The London 2025 Cakes, Cookies & More Map launches tomorrow!
I totally overestimated what I could get done in four days of childcare across 2+ weeks of school holidays.
I definitely overestimated. One of the four days was taken up by a tour which was particularly fabulous because we got to try the Harrods Easter Egg (more on this below).
My house needs tidying and I haven’t cooked a proper meal in days, but I’m writing instead, because
I really want to tell you about the map!
And a few other time-sensitive things.
I’m so excited about the map.
There are even more places than I realised.
When it’s done (later tonight, I hope… 🤪) there will be over 300 locations (obviously some of these will be branches, but that’s still over 200 businesses baking their own delicious things).
You’ll be able to filter by cookies, cake, cheesecake, patisserie, brownies, doughnuts, “other” 🙃 and whether they have vegan options and whether they use chocolate that’s more premium and more ethical than Callebaut.
WHY IS THERE A CHOCOLATE FILTER?
Aside from the fact that chocolate is the subject I know the most about (did you know I was once a contestant on a show called Fanatics? Another story for another day, perhaps.):
I do feel kind of mean calling this out, but I do want you to know who’s really investing in their chocolate because I think it’s a big deal.It’s not to say that businesses who aren’t buying what I think is better chocolate don’t deserve your custom; if they’re on the map they make as least some excellent things!
“Some” is my caveat there because I have not tried every product in every place and there are some places where I love some/most of what they make, but not all of it.
Obviously me not loving something doesn’t mean you won’t love it.Hope that clears things up! 😅
I’m really excited for these maps - especially this one - and really proud and also really nervous.
Since I quit my last job with a pay cheque 12 years ago (the first 8 years of running tours it was alongside other work), my main form of income has been running tours of places that make sweet baked goods, so giving away a map to every place in London worth visting feels like it could be putting me out of business…
I mean, the tours include lots of history and tasting and insight, but still.
I hope lots of people buy access to the map! 🙏🏻
I tried to make it a no-brainer price for anyone who loves baked goods, that also reflects the ease of its use and its extensiveness and that it’ll be updated.
The pre-order price is £9 and I think I’ll keep that for a few more weeks as I’m bound to hear of amends after it launches (though I’m pretty proud of how comprehensive it is). Then it will be £11 for access for 8+ months - until the end of 2025 - with updates on the 1st of every month. Less than £1.50/month to always know how to find - or to seek out adventures - deliciousness.
You can also buy it as a bundle with the Bread & Croissants map:
If enough people are using it by December then I’ll make a 2026 map too.
Fingers crossed!
Please tell your friends!
If you have any questions please feel free to reply or comment!
I do have so many recent delicious things to tell you about but they almost all will have to wait if I want some sleep at some point (and I really, really do 😴.)4
What is time sensitive and can’t wait:
I forgot to mention that Novikov in Mayfair have a special Easter dessert until Tuesday. It’s on the sweet side but still delicious (coconut white chocolate mousse and tropical coulis plus a crunchy pastry nest - what’s not to love?) and I really loved the savoury food (this was in their Italian restaurant).
Details in this Instagram post below along with the Pierre Marcolini Easter range which you can pick up in the restaurant (without having to dine there) or in their Marylebone boutique, Harrods or Selfridges.
And speaking of Harrods…
During the private tasting we get at Harrods on my Chelsea tour, yesterday my guests and I got to try Harrods Signature Easter Egg and OH MY GOODNESS.
Inside the bespoke dark milk chocolate shell Harrods’ brilliant head chocolatier Bastien Carriou and his team pipe whipped hazelnut praline, caramel and then stud with caramelised hazelnuts and then cover with more of the same chocolate. It’s £60 for around 750g and honestly, with the price of chocolate and the effort that’s gone into this, it feels like insane value.
Here’s Bastien smashing half of one open for us:
The number of people that rushed over and hovered whilst we tasted it. I really should have had some business cards to hand out.
You can see more of my Easter recommendations from last week’s post here.
And sorry for the comment links not working last week - I fixed them on the post but couldn’t reach into your inboxes to change them in your email. I’m obviously back from Paris now, but if you want to share what you’re buying (or dreaming of) for Easter please do satisfy my curiousity here:
I hope the Easter Bunny brings you more chocolate than you can eat in one day.
lots of love,
Jen
P.S. I’ll be chatting on regional BBC radio stations tomorrow morning about chocolate between 9am and 10am (and at 8:20am for BBC Lancashire). Do you listen?
There is also a little time left to order and collect a toasted white choc or oat m*lk egg from Land Chocolate