Best Chocolate in Paris?

[bluestarz]

I'm looking for a recommendation for the best chocolate and hot chocolate in Paris!

[Arlene]

One of the best chocolates in Paris are from La Maison du Chocolat, there are five of their stores in Paris. Expensive but very delicious. They also have stores in London, Tokyo, NY.

Angelina's on the Rue de Rivoli is supposed to be good for hot chocolate, but when I was in Paris in Sept 2003 it was closed (for remodeling?)

Link: http://www.lamaisonduchocolat.com/mdc...

[Simon Majumdar]

Jean Paul Hevin

A friend intro'd me to his amazing chocolates and macaron recently

Stunning

S

Link: http://www.jphevin.com/

[Marty L.]

Yes, JP Hevin is the best---far superior to La Maison de Chocolate in my opinion.

My favorite of his truffles is the earl-grey tea flavored ganache coated with dark chocolate couverture.

Although JP Hevin is a chocolate specialist, another thing I always get when I go there is his tarte aux quatre fruits rouge.

[Debbie]

I do really love the chocolates at
Michel CHAUDUN
149, rue de l’Université 7e

the little square pavees are an incredibly delicious, melt in the mouth, complex taste sensation. I highly recommend them, and wouldn't want to be in Paris without a visit to this tiny, friendly and elegant shop not far from the Eiffel Tower.

[ChowFun]

Michel Chaudun is simply the best. Better cannot be obtained, and believe me I ate a lot of chocolate in Paris. The thing to get are the tiny cube truffles that come in a small box with a toothpick. This is the ultimate chocolate experience. Simple, yet complex. Plus, it's pretty inexpensive and he's a nice guy.

[biondanonima]

I third this motion - we stumbled upon this accidentally while looking for a place to go to the bathroom on the way to the Eiffel Tower. Oh the paves! Amazing.

[Miguel E. Gierbolini]

Christian Constant in Rue D'Assas is pretty good.

[cabrales]

Here's my report on Christian Constant (not to be confused with the Violon d'Ingres chef).

There is a little tea salon (12 seats) that is very simple, next to the main shop. I picked pastries and chocolates from the main shop, and these were brought to the tea salon for sampling. Constant defines himself more as a chocolate-maker than a patissier like Pierre Herme. Nonethless, he offered a wonderful selection of patisseries, mostly containing chocolate (and in every case dark chocolate):

(1) “Sonia Rykiel” (Tarte fondant au chocolate banane-braiche, 3.35 euros): A slight acidity from cross-sections from firm, mini bananas. These slices were abundant, and formed a ring on top of the top of the tart, which had a nicely thick crust and a high rim. The rich, gooey chocolate inside the tart was creamy and had some banana taste as well. This was a nice creation by Constant.

(2) “Fleurs de Chine” (China Flower; mousse legere de chocolate amer, creme croustillante de the vert au jasmin): This is one of Contant’s signature creations. It is a dark chocolate covered square, with a chocolate fan and the Constant logo on a gold little label on top. There are three primary layers, on top of a cake base. Two layers consisted of chocolate; the other was excellent – subtle and flavorful at the same time. This green tea layer was perfumed and more refined than the green tea flavor in green tea ice cream offered at many Japanese restaurants.

(3) Praline Chocolat (Creme chocolate et creme parlinee caramelisse aux noisette): This was very nice as well, being comprised of two layrs, each with a nice chocolate cake-like (somewhat soft) crust at the bottom. The top layer was yellow-colored and appeared to have slight browning and caramel effects on its surface. On top of that surface were a single almond, praline, small hazelnut and the Christian Constant sign. The second layer was chocolate. In between the two lawyers was apparently a gooey mixture of hazelnut and cinnamon and sugar – moist and crunchy and a nice combination.

I had the above with Moka d’Ethiopie, described as sauvage and parfume. I also bought small chocolates from the shop for sampling: Ganache au The Earl Grey; Roses et Raisins de Corinthe; Safran en fils (threads); Cardamone de Malabar. None had the ingredients separately discernible; all had the ingredients combined with the chocolate. I’m not a big fan of dark chocolate, so, while nice-tasting, these items were not of particular interest. Other flavors included Frangipanier flowers, Ylang Ylang des Comores; Jasmin du Yemen et The Vert; Ganache au Café Fort.

Certain Poilane breads, as are a variety of salads (pasta; squid; marinated mussels; chick peas; chicken salad). Roasted farm chicken was also available. Ice cream was also offered in 5-7 rotating varieties. The day I visited one flavor was a wonderful almond milk; another (not sampled) was Coconut. Christian Constant also sells jams made by his shop.

The chocolate bars available includes:
Pure Pate sans sucre, 100% cacao (5.35 euros)
Bitter-Plus (80% cacao, Venezuela)
Monteserrat’s Plantations (73%, Trinidad)
Cuba (70%)
Madong (70%, from [Papouasie])
Carupano (70%, Venezuela)
Guanaja (70%, blend from Antilles and Central America)
Extra bitter (66%, very roasted blend)
Pur Trinitario (66%, Trinidad, Tobago and Grenada)
Pur Criollo (64%, Madagascar, Ceylan)
Guayaquil (64%, [Equateur])
Grand Caraque (59.5%, Venezuela; also available with dried fruit)
Lait Amer (64%, also with dried fruit)
Chocolat Blanc

33 rue d’Assas, near the Saint-Placide Metro station (01 53 63 15 15)

[GG Mora]

For chocolats, I'm partial to Gerard Mulot on the Rue de Seine, corner Rue des Quatre Vents in the 6ieme.

[jlfischer]

I'm glad to see someone else loves my favorite chocolate shop in Paris. Gerard Mulot never disappoints!!!

[Michael]

My favorite chocolatier in Paris is Michel Cluizel, and his products are served by Catherine Cluizel at 201, rue Saint-Honoré.

I know la Maison du Chocolat: this is an American style chain of stores for high priced chocolats. Nice, but not the real thing. Hevin is great for lovers of sweets. But the best PURE chocolats are Michel Cluizels chocolat amer of 85% and 99% purity. Amazing with a glass of Bordeaux. And the Cluizel webstore is offering everything for delivery to your doorstep !!!

BTW: Another amer of similar quaility does not come from France, but from Barcelona: pasta de cacao 100% from Enric Rovira ...

Link: http://www.fontaineauchocolat.com/Fon...

[LMGM]

I'd have to disagree. I bought a fair bit of Cluizel chocolate when I lived in Toronto from a specialty store, and was always disappointed. When I got to Paris, I found the Cluizel shop here and tried again, but the same disappointment. His chocolates are certainly fine, but he doesn't manage bitterness and acidity very well once you get above 70% cacao. If you're looking for a 100% bar, I'd actually recommend Maison du Chocolat over Cluizel. On the other hand, my current favourite chocolatier is Soma in Toronto. While Paris rocks my world for the generally high level of chocolate-making, Soma beats everyone with their combination of fine chocolate work and imaginative flavors/ingredients. Mind you, I still haven't checked out Hévin or Chaudun yet.

[rjkaneda]

I like Cluizel's chocolate very much. The shop is unpretentious and the service is gracious.

Best chocolates in France? Probably Thierry Mulhaupt in Strasbourg:

http://www.mulhaupt.fr/

[chickenluv]

I agree with you on Michel Cluizel; he is my favorite as well. I recently compared his pralines with Maison du Chocolat's, Debauve & Gaullais, and Hevin and they just do not compare. A recent taste of the Conception bar at a Salon du Chocolat in Paris reminded me why I love his dark chocolate. This question is such a matter of taste, you owe it to yourself to give him a try.

FYI- I tried MC's chocolates in NYC recently and they were not the same. I don't think they travel well to foreign outposts.

[fanoffrance]

That's interesting, Chickenluv. My unfavorable impression of Cluizel is based on products of his which I bought in Oslo. Based on your advice, I'll have to try him in Paris! On the other hand, I did try Debauve & Gallais in Paris once, and found them to be far below the generally high standard maintained by Chaudun, Genin, Maison du Chocolat, Hevin, Patrick Roger etc. Actually I wouldn't rank D&G any higher than Valrhona's mass-produced assortments that you can buy at the airport. As you say, people have different tastes!

[cabrales]

In case you are going to Pierre Herme for the macarons or pastries, note that Herme also offers chocolates. I wouldn't consider them the best in Paris, but they are worth a little sample nonetheless.

Bernachon, a famous Lyons chocolate maker that some like a lot, is, contrary to popular belief, available in Paris. I posted in another forum I can't search about a little shop that sells Bernachon in Paris. I've not yet visited that shop.

I happen to dislike chocolate, but some of my travel companions who like chocolate like J-P Hevin, as other members have mentioned.

As for hot chocolate, there has been good mention of Angelina tea salon on the Rue de Rivoli. However, I tasted the hot chocolate and wasn't impressed. Not that that means much, given my preferences. I would suggest looking elsewhere for hot chocolate.

[Peter McCarthy]

The shop that sells Bernachon is A L'Etoile d'Or (at 30 Rue Fontaine in the 9th.) The proprietress is wonderful. I'll be in Paris in 2 weeks, and A L'Etoile d'Or is one place I know I'm visiting.

[sedap]

nice link! if ever you go to lyon, try bernard dufoux as well and let me know what you think. i liked them better.

lyonnais chocolates are (just a little) less adventurous than their parisian counterparts but i do have a sentimental spot for them.

[ChefJune]

imho, the best chocolate in the world is in Lyon, and only in Lyon, at Bernachon on the Blvd Franklin Roosevelt in the 6eme.

[LMGM]

This may have already been mentioned in this thread, but as far as I know the only place to get Bernachon chocolate outside of Lyon is at Denise Acabo's "L'Étoile d'Or" near métro Pigalle. That store is well worth a visit for all of the amazing chocolates and candies she has for sale. Best in France, IMHO.

[mizzlizz]

We are just back from Paris and loved finding Bernachon chocolate at madame Denises little shop in the 9th called L'Etoile d'Or. She also carries Le Roux's salted butter caramels.......simply wonderful!

[lizzie!]

Our favorite chocolate in Paris (as in "Oh My God!") is at A La Mere de la Famille (missing a few accents there!). The original, I believe, is on Rue FBG Monmartre and there is another one on Rue Cler. Cher yet AMAZING! (post script: fondee en 1764! Lotsa' practice!)

[Maurice Naughton]

There are a lot of Maîtres chocolatiers in Paris. To try to say one is best is to presume to know everone's particular tastes. Cabrales, for example, doesn't like chocolate, yet reviews the offerings from Christian Constant.

Master chocolate makers to consider are Thierry Mulhaupt, Michel Chatillon, François Leroux, and the shops Bonnatier Chocolatier and Regis Chocolatier

Along with ChowFun and Debbie, below, my particular favorite is Michel Chaudun at the corner of rue Malar and rue de l'Universite in the 7th. Nothing that can be said of his truffes pavees can possibly be an exaggeration. And even if you walk in looking slightly seedy, as I usually do, you are treated with graciousness tres gentil et tres amicale.

[2625nharding]

Could anyone tell me if you have heard of a chocolate shop called "Duo Trio" We are leaving for Paris in a few days and someone told us to go there. it is in the St. Gremaine area.

[smtucker]

I am particularly fond of the choclate store on Isle St Louis.... www.cacao-et-chocolat.com. Other spot I loved is no longer in business.

[erica]

I thought this place, Cacao et Chocolate, was part of a rather commercial chain, no? The website does not work..btw. I passed it every day when I stayed on the Ile recently and never thought to go inside...did I miss something great?

[Pistou]

I don't think you missed anything at all. The chocolates I tried at Cacao et Chocolate were average chain chocolate at best--lots of sugar, not so much chocolate. And it's definitely a chain, at least in Paris.

I second the recommendation for A l'Etoile d'Or--what a fun and wonderful shop, and the Bernachon chocolates are magnificent. My favorites were the bar with candied orange peel, and the rum raisin bar. I also really loved Patrick Roget's chocolates. The little toasted nut stacks were out of this world.

[Barstool]

Hot chocolate - can never remember the name of the place... On the Isle St. Louis near the foot bridge at the Notre Dame end of the isle. Left side, end of rue as you are walking from the Pont Marie. Besides - I really love their 1920's silver plated pots.

[schoenick]

Caveat - I haven't tried the other chocolates listed here except for La Maison du Chocolate. All I can say is that if they are better than La Maison, I simply cannot imagine. I use to think Leonidas had great chocolate but then I tried La Maison and I don't think there is any other food item that has brought me closer to an orgasm than La Maison.

You can find which store is closest to where you will be staying in paris by going to their website.

[jamiejay]

Looks like I will be visiting many chocolate shops on my upcoming visit to Paris!

Let me add one more to the mix: Debauve & Gallais, on rue des Saints-Peres near the church of Saint Germain des Pres, makes wonderful chocolates. Plus, they are situated in a lovely old building and their displays are beautiful. I highly recommend paying them a visit!

[friscohorn]

Pierre Hermé

Jean-Paul Hévin

La Maison du Chocolat is great but not as good as the 2 listed above.

[ChefJune]

I haven't had J-P Hevin's chocolates yet, but Maison is pretty doggone fine, in my book.

imo, the best chocolate in France is Bernachon in Lyon... http://www.bernachon.com/welcome.htm no Paris shop that I've heard of.

[Purse_Obession]

My favorite chocolate is La Maison du Chocolat also. As for hot chocolate, definitely Angelina's . So rich and smooth!

[sedap]

if you like your chocolat chaud a little less sweet, JPHevin also does a good version. there's a long-running debate as well about the best chocolat chaud in paris - try googling "meilleur chocolat chaud a paris".

[purplescout]

I just got back last week from Paris and tried JP Hevin for the first time. His chocolates are wonderful. I also really enjoyed his caramels.

[missholmes]

JP Hevin is very good, love the chocolate cheeses to be served as aperitifs (reminds me of cheesecake) and his truffles are simply amazing! however i didn't think his caramels were anything special, and the luxury box of chocolates is just okay.

visited christian constant last week, thought the chocolates were crap - very boring ganache with almost imperceptible flavour stuck together with plain "granular" chocolate akin to Hersheys. ate half the box on a bench in the luxembourg gardens and threw the rest away. waste of €8.

mrholmes

[euromike]

I was just researching Paris chocolate shops and found a great overview! http://www.europeupclose.com/paris-an...

[Dodo]

I've had a slight faible for Galler (from Belgium). One of his several Paris boutiques is located on Blvd. Haussmann.
http://www.galler.com

[RandyB]

Several years ago I spent a week visiting numerous chocolatiers around Paris. To get a good comparison of how each used similar ingredients, I tried to taste at least a truffe nature (just dark chocolate and dark ganache), a dark chocolate raspberry truffle (for want of a better English word), and an orangette (chocolate covered orange peel) at each one.

I will say the Étoile d'Or was by far the most fun to visit. However, I was very underwhelmed with the Bernachon chocolates. To my taste, and I agree with one poster that this is all very personal, they are not in the same league as la Maison du Chocolat or Jean Paul Hévin.

MdC may have multiple outlets, but the quality control is exquisite and they are in a position to enforce their standards on their major supplier of couverture, Valrhona. In fact, it was M. Linxe of the MdC who redefined the standard of cacao production and brought France into the world leadership in chocolate.

What I particularly like about MdC is the perfect flavor balance they maintain. When you taste a raspberry flavored truffle, for example, the raspberry-ness is very clear but the chocolate-ness of the ganache still comes first. In comparison, Hévin hits the raspberry harder, but still in a well balanced way. Both of them understand, as many purported chocolate-lovers don`t, that the highest percentage of cacao does not give the best end product. A well-balanced chocolate piece may have several different chocolates to best complement any other flavors. Too many chocolatiers seem to think that more bitter chocolate and overwhelming flavorings, rather than balance and subtlety, are the way to go.

MdC generally does not have as many extreme flavor combinations as some others do. I asked their head chocolatier about this once. He said it was because they may take several years of testing of a flavor before they are satisfied they have both perfected its presentation and their ability to maintain perfect consistency in production. The flavors may be subtler, but they unquestionably taste like what they purport to be, with a freshness that few others achieve.

I agree with the poster about being disappointed by Cluizel. I appreciate his being one of the few chocolatiers to make his own chocolate, and his not using soy lecithin. But his chocolate just is not that satisfying to me.

I guess I should acknowledge one hit-you-on-the-head raspberry chocolate that I like, but not all the time. That is the one from Pierre Hermé.

Finally, on the question of hot chocolate, Maison du Chocolat does a lovely one. I know they serve at their rue François 1er boutique. I don`t know which other boutiques have cafe seating. I won`t say they are the best because I have not done any systematic checking around. I like Angelina`s, but haven`t been there in years.

However, making good hot chocolate is not particularly hard. You just have to use great chocolate and not be stingy with it. Personally, I think ambiance is as important as flavor when it comes to hot chocolate. (Like the old saying that the best tasting hot dogs are the ones with ball games in front of them.) So go to Café Flore, order a hot chocolate that is too rich for anyone to drink it all at once, and watch the people go by.

[RandyB]

There is a guide book to chocolate put out by an exclusive French club. The book is called "Le guide du club des croqueurs de chocolat". It is unfortunately currently out of print.

It`s highest rating, 5 tablets, goes to Hévin; Linxe (Maison du Chocolat); and Le Roux (in Quiberon).

They give 4 tablets in Paris to Grau (Terroir Chocolat in the 2nd); Constant; Hermé; Mulot; and Rué (Peltier in the 7th).

The guide only rates 38 or so chocolatiers in Paris. I don`t know what their original selection process was. It`s clearly not a "top places only" selection. For example, they list Cacao et Chocolat but give it no tablets.

Bernachon is not listed at all. Seems odd. He isn`t a favorite of mine, but with his reputation he should have been rated. They only listed one Lyon chocolatier, and he got a single tablet.

[RandyB]

Ok, stop the presses. A whole new contender has entered the scene. He is Jacques Genin, a mythical chocolatier who only sold wholesale to top restaurants for years, and let only a lucky few into his atelier.

I was one of the lucky ones, but it was several years ago. Since his new boutique near République has only opened this week to the press, and next week officially, I`m not ready to comment.

For more information, David Lebovitz has more on his blog at http://www.davidlebovitz.com/archives...

[Delucacheesemonger]

For me, the hot chocolate l enjoy in Paris and the only one l drink is at Steiger-Constantin on Rue Capucines near Pyramides metro stop. Angelina is OK, but at this tiny shop, a elderly woman melts chocolate bars for each cup individually. Expensive yes, but one of the stops l make first on entering Paris. Not quite as thick as tazo from the Madrid or northern Spanish style, but would guess the bars she uses are between 60-70% and it and the store with 4 chairs are just perfect.

[stefaniem]

I'm suprised no one has mentioned Patrick Roger. http://www.patrickroger.com/

In my view, he and JPH are the kings of couture cholocate in Paris. Roger goes above and beyond traditional ganache, praliné etc and experiments with peppers, heat, teas etc.