Wednesday 26 October 2011

Hotel Chocolat Christmas Selection Review & Giveaway - CLOSED

This competition is now closed.

You know me, internet, I'm just slightly addicted to chocolate.  So when Hotel Chocolat got in touch with me & asked me to pick something from their Christmas Selection to nibble upon as the evenings are getting darker, well, how could I possibly refuse?

Shall I let you in on a shameful secret?  SqueakyDaddy hates mince pies.  I only like mince pies when they're warm & they've got a cheeky spoonful of brandy cream underneath the lid.  So when I browsed the Christmas Chocolates page, and spotted Alternative Mince Pies, my mind was made up.  Milk chocolate cups, with praline & salted caramel sounds far better to me than pastry & raisins.

The box contains 6 beautiful chocolates, and the attention to detail is astounding, even the tape sealing the box is printed to match the box design.  Seriously people, these are some beautiful chocs.

You'll have to imagine your own sprinkling of icing sugar over the tops of them, I didn't have any in the cupboard, and thought talc probably wouldn't do the taste any good.  But don't they look like mince pies? The ones from the posh shops with the shaped lids?  I know which ones I'd rather be offered.

You're probably thinking "6? Is that it?" but believe me, they are so beautiful and rich, I couldn't eat more than 2 in a sitting, and the second one I had to take my time over.  In the interests of an accurate review, I obviously had to have a darker and lighter one, just to see the difference.

Look at that!  If that's not a droolworthy photo, I don't know what is!  The praline layer on top is smooth and light, and the salted caramel base, well, what can I say? You can see it there, it's perfect.  I don't know why salted caramel tastes so good, but it's like something from another world.

We're converted to mince pies now, in Squeaky Towers, but only the alternative ones.  There's no alcohol in these, but I've got to admit I haven't shared them with Squeaky, they're too good for little mouths!  I think I'll find her something from the Stocking Fillers range instead.  Go and have a look & see what you'd buy.

Well, I mentioned a giveaway up the top there, didn't I?  That's what you're here for.  The lovely people at Hotel Chocolat have got a pack of Alternative Mince Pies for one of you lucky, lucky people to win.

How To Enter.

All you have to do is leave a comment below telling me which Christmas tradition you'd like to swap for an alternative.  Whether you'd like to replace the mistletoe with a glitterball, Cliff Richard with Justin Beiber or Morecambe & Wise repeats with Gigglebiz, the choice is yours.  (Tell me how to contact you as well, or I'll have to eat your chocs!)

Additional Entries
Extra entries can be gained by following tweeting Alternative Mince Pies, in your eyes! Win with @meedja & @HotelChocolat at http://bit.ly/vj799M

Or by liking the Squeaky Baby Facebook Page

Maximum 2 additional entries.  Please leave separate comments for each additional entry.

Closing Date Sunday 6 November at 23.59 GMT.

Please read the Terms & Conditions tab above. Entry into this competition signifies acceptance of the terms & conditions as stated.

Disclosure: I was provided with a pack of Alternative Mince Pies free of charge for the purpose of this review.  I was not told what to write, and all opinions are my own.  Links are provided for your convenience only, I am not a member of any affiliate scheme & will not receive reward for their use.

66 comments:

  1. These look delicious! I'd swap traditional mince pies for these every time, I'm just not a fan of mincemeat!

    Have tweeted too, @mrsstroganoff

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  2. I think you're very mean to restrict your contest to just UK people. :P

    I wonder if there's much difference in the mincemeat pies here and there; I know my Grandmother made hers with venison. I'll have to ask my Mom about it.

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  3. queens speach to daughters play!

    @ashlallan

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  4. i have tweeted as @ashlallan

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  5. swap the tradition of spending masses amounts of money back to token pressies for Christmas @pooohbear2811

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  6. I'd love to swap the tradition of a big family Christmas at home for a big family Christmas somewhere hot! I long to spend Christmas day swimming with dolphins or something equally as glamourous!

    ramblingsofasuburbanmummy@mail.com

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  7. The Queen's speech would have to go, to be replaced by my little ones signing. @MummyFever

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  8. I have tweeted as well @MummyFever

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  9. Wow, having read your review I'd have to swap mince pies for these :)

    @cherylp59

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  10. would swap fairy tale in new york for the christmas town song out of the nightmare before christmas

    @andrea miles2

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  11. have liked on face book as andrea miles

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  12. I would swap the home christmas for disneyland christmas just for the 1 year, im sure the kids would love it 2!
    also liked your facebook page,
    lovely laura hayes

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  13. I would replace the queens speech with a drag queen speech. Much more entertaining! @esthermate

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  14. tweeted your post. I really hope I win as I need chocolate to keep my strength up! New baby and all that @esthermate

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  15. I like your facebook page. I like it alot!

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  16. I would like to swap the traditional Christmas with a nice delicious chocolate cake.

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  17. Oh my God! I want to swap my mine pies for these!!

    @mummiafelice

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  18. I've just tweeted as @mummiafelice

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  19. I've liked your Facebook page too

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  20. I would swap sprouts for moreeeeeeeeeeeeeeee turkey :)

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  21. Those look so good, I love salted caramel.

    I'd swap the post-christmas flabby belly for a nice flat one :)

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  22. I'd swap Tino Rossi (we have to listen to Tino Rossi in France) for Bob Dylan!

    @Dorothee77

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  23. I like the FB page
    @Dorothee77

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  24. I would swap the tradition of buying people presents who you really have nothing to do with, but have to buy out of distand friend/family obligation. I would swap this for the mutual agreement that were better off spending our money on our own children instead! @stralisemiai

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  25. I have liked your facebook page and shared your giveaway with my friends. @stralisemiai (Rach Lines on Facebook)

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  26. I have tweeted your fab giveaway , many thanks - @Stralisemiai

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  27. I would swap Christmas TV for Christmas outdoor activities! When we go overseas for Christmas, we always get out and about before Christmas dinner but when in UK we are far less active.
    @01592_katie

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  28. I am following and have tweeted.
    @01592_katie

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  29. I have liked the Squeaky Baby Facebook Page
    @01592_katie

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  30. The Queen's Speech for almost anything else - do this anyway. @ericahughes

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  31. I would replace turkey with ice cream

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  32. Have tweeted as well thanks @LouiseRWs

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  33. These look scrummy! I'd swap the 'going around to all of OH's family tradition on Christmas Day' and replace it with either 'visit them on Christmas Eve/Boxing Day or have everyone come visit us'!

    @Fluffy_Mummy

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  34. I would replace The Queens Speech by having her Majesty test everyone instead from @needaphone

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  35. @needaphone I have tweeted as well

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  36. @needaphone I like you on facebook as Claire Toplis from @needaphone

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  37. I would swap christmas cake for a big fat chocolate cake YUM YUM :)
    hunnypie27@gmail.com

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  38. I have liked on Facebook as Kim Carberry

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  39. Swap the tree for a lifesize cut out of your fav celeb dressed in a santa suit!

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  40. I would swap a christmas trees for a chocolate fountain from December until January

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  41. Simple - I'd swap Father Christmas for Brad Pitt!!

    Sarah
    theswannys@gmail.com

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  42. i'd swap reality shows for old fashioned christmas films .a little bit of Bing.

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  43. I'd like to abolish the Queens speech for Charlies Brookers annual address. He is so funny and miserable exactly like my hubby!

    Twitter melandjake99

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  44. Off to,like their facebook page Mellissa williams

    I love hotel chocolat their shop in Bath is fab!
    Thanks for running !!

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  45. I'd swap cooking Christmas dinner & would have my OH cooking it instead!

    On twitter @littlemissnau41 x

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  46. I'd swap roast turkey for steak and chips! Far less hassle and no left overs! @annieanna24

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  47. I have sent the tweet @annieanna24

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  48. I'd like to swap the cold and (for some) much longed for snow at christmas with hot sun instead :)

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  49. I'd swap the turkey for a nice roast beef

    @robynlclarke

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  50. Like on Facebook (Robyn Logan)

    @robynlclarke

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  51. I would swap Turkey for Chicken or Gammon as the traditional christmas dinner, Turkey is so dry and difficult to get right !

    @MrsWebster147

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  52. I have Tweeted @MrsWebster147

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  53. I have liked on facebook as Angela M Webster

    @MrsWebster147

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  54. I'd swap turkey for steak!

    Tweeted too.

    @mummymummymum

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  55. i'd swap christmas cake for sprouts, I may be mad but I love them!!!

    @baggiesbabe69

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  56. Tweeted @baggiesbabe69

    & like FB page Ness Gorton

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  57. I would swop turkey for rib of beef... well, why mess about with turkey when you can have a great bit of beef!?

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  58. I am following you on twitter @fluffyblueberry

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  59. I have liked on facebook as Natalie Holland

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