Best Choclatier in Montreal?

[OliverB]

My girlfriend is coming into town for 2 weeks next month and I'm planning a late Valentine's evening which should include some great artisanal chocolates and truffles, candles and all that romantic jazz... Where are the best chocolates in Montreal?

[C70]

does your gf like beer? If so, get her a Kriek beer from Fromagerie Atwater (cherry). Goes great with chocolate!

[OliverB]

She likes all kindsa booze, but I'm gonna skip the beer this time and stick with the rosé.

[Fritzy]

Maybe add a half-bottle of late harvest porto!

[eat2much]

Late harvest? Do you mean late bottled vintage (LBV)?

[OliverB]

How does Chocobel and Andre stack up to these?

[OliverB]

Ah Genevieve Grandbois.is the place that used to sell gift boxes near the stairwell in the Atwater Market... I've bought chocolates from her before and they were indeed terrific!

I've never tried Chloe's but from what I'm seeing online, it's definitely a toss up between the two and I think I'll probably go with GG because it seems as though the offerings are slightly more interesting. Thanks for all the help!

[Glaff]

I'd go with Chloé personnally. They are better, less pretentious, less expensive and waaaay more beautiful, so great for gift. If you go, also grab a bag (or 2) of her addictives turtles.

Fous Desserts are really good too and have some of the most original flavors (and good classic). Also better than Grandbois in my opinion.

I went to LMC only once a few years ago and was really not impressed. Nothing worth there (my opinion again of course, I know some people love LMC).

If you want the classiest though for a romantic evening : http://www.facebook.com/pages/Chocola.... Can't find better packaging than that! You can order them at Fouvrac (or probably even directly from him).

If you want super exclusive chocolates, you could also buy some Bruxelles chocolates from La Maison du Chocolat on the Montreal en lumière outdoor site. Tomorrow is the last day though.

[OliverB]

Thanks so much for the tips!

Would it be a good idea to shove the Bruxelles chocolates in a fridge for 4 weeks though? Do you think it matters?

I've heard mixed things about Chloé but I'll go in person to check it out. I agree that GG is a bit pretentious. What about Chocobel; how does that compare?

I'll check out Gendron also!

[Glaff]

Hmm no, chocolates in the fridge is always a bad idea, I would not do it.

Yeah I know some people don't like Chloé, mainly because she uses Manjari for almost all her chocolates... but for me it's not a problem since it's my favorite chocolate in the world! And I'm not enough of a chocolate snob to care about that... But yes you could try them before. These are the ones I always give as a gift and people are always impressed.

Chocobel : I've only been once a few years ago and don't really remember what I had. But I want to go back, I think it was pretty good.

Andrée : I REALLY like that place and always think it deserves more respect as the oldest chocolaterie in Montréal, but they are maybe not impressive enough for what you're looking for. It's mainly classic, well done. You could maybe go to buy a little box of caramel and nougat though, they are pretty unique.

[OliverB]

Thanks Glaff!

I'm interested in trying Chloe anyways, so maybe I'll do that in the next couple of weeks, but I think I'll give Gendron from Fouvrac a shot. They look and sound fantastic!

[Glaff]

Cool! I ordered mine from the Laurier location, but if I remember correctly I think they told me that they were always carrying them at the Fleury location... if it's nearer for you. Don't know if they come with the same packaging though.

[OliverB]

Thanks!

Laurier's definitely closer so I'll stop in sometime soon and check it out. I may email him as well to see if I can just purchase from him directly.

Btw, this is totally off-topic but does anyone know if the SAQ will transfer bottles from one location to another more convenient to consumers?

[BarackHObama]

don't forget the cheese...I recently had truffles and chocolates from Pâtisserie Lescurier 1333 Van Horne in Outremont. They were exceptional but very pricey.

[OliverB]

Cheese is on the list!

Thanks for the tip on Lescurier, I've never heard of it.

Have you been to LMC, Fous Desserts, Suite 88, etc.. How does it compare to all of these places?

[BarackHObama]

it's a classic french patisserie.it is a small neighbour joint. it is not as contemporary or chi chi as Fous Desserts or Suite 88. However, both of those places are excellent - so I dunno, I imagine your girlfriend wouldn't be disappointed by any of those places

[OliverB]

Oh I didn't atually mean that I was going to take her out. I wanted to plan an evening at home and was hoping to pick up an assortment of things in advance - a bottle of delamotte rosé or taittinger, fruits and berries, cheeses, colorful bath bars - you get the idea! I'm looking for great artisanal chocolates to buy and take home to surprise her with (along with the above!) after a 7-hour flight; not a place to visit with her.

Thanks!

[BarackHObama]

lol man obviously you've never had your heart broken

[mangoannie]

I find some of the artisan chocolatiers use too much dark chocolate for my tastes, The belgium ones I had a maison du chocolate site at highlight festival were excellent. quality and were not bitter despite dark chocolate, they said it was selection process. Suite 88 chocolates (two locations)may not be the best in the city but I enjoyed their mosaics recently , are nicely presented (you can select the flavours) and for fun they have individual chocolate covered fortune cookies. I dont know about turnover at
Pâtisserie Lescurier , most people go there for the bread/pastries, very small place not far from Mamie Clafoutis.

[OliverB]

I've never been to S88, so I don't know. I don't want any novelty items like chocolate covered fortune cookies though, as good as they might be. Just searching for the best quality chocolates and truffles I can buy in the city.

I don't buy chocolate often and rarely in Montreal. I've picked up some chocolates from LMC years ago and used to buy from the vendor in the Atwater Market on occassion, but who do you feel is making the BEST or most interesting/complex chocolates in Montreal if not any of the above?

[BarackHObama]

can;t go wrong with Genevieve Grandbois. I was gifted a box in an elegant tin box -- useful for storing drug paraphernalia once emptied
here is a list of their offerings
http://www.chocolatsgg.com/carte_en.php

[mangoannie]

I think it depends on her personal tastes, Genevieve Grandbois`s chocolates are too dark/bitter for my taste and I am not interested in spiced chocolates and some of the odd varieties she has. She does use quality chocolate though so maybe that is what she will like. I also bought some of her tradition (child memory) chocolates which I did not find good and were overpriced. I guess others will pitch in with suggestions...some used to suggest chloes but I never tried those, located near PDC, the website opens up to give you a lot of info on the kinds of chocolates in her shop

http://www.leschocolatsdechloe.com/

I dont go far for chocolate craving...and whenever I passed near chloes it was closed

[illusion]

Probably the two most interesting chocolate locally made are both genevieve Grandbois and chocolats de chloe...

personally i prefer chocolats de chloe simply because Chloe is like 20 time cooler than Mme Grandbois

Suite 88 is pretty decent even tho mostly mass produced , for classic belgian chocolate made locally :
Heyez (St-bruno)
Cabosse d'or ( otterburnpark)
Chocolat Andre (on Parc street)