DOES Gerry Wilton like chocolate? That’s a bit like asking Rick Stein if he likes fish!

The man is obsessed.

Gerry was the second person in the UK to import chocolate fountains from the US (he had the dubious honour of being the supplier for Peter and Jordan’s wedding).

After that followed chocolate making workshops and corporate events, before he opened the world-renowned Chocolate Boutique Hotel in Bournemouth.

Now he is enjoying the sweet taste of success after his hotel was listed on an international travel website and last week made it into the Michelin Guide.

“Most people like chocolate,” says Gerry. “I wouldn’t say I have a sweet-tooth particularly, but I do like good quality chocolate. I eat some every day. A bit of chocolate is good for you – I even use it as hair conditioner because it contains cocoa butter. You can use it as a face pack too!”

Now the chocolatier has turned his hand to making chocolate portraits and offered to capture my features in confectionary.

By the time I arrive at the hotel in West Cliff, my portrait – based on a picture he found on the internet – has already been framed.

“I can’t tell you how I make them because that’s a trade secret, but it only takes me about an hour from start to finish,” he says.

“It is made with real milk, dark and white Belgian chocolate. If you’re really desperate for a chocolate fix, you could lick it!”

Gerry has now started making portraits of celebrities including Jonathan Ross. Melanie Sykes liked hers so much she tweeted it to her 116,000 followers.