The Richard Branson-esque chocolatier Angus Thirlwell dropped by San Francisco last week to promote Hotel Chocolat

Sens restaurant recently hosted a "chocolate dinner" by using cocoa products in all the courses. Yum. It was all to feature the American launch of a Cool Britannia company -- Hotel Chocolat. It's not an actual hotel, they just sell chocolate. And they don't have any stores in the Bay Area yet, so you''ll have to go online to check them out.

But what of the Chocolate Wars? See you after the jump.

So Hotel Chocolat is a successful kind of upstart company, like Virgin Atlantic back in the day. Virgin Airways met with more than a little a little blowback from its established rival. Hotel Chocolat has engendered a similar reaction from at least one employee of an established chocolate maker.

Anyway, even though HC is online-only and therefore everywhere, they chose to come to San Francisco to start handing out some goodies. Read some details here and watch a video here.

And by the way, Hotel Chocolat is one of the sponsors for the upcoming Bay Bash benefit on Thursday, November 15.

"The first annual Bay Bash, benefiting the Bay Institute, is coming to the Aquarium of the Bay with gourmet cuisine and hosted bars. Featuring DJ Chris Harnett and live music by Kapakahi!"

So check it out