional. It was embellished with popping crystals too. And because these Dessert Correspondents love to spoil ourselves as much as Ms Veruca Salt, we sucked in our tummies and went for “Veruca’s Nutty Parfait.” Hazelnut, vanilla parfait, laid on a chocolate-drizzled lattice. Find us a more perfect finale to this dessert extravaganza.

Our verdict

The Montagu’s rendition of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory“-inspired desserts is a reminder of why we, as Dessert Correspondents, love London so much. It’s because desserts are never done half-heartedly, and themed desserts are done with unparalleled gusto in London. Look out for a few more themed desserts wonders from London in the coming weeks as we traipse the world on dessert adventures.

Dessert adventure checklist

1. ☑ Dessert destination: Hyatt Regency The Churchill – The Montagu, 30 Portman Square, Lonon W1H 7BH, United Kingdom
2. ☑ Budget: $$-$$$.
3. ☑ Sweet irresistibles: Restaurant dessert.
4. ☑ Must-eat: “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”-themed desserts.
5. ☑ The short and sweet story: A childhood novel and fantasy brought to life with dessert delights in London.