Are you a choco – addict…?
How far away would you go in order to taste the best chocolate…?
Personally I declare myself to be a huge choco – fun…! I can’t resist chocolate bars , I admit…, especially the dark ones and hot chocolate in winter time !
One of the best chocolate lover’s paradise, among Switzerland and Belgium, or Chirardelli Chocolate factory in San Franscisco, is of course Paris..! Please let me share with you the best of Saint-Germain-des-Prés which is the city’s undisputed chocolate capital, according to Condé Nast Traveler. See the best 10 chocolate spots in Paris here:
Though Paris as a whole is a chocolate lover’s paradise, Saint-Germain-des-Prés is the city’s undisputed cocoa capital. In the 6th arrondissement alone, you’ll find over two dozen chocolateries and patisseries selling every kind of truffle, bonbon, and praline imaginable .
Here are the stops everybody shouldn’t miss…
Operating from the same small storefront on Rue des Saints-Pères since 1818, Debauve et Gallais is one of the oldest chocolatiers in Paris. In 1819, it was appointed the sole chocolate supplier of the French royal family, and from then on, created fine, handcrafted chocolates exclusively for Kings Louis XVIII, Charles X, and Louis-Philippe. In 1913, Debauve et Gallais began selling its chocolate to the public—in the same blue and gold-embossed box presented to royals. The chocolatier is best known for its decadent dark chocolate truffles, said to be favored by King Louis himself. (30 Rue des Saints-Peres; +33 1 4548 5467; debauve-et-gallais.com)
Pierre Marconi has not one, but two stores in Saint-Germain: his flagship store on Rue de Seine, which opened in 2003, and a newer, smaller shop on Rue de Bac, opened in 2013. For a more intimate experience, we suggest Rue de Bac, where you’ll find glass cases filled with neat rows of bonbons (over 60 varieties) infused with anything from Earl Grey to violet—and none of the jostling tourists. Try the Baies Roses, a ganache flavored with Moroccan pink pepper berries.(78 Rue du Bac; +33 1 4544 3402; marcolini.com)
Flanked by mirrors and decked out in glossy oak, Jean-Charles Rochoux feels more like a boutique than a chocolate shop. Shiny bonbons, delicate pralines, and liqueur-filled truffles are showcased in glass cases; upon purchase, the sweets are artfully arranged into a metallic silver faux-snakeskin case that could be mistaken for a Louboutin purse. Try the Medan truffle: a masterpiece filled with caramelized raisins that have been flambéed and steeped in aged rum.(16 Rue d’Assas; +33 1 4284 2945; jcrochoux.com)
Founded in 1761, À la Mère de Famille is the oldest chocolatier in Paris— their 35 Rue du Faubourg storefront in Montmartre is actually listed on France’s official Inventory of Historical Monuments. Though their shop in the 6th isn’t quite as historic, it still has a charming vintage feel with its wooden counters and tiled floors, and is piled high with the chocolatier’s beautifully traditional creations. Grab a tube of Florentines: slivered almonds dipped in caramelized honey, then coated in dark chocolate.(39 Rue du Cherche Midi; +33 1 4222 4999;lameredefamille.com)
Once awarded the Best Chocolatier in France award by his industry peers, Henri Leroux is one of France’s most celebrated chocolatiers. With over 80 different creations—handcrafted using the finest cocoa from Vanuatu, São Tome, Colombia, and Madagascar—showcased under glass, the minimalist store feels almost like a museum of chocolate. If you’re not put off by the neon-green coloring, pick up a bar of his excellent matcha-yuzu chocolate. (1 Rue de Bourbon le Château; +1 1 8228 4980; chocolatleroux.com)
On central Boulevard Saint-Germain—around which all the chocolatiers are clustered—you’ll find Patrick Roger, one of France’s most exciting chocolatiers. Roger, famous for his giant chocolate sculptures, won the Meilleur Ouvrier de France, a prize awarded every four years to the country’s finest craftsperson, in 2000. From his large, intricate sculptures to his exquisite individual pralines, each of Roger’s creations is a work of art. His best-selling chocolates are the Instinct, a cluster of dark chocolate and roasted almond, and Corsica, a dark chocolate praline with orange peel. (108 Boulevard Saint-Germain; +33 1 4329 3842; patrickroger.com)
Though Parisian pastry chef and chocolatier Pierre Hermé is best known for his macarons, his chocolates are just as beautifully made (and equally delicious). Visit his perennially-crowded Rue Bonaparte outpost before breakfast to nab a bag of his dark chocolate-coated candied fruit or a delicate tarte, which sell out as fast as the pretty, pastel-colored macarons. Added bonus: staff here are generous with samples, so don’t be afraid to ask for one—or three. (72 Rue Bonaparte; +33 1 4354 4777; pierreherme.com)
Unlike Henri Leroux or Pierre Hermé, the chocolates at Maison Georges Larnicol aren’t showcased under glass like precious jewels; instead, they’re laid out in no-fuss bins for you to scoop out yourself, like at a traditional candy store. Fill your paper bag with rochers (almonds and orange peel rolled in chocolate), chocolate-coated marshmallows, truffles, and apricot-hazelnut galettes (pebbles), then enjoy your loot while admiring the ever-changing window displays. At the time of writing, a spectacular chocolate replica of Notre Dame graced the storefront. (132 Boulevard Saint-Germain; +33 1 4326 3938; chocolaterielarnicol.fr)
Un Dimanche à Paris is a bona fide temple to chocolate: It’s a store, cafe, restaurant, and cocktail lounge rolled into one—all dedicated to chocolate. Compared to other chocolateries, the presentation here is rather unremarkable: no sculptures or fancy decor, just chocolate laid out simply in square piles. According to owner and chocolatier Pierre Cluizel, who hails from France’s most celebrated chocolate-making family, the chocolate speaks for itself. Don’t leave without trying the chocolat chaud made from melted chocolate, cream and cinnamon, or thechocolate foie gras, which is exactly what you think it is. (4 Cours du Commerce Saint-André; +33 1 5681 1818; un-dimanche-a-paris.com)
Before opening his own chocolaterie, Patrice Chapon was the official pastry chef and ice cream maker to the Royal Court at Buckingham Palace. It’s no wonder then, that one of the chocolatier’s many claims to fame is his chocolate mousse-in-a-cone. (You can choose from five different kinds, of varying intensity and richness). Chapon’s creations are innovative, to put it mildly: he incorporates everything from basil to smoked salt in his pralines, ganaches, and truffles.
Here you will find the best chocolate mousse in Paris. I never imagined that one day I’d have the chance to eat a chocolate mousse that’s as good as the one I’ve enjoyed there . Not any chocolate mousse, but one I tasted slowly, a lick at a time, while moaning from enjoyment on the sidewalks of old Parisian streets.
(69 Rue du Bac; +33 1 4222 9598; chocolat-chapon.com)
source:
Condé Nast Traveler
Big Thanks !
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