640884 Thu Jul 30 23:20:59 -0700 2009 25 49 France 0 4905528 Hello: Where can I find the best chocolat chaud in Paris? Here are some places I am looking at: Angelina Patisserie Viennoise Patrick Roger La Chocolaterie Michel Chaudun Christian Constant Jean Paul Hevin La Maison du Chocolat Ritz - Bar Vendome Cafe de Flore Lenotre Dalloyau Thanks! Thu Jul 30 23:20:59 -0700 2009 103390 hong_kong_foodie 1 4905542 Patrick Roger, Michel Chaudun, La Maison du Chocolate, and most Lenotre outlets are retail chocolate shops. I don't believe they serve hot chocolate. And those that do would be standup only. Sometimes it is not the best tasting that makes Paris so special. The setting can be just as seductive; if I want to dress up and be served on the finest china, the Ritz Bar Vendome would trump Patisserie Viennoise but also depends on a given day if I want to pay three times as much. Thu Jul 30 23:38:30 -0700 2009 4905528 10756 PBSF 2 4907492 The Blvd Madeleine la Maison du Chocolat has a small salon that serves coffee, hot chocolate and other things they have in the store. Christian Constant, 37 Rue d'Assas has a small salon too, but it is separate from the store. Fri Jul 31 15:09:18 -0700 2009 4905542 29849 f2dat06 1 4905893 According to Delucacheesemonger, "none of the above!" I hope h e will show up to name the place he waxes poetic about, because I can't remember it for the life of me! and I haven't been there yet. Fri Jul 31 06:49:29 -0700 2009 4905528 52499 ChefJune 2 4907410 Place l wax poetic about is Constantin-Steiger on Rue ( not Blvd ) Capucines. However, someone told me about a month ago, it is closed or sold or something. Little old lady who ran it worked like a horse and must have been 80, hopefully my info is wrong. Please check for me and post your experience. Will be in Paris next month, so if no answer, will go and find out. Fri Jul 31 14:45:16 -0700 2009 4905893 71113 Delucacheesemonger 3 4908080 Thanks for the info. I will definitely try to check and let you know if Constantin-Steiger is still open. Fri Jul 31 20:03:58 -0700 2009 4907410 103390 hong_kong_foodie 4 4908892 I believe I'm the one who reported that Constantine-Steiger was closed. We went in search of it in March and it was definitely closed--and I don't mean just for the day or for a holiday. Maybe it has reopened, but it didn't look likely to me. Sat Aug 01 10:20:38 -0700 2009 4908080 272474 parislovernyc 5 4910011 I really like the hot chocolate served at Angelina's best. Sat Aug 01 21:30:22 -0700 2009 4908892 1098485 Michelle007 5 4910374 Thanks for post, and probably bad news, this place made Angelina taste like Nestle's Quik, OK an exaggeration, but it was the bomb Sun Aug 02 06:55:02 -0700 2009 4908892 71113 Delucacheesemonger 6 4926779 Based on everyone's input, we're going to try the following places: Angelina La Maison du Chocolat Christian Constant Café de Flore Michel Chaudun Cote de France La Chocolaterie by Jacques Genin We can't seem to reach Patisserie Viennoise, Fontaine au Chocolat, or Patrick Roger, so I guess we'll have to try them another time. Thanks again! Fri Aug 07 13:50:56 -0700 2009 4910374 103390 hong_kong_foodie 7 4927177 Patisserie Viennoise is in the 6e, 8 r. de L'Ecole de Medecine Patrick Roger is nearby on Blvd St. Germain, between Blvd St. Michel and rue Danton, also in the 6e (no hot chocolate but beautiful chocolates). Keep in mind that Paris is hot in August as you are planning doing a lot of hot chocolate. Might want to try a chocolate frappe. I find Paris hot chocolate to be very rich and frequently served in a good size pitcher, therefore, might consider ordering one for two people to share, especially at Angelina. Avoid the pastries as much of it is overly sweet and dull. Fri Aug 07 16:19:30 -0700 2009 4926779 10756 PBSF 8 4927904 Those are great points re: getting chocolate frappe instead of hot chocolate and sharing an order if the portions are big. Thanks! Re: Viennoise, Fontaine, and Patrick Roger - I have been calling them for the past week and no one's picking up. Fri Aug 07 22:38:34 -0700 2009 4927177 103390 hong_kong_foodie 9 4927920 I am surprised that if you called Patrick Roger during their business hours (around 10am-7pm), that nobody is answering. They have other branches in the center of Paris, on r. Renne and Faubourg St. Honore. As these outlets are in busy commercial areas, they are very convenient to just drop in when one is strolling these neighborhoods. Fri Aug 07 22:51:17 -0700 2009 4927904 10756 PBSF 9 4940730 Both Patick Roger's locations--in the 6th and the 16th--are currently closed, though I don't know for how long. Wed Aug 12 13:29:52 -0700 2009 4927904 41381 shiraschnitzer 1 4910361 Angelina's is pretty damn good. And try one of their Mont-Blanc! I'm not a fan of chestnuts, but even I adored it. Sun Aug 02 06:49:06 -0700 2009 4905528 259264 rainbsprinkles 1 4929729 I love the authentic French hot chocolate at a little place on the I'sle Saint-Louis called la Charlotte de l'isle. Delicious, thick and in such a small, cute setting in one of the loveliest spots in Paris. Make it a sugar overload and stop at Berthiliion on the way there or back! You can find some photos of the place, cups of the chocolate and a link to the website here http://bit.ly/4nya4 Sat Aug 08 20:12:33 -0700 2009 4905528 1100226 MyMelange 1 4931109 Although I haven't tried all of the places you've mentioned... Angelina's is something i dream about... It was fantastic and the ambiance is also spectacular so I highly recommend! Sun Aug 09 13:45:11 -0700 2009 4905528 129899 torontogourmet 2 4938911 Yes, the chocolat chaud à l'ancienne is good at Angelina, and they also have the hot white chocolate although I found it too rich and sweet. One thing I never liked was the ambiance and service at Angelina, though... Wed Aug 12 03:27:46 -0700 2009 4931109 132103 Peech 1 5018595 Just checked and regret to say the wondefrful older woman who ran Steiger-Constantine died @ 6 months ago. The shop is now uninhabited, l will miss her as for my money her chocolate chaud was the best food thing in Paris. Thu Sep 10 05:20:15 -0700 2009 4905528 71113 Delucacheesemonger 2 5019229 Were you ever able towatch her while she prepared it? Was there anything unique she used that made it so special? Thu Sep 10 09:04:40 -0700 2009 5018595 52499 ChefJune 3 5020378 She melted a few chocolate bars, 72 or higher in a small saucepan, then added some already melted chocolate and poured it into a cup. Each cup from scratch. Thank God l had many years of it. l will sorely miss the madame. Thu Sep 10 15:04:30 -0700 2009 5019229 71113 Delucacheesemonger 4 5021636 Only chocolate, no dairy? or water? hmmm, might be worth playing with. ;) Fri Sep 11 06:39:06 -0700 2009 5020378 52499 ChefJune 5 5022429 I don't understand how that would be possible... with 70% chocolate, it would be waaaay too sweet. At home, I usually melt some Valrhona Guanaja (67%) pills in milk and if I want it to have the consistency I like, it's still a little bit too sweet for my taste. Fri Sep 11 10:59:50 -0700 2009 5021636 223249 olivierb 6 5022533 Tasted like melted chocolate, noted no rice flour thickness as in Spanish tazo. She told me no milk ever touched it, perhaps melted chocolate, some was milk chocolate. Always described it as Angelina's on steroids. Regretfully never had it with Souphie, as his descriptive powers really trump mine. Fri Sep 11 11:29:52 -0700 2009 5022429 71113 Delucacheesemonger 6 5023345 It is personal taste but 70% is in the 'bittersweet' catagory and I don't find it too sweet. What is interesting would be if it is actually just melted chocolate, be it bittersweet and milk; one would have to eat it with a spoon. I just can't imagine sipping it or it can even pour. I when I melt either types of chocolate by themselves for baking, it does not liquified and it would burn or sieze if I try to heat it too hot. It's a mystery. I think there is some sort of liquid in it; maybe a some water mixed with cocoa powder. Fri Sep 11 16:21:31 -0700 2009 5022429 10756 PBSF 7 5023515 Agreed, but had texture of thin pudding, and was barely drinkable, more spoonable. This, with water, is the way Angelina does it, and again texturally, this was similar. Fri Sep 11 18:04:36 -0700 2009 5023345 71113 Delucacheesemonger