Is this London's Best Brownie?

I've been making a lot of big claims lately, but I think I've found it. If you think I'm wrong, and you know a better brownie, please let me know. I want to know.

Hello,

I hope you’re well and have been eating delicious things?

Someone I love died this week. I called him my uncle, though technically he was my father’s second cousin, and he and his wife became more like stand-in parents for me during the almost 19 years I’ve lived in London, and friends, too.

Meeting in person was hampered in the last few years by his weakened lungs and my child, the-frequent-carrier-of-all-the-nursery-germs, but I saw them more often than I saw anyone else in my family, or any of my other friends.

He appreciated good food and wine. And dark chocolate. He was a specialist doctor - respiratory diseases; the irony was not lost on him - and a pilot. Their walls are lined with books. I loved talking to him. He was constantly curious and a perfect example of “strong views, loosely held”. Well, maybe not always that loosely. 😄 He didn’t have much patience for fools or children or for anything he felt was unnecessary. Knowing this and being someone he’d voluntarily spend time with, felt like winning a special prize. Despite his claim of disliking children, he took his role of adopted grandfather seriously and played raptly with Maya, and they always greeted her with gifts. I’m glad for the photos I have of them together.

Once, many years ago, a box of Charbonnel pink champagne truffles along with an article he’d cut from British Airways’ inflight magazine arrived in the post. In the article I was quoted as crediting a gift of this chocolate as being the impetus that started Chocolate Ecstasy Tours.

It was true. A story for another day, perhaps. You might have heard me tell it already.

I loved so much that he’d gone to the effort of finding the chocolates to post along with the article. Once or twice a year I’d get random gifts or cards like this, as well as Christmas and birthday cards, posted, even if we’d be seeing them that week. Below is one of my favourites he sent last year, which lives on my fridge and makes me laugh every time it catches my eye.

It occurred to me last week that part of the reason I felt better whilst in Australia this year - better than I have felt at any point in the last three years - was that a weight was lifted. Since March 2020 I’d been living with this fizzing, underlying anxiety that I wouldn’t get to see my parents again. Always something I knew could be true when I said goodbye and one of other of us would hop on a plane to a different hemisphere, but with COVID and their age, it felt especially precarious. The relief when I did see them in January felt physical. I felt, and still feel, so lucky that I had that time with them, and especially that Maya did too. The incredible bakeries in Melbourne were a bonus.

Thanks for letting me share about my uncle - if you’re still reading! This food-focused newsletter wasn’t meant to be an obituary for someone you probably haven’t met and who definitely didn’t work in the food industry. There is a chance he saved the life of someone you know, either directly or indirectly, which is quite an extraordinary thought and legacy. If nothing else, I hope sharing might be one of those occasional reminders we get to appreciate the people we love. I will miss him very much.

London’s Best Brownie?

I know there’s a lot of debate about brownies and the balance of fudge and cakey-ness. I find most of the ones I try disappointing. Too dry. Don’t really taste of chocolate. 😳

I LOVED the one I bought from