Today's treat was meant to be the latest Café Gourmand at our local chocolatier Gareth James - he's always working on an irresistible new surprise and I was told this one has homemade strawberry marshmallows and a white chocolate parfait with passion fruit granita - but word must have got out because they had none left when we arrived! That's ok, we'll be back later this week.

The topic of texture arose and Gareth pointed me to their new Valentine's confection which I'd been eyeing up. It was a white chocolate pavé coloured pink by the freeze-dried strawberries, and soon I was out the door with some. (No, I did not steal them.) As soon I was finished taking my shots I ate one. Then, two, then three. If I'd been left alone any longer I'm afraid I may have eaten all of them! Gorgeous texture indeed - it has a delicate crunch thanks to the strawberries which are in perfect proportion to the thinness of the pavé. I really do have no self-control whatsoever. No regrets, either!

Oh yeah that's the stuff.

Photos © The Swelle Life