**THE WINNERS ARE:***
Carm R.
Maria
Congratulations on your win! 
Thanks to One Green Bean PR for selecting the winners and providing the prize.
It seems unbelievable that my humble little blog Not Quite Nigella has been going for 2 years now. Things move so fast when you’re having fun and before I knew it, I’d logged my 763rd story! Thank you to all my readers for reading and for checking in with me every day. Your comments and emails make everything that much more fun!
It’s amazing to think that there are so many lovely readers out there. In fact after 2 years I’ve decided to release my readership data and you may be surprised to know how many of you lovely NQN readers there are out there . Drum roll please… there are 70,000 of you lovely unique readers a month with 230,000 page views a month! It’s like I’m running my own magazine here! All of you make writing this blog so much fun and worthwhile and the generosity in spirit and loyalty are things that I truly value.
But I know you want to know how we’re celebrating. Tobie Puttock and Ferrero Rondnoir have paired up to produce a very exclusive Dinner of Discovery at 360 Bar & Dining restaurant in Sydney Tower. Tobie will be creating some amazing dishes and deconstructing the Dark Chocolate Praline Ferrero Rondnoir. We will be entertained by Jade McRae and will enjoy the fabulous Sydney view in the revolving restaurant. Yes I said We as in two NQN readers will each win a pair of tickets to this event plus some scrumptious Rondnoirs with each prize pack worth $400+ each! And I’d love to meet you in person too!
So if you’re available on the evening of the 28th of October 2009 and would like to win points with your spouse/boss/friend by taking them to a fabulous night to remember simply enter by telling me what your favourite use of dark chocolate is! That’s all! Please leave your answer as a comment and you can enter once daily. The competition is open to anyone who can be in Sydney on that date (and I’m afraid I can’t send my private jet to pick you up as … well I don’t have one 
). The competition closes at Midnight AEST on the 17th of October!
If you just want to join us in the fun, tickets went on sale September 12th and the details are below. And of course stop by and say hello if you come along!
Lots of love,
Lorraine
xxx
What: Ferrero Rondnoir Dinner of Discovery with Tobie Puttock
Who: Tobie Puttock – Chef & Jade McRae – Entertainer
How: Tickets available from 360 Bar & Dining from September 12
When: 6.00-10.30pm, Wednesday October 28, 2009
Price: $195 per person
And and because it is Wallpaper Wednesday, here is the latest wallpaper of course in the chocolate theme! Cappucino Cupcakes!
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220 Comments | Add your own
Happy Blogiversary! Keep up with the great work!
Cheers,
Rosa
Ohh, Happy Birthday Nige.. I mean, Lorraine!!!
My favourite use for dark chocolate? Well, it’s probably some sort of oxy-moron, trying to make chocolate healthy, but my absolute fave thing is: “Tofu Chocolate ‘I-can’t-believe-it’s-not’ Cheese-cake”… I got the recipe if you’re game!
Happy happy birthday to your 2-year old great blog,Lorraine
Congratulations Lorraine! Happy second anniversary! Wishing you continued success because you deserve it! You are truly an inspiration to us all!
A Huge congratulations and Happy Birthday Lorraine, a fantastic achievement!
My favourite use for dark chocolate is bribing the manpet, he will agree to just about anything while in a dark chocolate induced haze
OMG,OMG,OMG, very,very,excited about this competition. How I’d love to win, not only because of the fantastic prize but also the opportunity to meet you Lorraine! Another reason is that this special evening is very close to our wedding anniversary (Oct.,31st), so what better way to celebrate it and spoil my husband, Lol! Congratulations on your 2nd year, you are doing a wonderful job and your figures just blew me away.I’m one of your avid readers, you just keep entertaining us with all of your foodie adventures.
Capuccino cupcakes are adorable, oh no another to add to my list.
Congratulations on your birthday! I love dropping by your blog and salivating over your delicious recipes and photos. Wish I could enter for the dinner, but good luck to all your readers – looks like a meal to remember!
I’m not the least bit surprised at the numbers of folks visiting! You keep us coming back
Thanks for maintaining a great blog.
My fav thing to do with dark chocolate is make a chocolate tart or a chocolate custard.
If I won I would come down from Brisbane on a road trip, making sure to stop at Zumbo’s pattisserie and go to the Dubbo Zoo as well.
Yum dark chocolate, favourite use is just to eat it as it is… as much as it is nice in tarts with fruit. i prefer dark chocolates as it is, simple and delicious!
Congratulations Lorraine! Thanks for producing such an informative, fun, beautiful and inspiring blog!! It’s part of my morning ritual
Mmmm besides eating dark chocolate – favourite uses:
Chocolate Molten baby cakes
Chocoate Mousse
My famous (oops must blog that) rocky road..
Wow Congratulations on 2 years!!! You have put alot of time and effort into creating and maintaining this blog and it is a pleasure to read each day.
Enjoy the dinner and please report back!!!
Chips in chocolate chip cookies, or just eaten as is!
Dinner sounds lovely!
Oh, dark chocolate…what don’t I love about it?
Brownies, triple choc biscuits, covering strawberries, the list is endless!
The most recent favourite is the black forest cake I made myself for my birthday last month. Yum…
Ooooh favourite use of dark chocolate!? Pretty much anything! Hmmm chocolate mousse – gordon ramsay recipe, chocolate mud cake, melted dark chocolate on vanilla ice-cream. I really could go on!
Congratulations on your 2nd birthday!!! Its amazing how many posts you’ve had since you began. Here’s to more ‘blogging years’!!
Happy blogoversary to NQN! Sounds like it will be a fab evening.
Hmmm … my favourite use of dark chocolate is as a sauce to put on anything – icecream, profiteroles, fruit (fondue anyone?), cake … the list goes on! (I have heard some people put it on meat!)
I love to melt dark chocolate and dip strawberries into it! mmmm chocolate…
Aww Happy 2 Years!! Those are some amazing readership numbers, and are totally well-deserved
Hehe I’ve already been lucky enough to meet you plenty of times thanks to our blogs, I’ll leave the fantastic dinner to your other lucky readers 
my favourite use is ….eating it …hahahahaha….. plain and simple
Happy birthday NQN!!
I’ve enjoyed reading you blog over the last year and a bit! Congratulations! As for my favourite use with dark chocolate.. definitely with chilli. I made chocolate chilli cupcakes using dark chocolate of course once and they were a huge hit at the BBQ! 
the best use of dark chocolate I’ve ever come across was dark choc crackles with marshmellow. These are the classic chocolate crackles, from kids parties, but with a thick dark chocolate base and sweet marshmellows all the way through! Yummmmm.
Happy 2 years NQN! Love the blog, and after meeting you in person, I love it even more
Hmm… Dark chocolate in a simple chocolate tart is the best!
Congratulations Lorraine, what an achievement! I wish I could enter your competition but I don’t have a private jet either
My favourite form of dark chocolate is in liquid form – either for dipping strawberries, shortbreads or marshmallow… or drinking it… mmmmmmmmmm…..
NQN, I just want to congratulate you on your 2 years of your blog. Your writing is engaging and I read your blog on a daily basis – but rarely comment. I have won another of your competitions so I will pass on entering this one. Again congrats, Dianne
Harpy birfday!
I prefer milk and white choc but I don’t underestimate dark chocs’ usefulness for bribery in the form of cake using Margaret Fulton’s sour cream choc cake with dark choc ganache recipe from my first ever cookbook twenty(something) years ago. This was the first time I’d seen the term “ganache” maybe proving Margaret was well ahead of her time.
I can’t pass up a sim[ple hot chocolate.
I even have my 22yr old son checking your blog for Restaurant reviews now!
Yes would score major brownie points as my husband is a dark chocolate FANATIC! We always have a constant supply in the house…Some good quality dark chocolate slightly melted in a cup of tea is his favourite way of devouring it; My favourite has to be Green & Black’s organic dark Ginger -yum!
Congrat’s Lorraine on your blog’s 2nd birthday – love it!
I love dipping our Sfingi (italian donuts) into a warm Dark Hot Chocolate.Made in a double boiler with cream & deliciousness. A chocolate hit that last for hours & well worth the loss of sleep that comes with it! I always do the washing up so i can scoop out the remains in the pot. Reminds me of the freezing cold snowy winters in Italy as a bambina,only now I can actually see over the knobs of the stove…just! xx Happy Birthday NotQuiteNigella. Lorraine,your Blog is very delicious!
Happy Birthday
Oh and I thought of my favourite way to eat dark Chocolate… a mug of thick italian dark chocolate from Max Brenner’s – divine!
Congratulations Lorraine!
I can’t go past dark chocolate mousse…mmmmmmmm…
Congrats, happy anno
Happy Blogiversary!! It’s always a treat to see the lovely things brewing over here!
Sounds like a fantastic way to celebrate, wish I could enter but I don’t think I’d be able to swing a flight next month if, by chance, I happened to win!!
Congratulations Lorraine on reaching two years! I wish I had discovered you back then also. Thanks for being a part of my very early mornings (toddler). I hope you get special presents! My favourite use for dark chocolate is a recently discovered recipe for a chocolate yoghurt cake – using my home-made yoghurt of course.
Congrats! I love this blog & am quickly (like dark chocolate) becomming addicted:) My favourite way to eat dark chocolate is straight from the packet!
Wow, 70,000+ unique visitors a month is a really good stat! Congratulations on 2 years and building such a loyal readership, although it’s not hard to see why.
I’ve already posted on Facebook about how I “don’t” want to win this competition (or any other), so here’s me trying “not” to win:
My favourite use of dark chocolate is without a doubt using it to make supernatural brownies. Closely followed by the chocolate truffles I make at Christmas time.
My favourite (for all the family) is fallen chocolate souffle – a chocolate cake with no flour so perfect for gluten-free friends! (or chocolate chip cookies for a mid-week after school treat!). Congratulations on two years – I read your blog with great delight so thank you.. on another note, for cheap eats in Sydney, have you tried Jasmine in Lakemba? GREAT falafel..
Happy 2nd birthday Lorraine! You do a wonderful job with the blog and congrats on building up the phenomenal reader stats!
I’m not usually a dark chocolate fan but I love the Ferrero Rondnoir! I find dark chocolate works best in the chocolate fondants I make.
I would love to make the trip to Sydney and meet you and attend the dinner, but it’s a busy time for me so I’ll pass on the competition!
Happy birthday Lorraine! Great work.
My old flatmate used to cook really good spanish stews with chorizo and morcilla and grate dark chocolate into it. Yummy.
Dark chocolate melted in hot milk, yum.
Happy 2nd Birthday!
Those are my favorite ferreos! mmmm
BTW – bonne anniversaire!
Congratulations on turning two!
Hi Lorraine,
Congratulations on the 2nd Birthday! Always check out your blog before popping up to Sydney for the weekend.
My favourite way to enjoy dark chocolate is when melting it for the purpose of incorporating it into some rich raspberry ganache or cake, there inevitably is some chocolate that dribbles onto your fingers, hands, arms, clothing (How did it get there? At least with me- I enjoy making a bit of a mess!)… The best bit of course is to lick it off OR wipe it on some unsuspecting person in an invitation for a foodfight!
Congratulations Lorraine! What an achievement
I made this Mexican inspired Chilli Dark Chocolate Mince which you have with avocado and rice. It was delicious.
Also, my bday is the day after 28th Oct so it will be a treat to be able to have dinner cooked by Tobie Puttock and meeting the famous Lorraine from NQN.
Congratulations Lorraine!!! You have such an inspiring blog and a lot of lucky readers
I love chocolate of all kinds.. so my entry for today would have to be a dark chocolate torte… mmmm
to make chocolate dipped anything – strawberries, raspberries, banana, licorice. Yum yum yum
Oooo . . . Congratulations on the readership and Happy Birthday NQN!! Being purely selfish, I hope there are many more.
Favourite chocolate experience . . . I’m going to be boring. Sat lying back in my deckchair and melting a piece of 80% on my tongue as I daydream (no cooking involved and it takes for ever for the velvety, bitter taste to finish).
Thanks for your lovely blog.
I love eating it the Haighs Dark Choc esp as you can tell yourself you’re doing a good thing for the heart – oh the health benefits!!
A great way I use dark choc is in this Toblerone Cheesecake Recipe!
Congrats on two years!! Thats so exciting =D!!
Happy blog birthday!
There are endless yummy desserts that use dark chocolate.
But a different yummy/interesting use is vension with dark chocolate sauce (sounds weird, but it’s so good!)
What a nice accomplishment. Congratulations.
Definitely making dark chocolate truffles with some peppermint oil and dusted with cocoa!
I’ve used dark chocolate for the usual truffles and soft centered puddings, but also sculptural centre pieces…
such as a life size geisha! How bazaar!
Happy celebrating your 2nd anniversary.
Love your blog!
Hi Lorraine – congratulations on 2 years of blogging. I can’t get over how dedicated (and prolific) you are, and how wonderfully you promote our local producers and restaurants. And your own cooking endeavours aren’t too shabby, either!
PS: Dark chocolate is best eaten as is – so you can savour the delicious rich flavour.
Happy Birthday lovely Lorraine! You are so dedicated and inspiring!
Oh wonderful! Congratulations. You’ve created such an amazing space here.
My use for dark chocolate? I love making cookies with it, or Nigella’s chocolate pavlova. But there really is nothing better than sneaking a little bit of me time and having a bit of dark chocolate to myself. I love dark chocolate.
Liss: If I win, I think we should have a much deserved girls night out. x
2 years already???? I guess time does fly when you’re having fun!
Congrats on a wonderful blog Lorraine,we can all see the work you put into it & love you all the more for it. You have inspired us to try many new things & places.
I was in hospital recently & was having withdrawal symptoms as I couldn’t access a computer
& I made hubby write out a summary for me each day lol.
As for my fav. use for dark choc???? there are so many…
Dark choc & pepermint rocky road(hubbys fav) Dark choc & ginger truffles(mother in laws fav) dark choc freckles(daughters fav(its her 7th birthday today)& my fav would have to be a dark choc & cherry mud cake, mmmmmmmmm.
Fingers crossed now lol.
Meg
Happy blog-aversary!
Favourite use of dark choclate? A rich and thick italian hot chocolate!
Happy Birthday!!
My favourite use for dark chocolate is to ingest it in its original form!
Congratulations Lorraine! I dont know how I found you but I am so happy that I did – your blogs are all read and thoroughly enjoyed. Only wish I was able to try all these fantastic places!
Keep up the good work!
Pat
Congrats on your 2-year bloggiversary! I think I like dark chocolate best in chocolate fondants when it just oozes out =D
Congrats – it has been great reading. Hopefully many more to come.
Favourite use of dark chocolate: making easter eggs that are good for you!!!
Cheers
md
My favourite use of dark chocolate is Bill’s soft centred chocolate pudding – 20 mins work for so many wonderful calories…
I can’t enter this comp as I am in Melbourne, but I wanted to wish you a happy birthday! Keep up the good work!
Omg, Yum!!
I’ll have to say shiny, velvety, dark choc ganache..and licking the bowl clean afterwards.
Congratulations on your blog Lorraine. I have found myself looking it up every morning, and I have used quite a few of your recipes. My favourite use of dark chocolate is in tiny, soft centred puddings. Yum…
Congrats on 2 years!!
My favourite way to eat dark chocolate (other than au natural) is in my chocolate cream cheese icing – invented during a store cupboard raid for an emergency birthday cake!
150g Full Fat Cream Cheese (eg Philadelphia,
50g Butter at room temp, 250g icing sugar, 75g Darkest Chocolate – I use my hand blender it takes 3-5 mins until light and fluffy.
2-year old already! YIPEE! Here’s to another 200 years. Ok, if you get to live that long, that is…
Congrats!
My favourite use of dark chocolate? As my little piece of heaven each day at work.
I have a piece each day with my lunch, a cup of green tea, your daily post and the Sydney Morning Herald. The best day is of course Tuesday, when non only do I have NQN bu also the Good Living supplement.
Happy Birthday!
Dark chocolate smores are pretty awesome ^^
Congratulations!! Can’t believe I have been reading your blog for 2 long years!! Keep writing and bring us more stories and recipes!
Happy 2nd blog birthday!
My favourite use for dark chocolate?
Take a sheet of puff pastry, cut it into 4 triangles, place as much dark chocolate as you like in the centre of each triangle, roll each pastry piece into a croissant and bake until golden. Quick, easy and so delicious!
I’m going to be boring but just simply eaten & enjoyed unadulterated.
Mole Rojo on enchilada. Yummmmmm.
Congrats on a great 2 yrs. I love the blog. It was my first ever bookmarked foodie type blog when I discovered such things existed (yes, newbie I am.)
Mmmmm
Oh yes Lorraine. Pick me!!!
Is it ok to say I simply like dark chocolate for eating?!
Congrats on 2 years – looking forward to the next 2
Happy 2nd Birthday!!
Happy blogoversary to NQN, Lorraine xx
It’s been an absolutely pleasure reading your blog for the past 2 years and an even greater pleasure getting to know you in person
I’d love to enter this competition… but first I have to figure out what to say LOL.
XOX
Happy 2nd birthday Lorraine! I’m impressed by ur readership numbers! hahaha..if only i could get half of your numbers to my blog..haha..anyways, my fav way of using dark chocolate is by melting it on my partner’s nipples and licking it and working my way with his abdomen..hahaha..i’m just joking! Trying to be naughty here..hehe..i dun have a partner now but hhmmm maybe that will become my fav way of using dark choco..anyways, here’s to you and many more anniversaries to come!
Happy Birthday Lorraine!!!! 763 posts – now that’s dedication to a very important cause (the yummy food cause of course!)
My favourite use for dark chocolate? Eating it as it is, on it’s own, normally at 3pm Mon – Fri when I need a sugar hit but want to pretend it’s healthy! Also melted down into the best hot chocolate ever (I figure if it’s in a drink and not solid – I don’t have to count it as one of my many ’snacks’).
Love your blog so keep it up!
(I would post a little smiley face thing but don’t know how)
Congratulations on 2 years!
This competition is beyond exciting! I love food. And your blog. Perfect!
My favourite use of dark chocolate is the simple one – enjoyed by itself, by the block, or melted with strawberries for dipping. Or a dark chocolate tart with fresh berries & cream…
Congrats on the 2nd anniversary of a great blog NQN. I have had some memorable and interesting dining experiences thanks to your blog and expanded my appreciation and knowledge of food along the way. Thanks. My favourite use for dark chocolate is to make hot chocolate – usually using G&B’s organic. Great stuff.
Lorraine – Congrats on turning the BIG 2. What an achievement. Your blog is such a joy to read. Keep up the good work. You seem like such a positive, passionate, fun and inspiring person. Be great to meet you and Tobie, be overjoyed by amazing food, and have a night out with hubby that does not involve cheap Thai, bottle of wine and a DVD (go the GFC !).
What has gone down a treat with dark chocolate ? My version of mousse, which went down a storm with co-workers when I worked in London: dark chocolate, cream, natural yoghurt, cocoa powder and a splash of rum…in moderation.
Or Donna Hay’s choc chip cookies, using chunks of dark chocolate, instead of horrible processed milk chocolate chips.
Happy birthday!
My favourite use of dark chocolate is just eating it plain, that really good quality thin slabs of it!
Hi,
My best use for dark chocolate is to prevent DVT when I fly to the UK – eat a couple of squares each day and it thins the blood – other alternatives are Red Wine or Asprin but this means I don’t have to feel guilty for eating the chocolate
M
Hi NQN – congratulations on a very tasty two years! Think of how many calories have been consumed over that time from all the beautiful dishes you post!
Here’s to many more
Congrats Lorraine!
For me, there is only one type of chocolate – dark; do like the Rondnoirs.
Fav use – eating as it or melting down for hot choc.
Have to admit I’m not a huge chocolate cooker, not that I don’t mind eating it
But checking out your recipe for the Cappucino Cupcakes, I think I may have to start cooking with it more.
Happy 2nd! For everyone who enjoys that dark chocolate as a hot drink, I suggest adding some cinnamon … mmm. And for the ganache lovers, try making it with coconut cream! The coconut cream with dark chocolate also works in the ice-cream maker and finally, a simple one for the kids, melt some squares, add puffed rice, mould, refrigerate and you have simple choccie bars! I got an induction cooktop, mainly to melt dark chocolate…
I love the Ferrero Rondnoirs – for people like me who don’t like nuts!
Congrats on 2 years – looking forward to many more! This is not a competition entry comment, I just wanted to say congrats.
My favorite use for dark chocolate is eating it!!!
Congratulations Lorraine. We visit because we love what you do – the recipes, the reviews and your stories. We like your blog and we like you and we can tell that you like us too
My favourite thing to do with dark chocolate is Nigella’s chocolate Marsala cake. Have you tried it? So, so good.
I would fly up from Wagga, after work if I had to!
Well done on the blogs 2nd Birthday! It has been great vicarious experience reading your blog..I have tried many recipes and featured venues.
My fave us of dark choc is to simply “eat it” love it with nuts the most!
Wow, 2 years?! Well done, Lorraine. Hope there’s many more. Congratulations!
Congratulations, and happy anniversary!
Oh feck I would LOVE to win this! And I would fly to Sydney just for the night to be there!
And CONGRATS on a huge two years and such an awesome reader base. We all love you
As for the chocolate – well I have had some of those Ferrero Rondnoir and they are just so delicious! So I could say they are my favourite but then I can’t go past locally made Koko Black. Seriously the best chocolate I have eaten on this PLANET. If I win the prize I will bring you a box! <3
You just had to remind me about Ferrero Rondnoirs; now I’m hatching a diabolical plan to have all my friends send me boxes of the little temptations for my birthday next week! :p
Happy 2nd Birthday Lorraine! And here’s to many many more..xxx!
great stats! my favourite use of dark chocolate is simply putting it in my mouth and enjoying it’s pure pleasurable taste. hope to see you on the night if i win. love ya work! happy birthday!
congratulations Lorraine and Happy anniversary for your wonderful blog! (: Keep those yummy posts coming!
Just for the contest : My favourite use of dark chocolate is using them in a rich dark chocolate souffle and top it up with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. (:
Congratulations! 2 years? So very accomplished for such a short time in the blogosphere! My own 1st bloggerversary is coming up soon too!
My fave use for dark chocolate would have to be using it to bribe my boyfriend. I find Lindt mint chocolate works best.
Congrats Lorraine! I’m looking forward to more of your great posts to come!
Happy birthday Lorraine! I use dark chocolate in everything , I guess the most frequent use would be for ganache.
(Subliminal message: Pick me! Pick Me! Pick Me!)
congratulations – I didn’t realise your blog started after mine – no wonder I was not aware of it when I started blogging – but you have been blogging at an amazing rate over those two years and there are so many things I want to make from your blog now – and it all looks so good!
CONGRATULATION!!!!!
WOW, two years, and so many readers. you should be smiling for at least anothe two years
That really is fabulous.
But poo -.- As I am not in Sydney, I can not go.
Happy 2nd Birthday NQN, hard to believe it’s been 2 years already! What are you going to do if all 70k individuals decide to write in at once, hehe! For me, dark is the only type of chocolate I eat, melted over vanilla icecream or with churros, yum yum!
Wow, 2nd year now? Congrats, it is hard to keep up posting almost everyday and all are about food!
I love to use dark chocolate in making cake because it gives an intense flavour in my brownies, cakes and cupcakes. I never use chocolate in meal cooking. Will Tobie Puttock putting these into dessert or meal?
Oh wow!! Congratulations – two years, that is such an achievement. I am not surprised you have such a devoted following!
Happy Anniversary!! Keep Rocking!!
Happy 2nd Blogiversary! I’ve been enjoying your posts for awhile now, and would have loved to join your chocolate feast if not for the fact that I am across the world in Vancouver, Canada. Congrats!
Happy 2nd birthday!
I have been reading your blog for a while but never left any comment. I guess this would be the great opportunity to do so as I might win the prize and also get a chance to meet you in person.
Well Dark Chocolate Truffle is my addiction.
Congratulations on the 2 years! Awesome reader stats!
congratulations on your 2nd anniversary.
jamie oliver’s chocolate pots, and fondue. and chocolate tarts.
happy 2 years blogiversary Mrs.NQN!!!!
:)
i’ve been following your blog for a year now. and i never forget to read it every single day
favorite use of dark chocolate is for brownies. nice, soft and gooey on the centre. yum!
A simple thank you for your awesome blog! Happy 2nd birthday!
My favourite use of dark chocolate is to eat it…well, I prefer milk chocolate but if I feel a little guilty, I’ll bring out the dark chocolate to snack on.
763 is an amazing number of posts in 2 years. I wish I could be in Sydney to join you. Congratulations!
Congratulations! Wow, I can’t believe you have put out 763 posts in just two years. You are incredible!
congrats my dear lorraine!
and your blog is WAY better than a magazine
keep it up, love reading your blog
man, what i wouldn’t give to be in sydney on that date, or any date! count me out of the competition, but i wanted to say congrats, and keep the good stuff comin’!
oh wow! Congrats! That’s a long way…
Congrats on turning 2, that is fantastic!
I wish I could be in Sydney, that looks like one amazing event!
Good for you. Superstar staus here you come!!
Lots and lots of love for you Lorraine and happy 2nd birthday Not Quite Nigella.
Happy blog Birthday!
belated happy blog birthday
Happy two years blog anniversary Lorraine!!! vat a great way to celebrate
also congratulation on ye great success! u deserve a lot!! keep up the great work!! wish you success always! cheers!!
Congratulations on 2 years and 70,000 readers – fantastic !! Keep up the food porn … just love it
Today I would have to say I really do love a good dark chocolate mousse… especially Nigella Lawson’s, which is suitable for more people than the more traditional egg mousses.
Congratulations Lorraine!Two years and still going strong, my favorite use of dark chocolate would be Michel Bras’ original 1981 Chocolat Coulant, re-interpreted by Heston Blumenthal by putting in a blue cheese ganache.
Congratulations!
My favourite use of dark chocolate would be my sister’s triple chocolate praline tart. And by that I mean she can make it and I’ll just eat it, mmm.
Congratulations on two years Lorraine! Well done on starting and maintaining a great blog…or should it be “congratulations on continuing to eat your way around Sydney”?
As for dark chocolate, I think it is the only chocolate worth eating. Even my six year old has always preferred dark chocolate…she used to eat the 85% cocoa Lindt when she was very young…and even I sometimes find that too strong! So we love dark chocolate in any and everything. A simple thing that I always do is a dark chocolate ganache to ice cakes – always makes any cake look and taste totally decadent and is a very simple thing to do.
Happy 2nd birthday!
and congrats on the awesome readership stats!
Always love reading your blog for inspiration.
Congratulations on 2 years Lorraine!
I run to simple tastes, so my favourite thing to do with dark chocolate is melt it and dip fresh strawberries in it
Chocolate dipped strawberries
Oh, and I have recently started making truffles! My latest love is dark chocolate nut truffle with a crisp white chocolate coating, followed by a dark choc twirl patterns to decorate! Mmm…I just had one for breaky!
Lorraine … HAPPY 2ND ANNIVERSARY!!! 2 years oh wow, wish I knew about your blog way earlier. Oh well better late than never. I always looking forward for your next adventure or food blog. I enjoy the pictures too!!!
My fav use of dark choc is for the chocolate cake that’s become the fav of my in laws. My hubby and I also love nibbling on dark choc, we found it to be more enjoyable than milk choc.
Love the blog Lorraine, keep up the amazing work
Congratulations! This is one of my favourite blogs and I can’t believe it’s been 2 years already.
Hmmmm, my favourite way to use dark chocolate is to shave it into that 5min microwave chocolate cake
Happy Blog birthday. I would really love to come – and it is being held very nearly on my real birthday. Is that a good enough reason?
Simplicity!!!Good Queensland Strawberries,the monster big juicy type dipped in chocolate.Not so simple the company & luxury surroundings to share them!!!
Great competition !
My favourite use for Dark Chocolate is to make a chocolate jelly with agar agar…its great on its own; or with a layer of crushed honeycomb / candied nuts added; or you can fill the mold partially and then add a second layer (once set) of say coconut flavoured jelly or a blood orange jelly…great for the warmer weather..the gold and blacks spiced dark chocolate is especially good for this ; )
Mmmmm my fave would be dark chocolate tart.
Cross fingers. Entry #2.
Hi Lorraine, happy blog birthday from my holidays in Paris!!! Thank you so much for sharing with us all these amazing recipes and gourmet spots day after day. I wish I could enter the competition, but it’s now past midnight in Sydney. However, it’s only 22:31pm Paris time so maybe I still have a chance?!! My favourite use of dark chocolate is for Poire Belle Hélène, with juicy packham pears and 70% cocoa chocolate. Yum…
Myriam
Happy 2nd birthday, here’s to many many more. I’m ever so glad I stumbled upon your blog that one day not so long ago!
xx
My favourite use for Dark Chocolate is to make Glutten free brownie… soo good…
Dark chocolate – I just like to eat it – as it is good for me with all those anti oxidents there is no guilt involved at all!
Congrats on your blog – its always great fun.
Congrats on your 2nd year in the web-verse (is that a word? It’s meant to be like universe, except on the web…LOL..don’t mind me..my brain’s not working!)
Hmmm…my favourite use for dark chocolate…oh gee…well…I think one would definitely be melted dark chocolate, with a little liqueur of choice (cointreau is nice!) mixed in…and dipping sweet, juicy strawberries into it!!
Marshmallows are good as well….but strawberries are the best!! 
Honey truffles. Dark chocolate ganache flavoured with honey, rolled into a ball then double coated with melted dark chocolate.
Absolutely fricken delicious.
Happy Happy 2nd birthday…wishing you many many more here in blogland♥x
http://www.notquitenigella.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/harry_potter_934-450×675.jpg
PS I tried the link you left me and I couldn’t get it to work?
Dark chocolate is best in chocolate fondue! With marshmallows, strawberries and bananas.
Entry No 2…….Pick me, pick me,pick me!
Congratualtions on the 2 years
I almost don’t believe it with the breadth of your reviews and articles.
I love reading your reviews, and especially finding out new restaurants to visit.
I love making one bowl marscapone brownies. It’s one of those dishes that really stands out when you use good quality chocolate (like, colifax dark chocolate. mmmmm).
And it’s really easy to make.
That is, aside from just eating dark chocolate as is with the gf on the couch in front of the TV.
~!Happy 2nd Birthday to You NQN!~
Dark chocolate is best as is… coupled with a glass of tawny port
Congrats again! My favourite use of dark chocolate…. (other than straight from the packet?) I love Chocolate Gnash. I find it so incredibly difficult to leave my gnash to cool over night…. There are always a couple of teaspoon indents in the bowl by morning
just simplicity !!Good strawberries & someone special to share them with.
Favourite use of dark chococate? Choc Chip Cookies. Obesity-making ones. =P
/bribery. I’ll make you some if I win! bribery/
ummmm… dark chocolate sauce on steak & as dips for hot chips
My entry for today would have to be fudgey gooey brownies…. yummo
of course it would have to be nigella lawsons intense chocolate chip cookies. perfect for a rainy afternoon accompanied with freshly made hot chocolate.
My favorite use for dark chocolate is to break it in small pieces and popping it on my tongue to slowely melt. Selfish but scrumptious.
…fav use would be a dark chocolate lipstick and as a body paint.
With my Lover…fav use would be a dark chocolate lipstick and as a body paint.
My entry for today would be delectable dark chocolate chip cookies. How badly I crave for one now. Or a big handful!
Happy Happy Birthday, the photos on your site are amazing!!!I love it.
My Fav dark chocolate dessert whould have to be chocolate souffle with a dark chocolate lindt sauce to be poured into the middle of the souffle and then a dollop of double cream placed on top, yummy!!!
hazelnut macaroons with a deliciously rich dark chocolate ganache filling
One of my all-time-favourites is a dark chocolate soft-centered molten baby cake… it’s absolutely gorgeous!
Entry No 3: If at all feeling depressed……eat Chocolate!!
mmmmmmmmm i discovered a new use(for me anyway) for dark choc. I made a dark choc & mango mud cake on the weekend & it was delicious!!!!!!!!! will definately be making it again.
I had the BEST dark chocolate tart in Bowral the other week…can’t wait to go down again to eat it =)
Dark chocolate is always a good choice when people are over.
My favourite use for dark chocolate is in my chocolate espresso mousse cake. As for eating it, I particularly like Haighs dark chocolate mint frogs – yummmmm.
While unadulterated dark chocolate is good, great dark chocolate combined with butter and cream and coated in more chocolate is even better.
Mmmmmm, truffles.
florentines: crunchy florentines (with a mix of nuts, not the cheaters cornflakes way) cherries and a delicious think bottom of dark chocolate
i like sticking them into my mouth and eating them whole
My favourite use for dark chocolate is medicinal – it is a good source of antioxidants after all.
My favourite use of dark chocolate is to satisfy my chocolate craving and make myself happy! What’s better than that way to use dark chocolate?
During winter I like to make my own dark hot chocolate by melting pieces of lindt dark chocolate and milk.
I wrap the chocolate up bash it with the rolling pin and mix it through my cookie dough
my favourite use is to dip sweet hibiscus flowers into melted dark chocolate and chill. serve with a nice glass of pink champagne
Admire all the hard work you hav put into NQN – It’s my fav site. Happy Bday!!
I infuse dark chocolate into Chinese herbal medicine. It will nullify and sweeten the pungent bitterness of the hard-to-swallow elixir.
Admire all your hard work!! NQN is one of my fav sites. Happy B’Day!
I infuse dark chocolate into Chinese herbal medicine. It will nullify and sweeten the pungent bitterness of the hard-to-swallow elixir.
I put a few pieces of dark chocolate in some frozen croissants before baking them. Very yummy and easy!
My favourite use of dark chocolate is melting it and dipping strawberries in it!
Congratulations! I love your work. Have used your website on where to go and what’s new around Sydney.
I love using dark chocolate in making decorations for my cupcake such as chocolate filigrees, chocolate cut-outs,chocolate pirals,etc.
By the way, I recently made spagetti cupcake using ferrero as the meatballs and covered it with strawberry jam to resemble the sauce on top of my cupcake filled with buttercream piping which looks like spaghetti for my daughter’s bday. I can send you a photo if you like…
Regards, Maria
Congrats on 2 years! Have thoroughly enjoyed your posts
Am a terrible cook, but I can manage to melt dark chocolate to make fondue for simplicity’s sake then the fun part comes dipping all matter of food in it..strawberries, kfc chips, ferrero’s own rafaello and of course fingers (to lick…not to eat!
Happy Birthday! I admit I have become quite a NQN fan of late – it’s so refreshing to have a Sydney-based blogger who posts so frequently. I love reading your reviews of places I can know or can access easily – you’ve encouraged a great expansion of my dining horizons. Thanks so much and keep up the great work!
As for chocolate, I like it in the form of the french chocolat chaud a l’ancienne – a hot chocolate so dense and rich you could be drinking steaming, liquid ganache. So delicious! It’s a shame the end of chilly winter removes my excuse to make this … I guess it’s time for some dark chocolate sorbet!
I love chocolate crackles with dark chocolate instead of milk chocolate. I find it’s not as sweet but still really nice!
Dark chocolate tastes divine in the form of Nigella Lawson’s Birthday Brownies – still fudgey and barely cooked in the centre, and crackled on top. Best warm with a dollop of creme fraiche … and I admit the batter on its own tastes just as good.
My favourite use for dark chocolate is in Elise Pascoe’s recipe for Day and Night Chocolate Bavarios.
Congratulations on the success of your blog I’m addicted to it just like dark chocolate!
mmmm flourless chocolate cake…
orr home-made chocolate fudge sauce for ice cream.
i love your blog, here’s to many more years! food blogging is the best thing that ever happened to the web
I truly enjoy dark chocolate spread between 2 warm pancakes with icing sugar, strawberries and mint on top
Dark chocolate milkshakes are a nice treat during the summer! I always remember to put extra dark chocolate fudge sauce into the glass before pouring the milkshake in.
Chocolate ganache has to be one of the most divine culinary creations. For a particularly decadent ganache I love mixing dark chocolate pieces not with cream but with warm caramel (preferably the salted butter variety!) – pour this concoction over profiteroles, baby meringues, hazelnut ice cream or eat on its own!
chocolate ganache for cakes!
Entry No4…………Desperately Seeking Chocolate LOL
I’ve always been a firm believer that chocolate is at its best when melted! Even better when its melted into batters, tarts, puddings, souffles, mousses etc. Chocolate is made to be baked.
Pierre Herme’s sables au chocolat – they’re little nuggets of deep, mildly bitter, buttery deliciousness with just a touch of fleur de sel to round out the flavour … impossible to stop at just one.
I tried this recipe from Donna Hay where she dipped balls of icecream into melted chocolate (mine would be dark of course) and then froze them again before serving. I served mine during a family gathering and they were a hit with both kids and adults.
Those are very impressive statistics Lorraine, I don’t doubt they will sky rocket in the future. The passion I have for food in general is indescribable .. but dark chocolate has ALWAYS been a favourite of mine, especially as it is beneficial to your health. My favourite use (apart from eating it plain) is melting it, dipping the smooth chocolate into strawberries and then again into shopped nuts. Divine!
so excited I mispelled – *chopped.!
Love to sit by the TV with the family dipping strawberries, mangos, berries, bananas, almonds and marshmallows into the dark chocolate. No recipe just good quality dark chocolate melted using a fondue bowl and tealight candle-best present I ever received from a student!
NQN – you hav definitely helped me choose many a restaurant. Thank You!
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It’s not a great seller,
And it’s Not Quite Nigella,
But I love my dark chocolate with mozzarella.
just tripped over your site 2day and feel like i hit a little jackpot! The food on your site is all unique and delicious looking! AND.. how do we chance winning the tickets and all !!
your NEWEST faN!
DEREk !!
I had pancakes for breakfast today and while the rest of my family drizzled their maple syrup, I melted some of my 75% Lindt dark chocolate and poured it all over my stack of pancakes. It was a great start to a busy Sunday!
Hubbie is a handyman so dark chocolate is used to fix,repair and maintain spouses falling apart body and keep relationship interesting and sweet!
Entry No 5…One Rondnoir = Perpetual Bliss
I most often use dark chocolate in brownies, definitely a crowd pleaser! I made rum and raisen brownies for church recently, a double batch and they all got eaten!! But I like my dark chocolate best as an accompaniment to a hot chocolate, dip it in so it melts a little then eat, yum!
I made truffles today and mixed two types of dark chocolate (70% and 85%). It may seem like a minor detail but somehow it seemed like a nice idea to have such combination.
My friend tried out the Five Minute Chocolate Mug Cake today. She really like it and was surprised by how well it turned out. Since we have very similar tastes when it comes to food, this recipe is on my to-do list and I’ll definitely be adding lots of dark chocolate into the recipe and for the garnishing!
great when making double-choc muffins!
Chilli Chocolate Muffins delicious and different a real taste sensation to savour and remember
Yay! Happy 2 Years! I’ve only just recently discovered NQN but am loving it!
As for dark chocolate, my favourite way to use it would have to be in a fabulous torta caprese. Instead of blitzing the chocolate, I love to incorporate both fine and chunky bits to add extra texture and dark chocolate-y deliciousness! I also like to use hazelnuts and and a bit of cardamom along with the usual ground almonds as they both go oh so well with the chocolate! Mmmm cake…
anyone heard of ganache…whoever thought of combining my two favourite things, cream and dark chocolate is a complete genius
Happy Birthday! I only started reading a few months, but embarrassingly have read almost your entire back catalogue – the fact that I should be studying certainly helps!
Anyway, my favourite use of dark chocolate is melting it and dipping beautifully fresh strawberries in
ever tried dark-choc dipped mandarin segments? Myumbo! S
I love flourless chocolate cake! I’ve found a recipe and once my uni semester is over I am going to try it out.
And I must say, this blog is my must-visit site everyday. I look up to receiving the subscription email in my inbox everyday! I’ve shared it with my foodie friends and they’ve all caught on.
One decadent way to eat dark chocolate is to buy it by the kilo from Lindt – it comes in large bricks which I’ll leave out on the chopping board with a large knife alongside, ready for quick consumption.
And thanks again for all your wonderful work NQN – in the past month or so alone your reviews and suggestions have taken me to Wasavie, Plan B, the Bourke St Bakery (multiple times),the Uighur restuarant at Haymarket, Bills, Deus Cafe, Le Grand Cafe … I can’t even remember but all I know is that I now rely on you when I want to dine out in Sydney! Fantastic work
Hi NQN,
I came across your blog early this year. You’ve inspired me to be a foodie at 15 years of age!
My favourite way to use dark chocolate is to mix it with a bit of cream in the pan, chill it, and shape it into decadent truffle balls, filled with nuts for some and infusing with some wicked cinnamon and chilli for the others. Assorting these into tins and giving to friends for parties is the way to go!
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