Yemi Adelekan is a food writer and blogger who was a semi-finalist in last year’s BBC TV’s Masterchef  competition. Every Saturday Yemi will be writing on the Stray Ferret about her love of the district’s food  – please get in touch with her if you want her to review a restaurant, visit your farm, taste the produce you sell or even share a recipe.  

Charles Andrew from Cocoa Joe’s at Pateley Bridge invited me to check out what they are doing with chocolate.  He was so proud that I was intrigued to sample what was on offer.

Off I went with my friend, Carolyn and hubby (aka Matthew) who offered to double as driver and photographer.

As a granddaughter of a cocoa farmer, I grew up understanding the front end of the process up to when the dried cocoa beans were sold to warehouses.

My grandfather knew every cocoa tree like the back of his hands, and he would regale me with stories about his life’s work — a continuation from the previous generations. During the harvest season, we would live on the farm for days but still ate food like we were at home, given the fully built and stocked kitchen on the farm.

We relied on good amounts of sunshine to dry the beans and several times a day, we used rakes to move the beans round so they could get evenly dried. I learnt how to test when the beans were dried enough for storage and was responsible for the stock taking when we visited the warehouse.

My next experience of cocoa came in the form of buying Bounty, Snickers and Kit Kat when I was in boarding house from the age of 10 but I never connected what I was eating to my grandfather’s job.

Many decades later, I find myself interested in the ethics around cocoa production, varieties of cocoa beans and making every bean count.

So it was a pleasure to see Charles being as passionate about making great chocolate drinks as my grandfather was about growing the bean.

I learnt about the origins of their cocoa beans, got to sample many including the 100% Madagascar which I found jarring, various dark chocolates, the ruby chocolate with its lemon notes and the sublime caramelised white chocolate.

The quality of their chocolates shone through with their high cocoa contents. The drink had a wonderful mouth fill, felt luxurious without being too heavy.

I left not feeling the need to hit a gym or check my blood sugar level. We enjoyed three flavours of chocolate drinks including Uganda, Sao Tome, and Ecuador dark chocolates.

I couldn’t resist their chilli chocolate drink and for even more exotic taste, there was lavender flavour.

After a few sips from my cup, the child in me asked for some marshmallows. Charles offered to toast them but that wasn’t needed as they melted into the chocolate doing a dance on my tongue and tingling my tastebuds.

Hmm … which flavour to choose?

Cocoa Joe’s is popular with the locals and tourists; I can see why. The skill and passion exhibited by the team and the quality of the varieties of chocolates available to choose from, keep their customers coming back.

I left with some ruby, caramelised white chocolate and Uganda chocolate and I am already dreaming and drooling about what I will make with them.

Charles was excited to tell me about everything the town had to offer, so I wandered around to take as much in as possible and crossing the road was all it took to get to Kendall’s butcher.

More about Kendall’s and the rest of my visit next week.

Next on my list is The Café at the Himalayan Garden, Grewelthorpe which I will visit on Saturday 27 of May from 12.30pm. Come join me and I hope to see you there.

Read More: 

• Yemi’s Food Stories: a porky discovery at Crimple
• Masterchef semi-finalist to write for the Stray Ferret celebrating district’s food

The Best Independent Retailer award is sponsored by York & North Yorkshire Growth Hub.

The York & North Yorkshire Growth Hub aims to provide businesses of all sizes and sectors effective and impartial business support.

As a local organisation, the service provided is tailored to the needs of individuals of the region.

The Best Independent Retailer Award recognises the work of independent retailers across the Harrogate district that have survived the pandemic, support customers and make the high street vibrant.

Finalists

Watermark Gallery

Watermark Gallery is a Harrogate art gallery selling original, contemporary and modern British art.

During the pandemic, the gallery regularly changed its window displays to brighten people’s daily walks.

It also offered customers the opportunity watch live artist exhibitions through the gallery window and on social media during lockdown.  Such improvisation during covid was appreciated and a loyal customer base grew.

In 2020, the gallery also adapted its space into becoming a workshop space to teach and learn.

Liz Hawkes, Director of Watermark, said:

“We are absolutely thrilled to be shortlisted for the Stray Ferret Independent Retailer of the Year Award. It is great to be recognised for championing the visual arts in an area which has such a strong heritage of arts and culture.

“Opening just before the pandemic was a tough start for our business but with awards like this, and the support of our customers, we are very positive for the future. Thank you.”

Fodder

Based at the Yorkshire Show Ground, Fodder is a Harrogate farm shop and café that champions local produce.

During the pandemic, Fodder expanded its online store, developed an online click and collect system, and utilised the café space as an order packing area whilst hospitality remained closed.

Fodder frequently hosts events to showcase its supplies. The business even hosts a Dragons Den-style event, where new suppliers can ‘sell in’ their produce to the farm shop.

Vanessa Pitt, Manager at Fodder, said:

“We are super proud of the team who work so hard to keep Fodder at the top of its game. Being shortlisted for this award is testament to their resilience and commitment.

“It’s given us a real spring in the step, and we thank all our customers, producers and suppliers for their continued support.”

TravelGate

TravelGate is an independent travel agency in Harrogate, offering clients bespoke expertise and advice on holiday destinations.

During the pandemic, TravelGate was inundated with policies to follow and holidays to amend as covid caused chaos in the travel industry.  The agency never closed -offering advice and support to clients locally and abroad.

In 2021 TravelGate partnered with a national testing laboratory and began offering Covid PCR travel tests. The company supplied to major cruise ships and offered pre departure and return tests.

Phil O’Boyle, Co-Founder of TravelGate, said:

“Being shortlisted as a finalist is a fantastic achievement for us. There are so many great independent retailers in Harrogate, and we are so proud that TravelGate has been recognised in this way.

“The last few years have been extremely hard for the travel industry. We have lots of amazing, loyal clients and we would like to thank them, and to all our new clients for supporting us”.

Cocoa Joe’s

Cocoa Joe’s is an independent business specialising in premium chocolate drinks.

The shop uses a variety of high quality, solid chocolate from around the world to make bespoke drinks.

The Pateley Bridge business has made multiple television appearances since launching in 2019, including Ainsley Harriott’s Good Mood Food and used as a filming location for Channel 5’s Cadbury at Christmas.

Cocoa Joe’s success meant it was able to open a York branch during the pandemic.

The company has also unveiled an online store, selling indulgent chocolate products.

Joe Andrew, Founder of Cocoa Joe’s, said:

“Everyone around the shop was thrilled to hear we had made the shortlist! Our team members have been doing an amazing job during the busy colder months and I couldn’t think of a better way to cap off the hot chocolate season.

“We’re crossing our fingers for winning the award, but we’re up against some fantastic businesses, so we’re just delighted to have made it this far.”

Whittams Hire

Whittams Hire offers luxury motorhome hire to the people of North Yorkshire and beyond.

Since launching in 2018, the company now boasts nine motorhomes and has bookings from international clients.

The business also opened a coffee shop just outside of Harrogate, The Outside Inn. The premises is divided into sections, one is the coffee shop and the other is an office space for motorhome customers to drop in.

Whittams Hire has won multiple awards since launching, including Best Motorhome Hire Company ‘Prestige Award’ 2022 and 2023.

Mark Trickett, Founder of Whittams Hire, said:

“Whittams is so chuffed to be shortlisted, never did we think we’d be a finalist. We entered just hoping to be listed with other proud local businesses in order to be seen and show support for our local community.

“To be judged and be amongst such fine company is truly humbling”.

The Stray Ferret Business Award event sponsor is Prosperis. To find more and to purchase tickets for the big night, click here.

The Rising Star Under 30 Award is sponsored by Thompson’s Chartered Accountants.

Thompsons in Harrogate provides key accountancy and taxation solutions to small and medium-sized businesses across England.

Thompsons has offered specialist advice across a range of sectors specific to business, growth plans, exit strategies and targets, for over 30 years.

The Rising Star under 30 Award is designed to highlight young business talent across the Harrogate who will be making waves in the years to come.

Finalists

Tiffany Snowden, Blue Willow Heritage:

Tiffany Snowden has excelled in what has traditionally been a male dominated profession.

She is Lead Heritage Consultant and Director of Harrogate environmental consultancy, Blue Willow Heritage.

Tiffany is just one of 500 women in the UK to be granted Membership of the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CifA), the highest level of accreditation that the most senior archaeology body in the UK offers.

Tiffany was also invited to join the Association for Studies in the Conservation of Historic Buildings (ASCHB), the UK’s premier body for the study of architectural preservation.

In just two years, Tiffany has led Blue Willow Heritage to become one of the top small heritage consultancies in Britain. The company is a preferred consultant for several respected planning and architectural firms within the UK, for North Yorkshire County Council and the Gotwick Manor Estate in Surrey.

Tiffany Snowden said:

“It’s an absolute honour to be shortlisted as a rising star, especially as a woman working in a male-dominated field.

“Being recognised in this way is not only a huge personal achievement, but also invaluable to help raise the profile of women in construction-related industries.”

Joe Andrew, Cocoa Joe’s:

Joe Andrew has literally brought the world of chocolate to Pateley Bridge as the Founder of Cocoa Joe’s, a retailer selling premium chocolate drinks.

Joe launched Cocoa Joe’s in 2019 after moving home from university. Four years later, the Pateley Bridge shop boasts the highest average customer review of any business in the UK, with the York branch ranking second.

Cocoa Joe’s uses luxury solid chocolate from all around the world. Customers are able to choose a chocolate, learn a little about the country of origin and see their bespoke drink form before their eyes.

Joe Andrew said:

“I’m absolutely over the moon to have made the shortlist, there has been a lot of very impressive applicants this year, so it still feels slightly surreal!

“This has been a great way to begin 2023 and will certainly be spurring me on as we begin to expand both our menu and range of products over the course of the coming year.”

Laura Mounsey, Harrogate Family Law:

Laura Mounsey only qualified as a solicitor with Harrogate Family Law four years ago and is already a director of the company.  An equity stake in a law firm usually takes at least 10 years to achieve.

Laura is the Chair of the Advisory Board to the Independent Domestic Abuse Service (IDAS). This includes implementing the Domestic Abuse Act and shaping their policies on perpetrator schemes.

Laura is also the youngest ever president of the Harrogate & District Law Society. She has organised advocacy training via the local Judge, networking training and wellbeing sessions to support those struggling with working from home post-pandemic.

Laura’s clients describe her as “extraordinarily approachable and knowledgeable”.

Laura Mounsey said:

“I was honoured to find out that my team had submitted me for this award. I was even more surprised and overjoyed when I found out that I am shortlisted, especially in what I expect is a very competitive category.

“I feel very lucky to be where I am.”

James Owen Thomas, JOT’s Gallery:

James Owen Thomas is an environmental artist and owner of JOT’s Gallery.

James was diagnosed with autism aged three and has since used this, as well as his love for the environment, as a means of inspiration for his art.  James uses recycled materials to create his artwork.

James is an ambassador the Tree Council, supporting their ‘Force For Nature’ campaign. He was nominated by the Tree Council for COP26 and then selected as a One Step Greener Ambassador for the UN Climate Change Conference 2021: “Together For Our Planet.”

In 2022,  James’s artwork helped raise funds for The Alzheimer’s Society, Autism Trust, Disability Action Yorkshire, Horticap, Shelter, National Autistic Society, Harrogate Homeless Project and The Caudwell Children’s Charity.

James Owen Thomas said:

“It’s an honour to be shortlisted as a rising star. I’ve been working hard to create a sustainable practice by creating art using discarded materials, running workshops in the community, taking on commissions and opening my own gallery.

“I have faced several challenges during my life, but I see my autism as a gift – it gives me the strength to be different”.

The Stray Ferret Business Award event sponsor is Prosperis. To find more and to purchase tickets for the big night, click here.