Salon du Chocolat 2012: New Worlds of
Chocolate!
Chocolatiers and chocolate
enthusiasts from across France and the far
corners of the cocoa-producing world will soon converge on Paris for the Salon
du Chocolat, which takes place at Porte de Versailles from October 31 to
November 4, 2012.
Some 400 leading chocolatiers
from around the world, among which more than 200 internationally renowned
pastry chefs, will be on hand to present their chocolate creations, with
plenty of tastings, samples and demonstrations throughout the five-day
extravaganza.
The theme this year is “New
Worlds of Chocolate,” with a focus on “new flavours, new countries, new
ways of eating and new talent.”
Lectures, workshops and competitions
are also part of the show, along with book signings (Patrick Roger, Christophe Michalak, Philippe
Conticini, Christophe Felder…) and the famous chocolate fashion show.
What: Salon du Chocolat 2012 (Paris
Chocolate Show)
Where: VIPARIS Porte de Versailles,
Pavilions 5/2 and 5/3When: October 31 to November 4, 2012
Métro: Porte de Versailles or Balard
Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily
Admission: Adults, 13 euros; children 3 to 12, 6.50 euros; Free for children under 3.
For more information, visit the Salon
du Chocolat official website.
The full article can be viewed here
:
And after doing some further web
research I came up with a list of some interesting prospects on your own self
guided chocolate tour of Paris:
Ah, Paris! Strolling along the
Seine, window shopping on Avenue Montaigne, gazing at the Mona Lisa.. Sure, you
can do all those things when you travel to paris and I have! At some point, you
should!
Moi, however? On my next visit to Paris I have another goal in
mind....I want to sample as many of Paris' legendary chocolate and pastry shops
as I can.
After my recent stumble on the above
mentioned chocolate soiree in Paris I started looking up reviews at Paris
Chocolatiers and Patissier's!
Here's my sweet-tooth
guide for a chocolate-lover's Parisian holiday
Angelina (226, rue de Rivoli; Metro:
Tuileries)
This tea shop/lunchroom/pastry
lover's delight is also the most famous place in Paris to enjoy a cup of chocolat
chaud (hot chocolate). No thin, watery, instant powdered drink here. The
divinely rich chocolat Africain is more like a melted chocolate souffle.
Served in a little pitcher, with enough for about two cups, and accompanied by
a bowl of thick whipped cream, this is hot chocolate overload!
Berthillon (31, rue
St.-Louis-en-l'Ile; Metro: Pont Marie)
You can also enjoy a cup of hot
chocolate here, but Berthillon is most famous for its ice cream. Once only
available at this location, you can now find Berthillon glaces et sorbets
throughout the city, but this is the original. A small boule of glace
au chocolat is rich and deeply chocolatey.
Caf de la Paix (12 boulevard des
Capucines; Metro: Opera)
When the weather's frosty outside,
sit in the heated, glass-enclosed terrace and watch the world go by in front of
the magnificent Opera Garnier while you choose between a hot chocolate that's fort
en gout or touche delicate. My co-worker says they make to die millefeuilles
- yummy custard!
Christian Constant (37, rue d'Assas;
Metro: Rennes or Saint-Placide)
For the chocolate purist, Christian
Constant offers three different tablettes of chocolate: milk, dark, and
bitter (not bittersweet, mind you, but truly bitter). Great gor dark lovers..
but I may have to pass I favor white and milk.
Dalloyau (101 rue du Faubourg-Saint-Honore;
Metro: Saint-Philippe-du-Roule)
There are other locations of this
famous patisserie/traiteur/glacier. A varied selection of
light, medium, dark, and mocha caramels. And oh my goodness do I love caramels.
This stop is definitely a MUST for me!
Debauve & Gallais (30, rue des
Saints-Peres; Metro: Saint-Germain-des-Pres)
Recognizable from its blue and gold
exterior (and packaging), this shop first opened in the early 1800s, when
chocolate was sold for its medicinal properties (the French were so
ahead of their time!). Choose from an assortment of bonbons, or simply
buy a bar (or tablette) to munch as you stroll down the street. 
Delicabar, at Le Bon Marche (26-38,
rue de Sevres; Metro: Sevres-Babylon)
Le Bon Marche I know I could spend a
lot of time there. After finishing up with shopping you can head to the stylish
new cafe, delicabar, for a chocolate pick-me-up. This creamy creation of
chocolatier Sebastian Gaudard can be savored pure or with a shot of caramel.
Jean-Paul Hevin (231, rue Saint-Honore;
Metro: Tuileries)
One of the famous names among French
chocolatiers, Jean-Paul Hevin not only offers more traditional chocolates, but
a line of aperitif chocolates--made with cheese. Hmm chocolate and cheese..
Laduree (75, avenue Champs-Elysees;
Metro: George V)
A French institution, Laduree was
Paris' first tearoom. In the 1950s, the pastry chef at Laduree invented the
French macaron--two lighter-than-air cookies filled with a flavored
cream (chocolate, lemon, pistachio...the flavors are seemingly endless). Order
a small plate of cookies along with Laduree's chocolat chaud, served in
a silver pitcher, and rest your sightseeing-weary legs.
Les Deux Magots (170, boulevard
Saint Germain; Metro: Saint-Germain-des-Pres)
Sit on the terrace--heated in chillier
weather--and watch tourists and locals alike streaming past the
Saint-Germain-des-Pres cathedral, or hurrying along boulevard Saint
Germain...this is your quintessential Paris postcard moment.
Michel Chaudun (149, rue de
l'Universite; Metro: Invalides)
This sculptor of chocolates--with
African statuettes, jewel boxes, animals, and more decorating his upscale
boutique--also offers chocolates in more traditional forms, while continuing to
experiment with new creations. Among his most recent: the Merida, an
orange-flavored truffle, and chocolate nougat with almonds and Provencal honey.
Pierre Herme (72, rue Bonaparte;
Metro: Saint-Sulpice)
This pint-size shop is filled with
chocolates and pastries that literally look too beautiful to eat. Dubbed
"le Dior des desserts," Herme is justifiably famous for his signature
offerings, including his dark chocolate macarons.
Pierre Marcolini (89, rue de Seine;
Metro: Odeon)
Famous in Brussels as well! These chocolates are not
inexpensive; a small boite containing just three chocolates is about 5
euros, but well worth the price. Marcolini, once an award-winning patissier
who has now dedicated himself to chocolate, uses as little cream and sugar as
possible. Try the bittersweet chocolate with caramelized almonds, the chocolates
flavored with honey, tea, jasmine, or spices. Or buy the elegant black tin of
shaved chocolate to bring home to make your own chocolat chaud that will
transport you back to Paris after just one sip.
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