First stop: La Maison du Chocolat
Have you ever spent so much time dreaming of visiting a place that you fear you may have built it up just a bit too much? Like perhaps you've conjured up some crazy ideal that your destination couldn't possibly live up to the picture you've painted in your mind? That is exactly how I felt about Paris before a whirlwind two days of chocolate, culture, and late night crepes after a quick run through the Louvre.
See, I'd always thought of Paris as this impossibly romantic city where one could easily fall in love with everything around them. When I learned I was finally going to get to visit after years of thinking about what it might be like, I began to feel worried that I might face some disappointment. However, my fears were assuaged the moment my partner and I stepped foot out of the Eurostar station and took a taxi to our hotel.
Late at night, the streets were still full of people wandering around, yet it wasn't loud like New York City. It had this certain peace about it that I haven't really felt anywhere else.
After arriving at our very small but very pleasant hotel (with a GORGEOUS view), it was time to rest up for a full day ahead.
Now, I have to say this: I am fortunate to have a partner who supports my passions and also happens to be very good at reading maps and figuring out our day's activities from there. There's no possible way I would've been able to see SO MANY THINGS without his planning skills, and for that I am forever grateful.
See, I'd always thought of Paris as this impossibly romantic city where one could easily fall in love with everything around them. When I learned I was finally going to get to visit after years of thinking about what it might be like, I began to feel worried that I might face some disappointment. However, my fears were assuaged the moment my partner and I stepped foot out of the Eurostar station and took a taxi to our hotel.
Late at night, the streets were still full of people wandering around, yet it wasn't loud like New York City. It had this certain peace about it that I haven't really felt anywhere else.
After arriving at our very small but very pleasant hotel (with a GORGEOUS view), it was time to rest up for a full day ahead.
Now, I have to say this: I am fortunate to have a partner who supports my passions and also happens to be very good at reading maps and figuring out our day's activities from there. There's no possible way I would've been able to see SO MANY THINGS without his planning skills, and for that I am forever grateful.
A kiss for my very supportive partner.
The best part about being a chocolatier visiting Paris is that you can't walk too far without inevitably bumping into a chocolate shop (or two, or three, etc). It is honestly incredible how celebrated fine chocolate is over there. In America, fine chocolates seem to be available in big cities but scarcely available in smaller cities. In fact, we only have one artisnal/fine chocolate shop in Huntsville, so I end up ordering a lot of chocolate online (a very fun post coming on that topic soon!).
But in Paris? Chocolate is everywhere. And I'm not talking Lindt and Godiva, I'm talking the real deal.
I started with La Maison du Chocolat, as we happened to pass by one on our way to other shops. La Maison du Chocolat is a must for me every time I visit NYC. I discovered it back in my music days when I was in town for a show and I stumbled upon the location in Rockefeller Center. In all honesty, I could probably credit this discovery with the beginning of my appreciation for fine chocolate. So of course, when presented with an opportunity to visit this gorgeous store in its city of origin, I eagerly stepped foot inside to see what their glass cases had in store for me.
I picked up a couple of macarons and several pieces of chocolate, my favorite of which was passion fruit infused and absolutely delicious (as always). This shop felt more like an upscale jewelry store than a chocolate shop. And as I would learn throughout the next two days, every chocolatier in Paris has their own really unique shop vibe.
Which brings me to Patrick Roger.
But in Paris? Chocolate is everywhere. And I'm not talking Lindt and Godiva, I'm talking the real deal.
I started with La Maison du Chocolat, as we happened to pass by one on our way to other shops. La Maison du Chocolat is a must for me every time I visit NYC. I discovered it back in my music days when I was in town for a show and I stumbled upon the location in Rockefeller Center. In all honesty, I could probably credit this discovery with the beginning of my appreciation for fine chocolate. So of course, when presented with an opportunity to visit this gorgeous store in its city of origin, I eagerly stepped foot inside to see what their glass cases had in store for me.
I picked up a couple of macarons and several pieces of chocolate, my favorite of which was passion fruit infused and absolutely delicious (as always). This shop felt more like an upscale jewelry store than a chocolate shop. And as I would learn throughout the next two days, every chocolatier in Paris has their own really unique shop vibe.
Which brings me to Patrick Roger.
Patrick Roger: Chocolate Shop or Art Museum?
Choices.
When I walked into my first Patrick Roger shop (we visited a couple of locations), I almost immediately had to question whether or not I was in a chocolate shop at all. The shop was sleek, modern, a bit dark, and filled with sculptures and art pieces that made me feel more like I was at a modern art museum/gallery. It was the first time I had experienced chocolate elevated in this way.
I bought several pieces and a single origin bar, and they were kind enough to offer up samples after we made a purchase. The lemon basil piece was a unique and sophisticated chocolate that fit perfectly with the shop's aesthetic. And my bar? It came in a metal tin which was perfect as I needed it to survive the journey back to the states! Seriously, the packaging was phenomenal.
I bought several pieces and a single origin bar, and they were kind enough to offer up samples after we made a purchase. The lemon basil piece was a unique and sophisticated chocolate that fit perfectly with the shop's aesthetic. And my bar? It came in a metal tin which was perfect as I needed it to survive the journey back to the states! Seriously, the packaging was phenomenal.
impressive packaging and an even more impressive view from our hotel balcony.
Now, the entire trip wasn't all chocolate. We did manage to see some of the main attractions and do a bit of shopping as well. Of course, as soon as we made our way through the Champs-Élysées it began pouring rain and we were without an umbrella, so we ducked into a combination Pierre Herme/skin care store, where I ordered a couple of macarons to go and then sat down for MORE dessert and a cup of coffee to keep us going. Pro-tip: if you ever visit this location, you will be tempted to eat your dessert in store. Be aware that this will cost quite a bit more than ordering to go, but is well worth the experience. Very charming place even though it is strangely combined with a skin care store.
Thoughtfully selecting macaons at Pierre Herme.
Absolutely beautiful vanilla tart and latte at Pierre Herme.
Now, to be perfectly honest with you, I saved a lot of my chocolates until I got back to the states, so I didn't try EVERYTHING while I was in Paris. There was so much to try while there that I couldn't possibly have fit it all in! I mean, come on...I had to have room for crepes and croque monsieurs too, you know?!
Okay, let's keep going with the chocolate tour now, shall we?
The one place that many fellow chocolatiers suggested was Chapon, because they have not only a selection of chocolates but an entire chocolate mousse "bar" where you can get all kinds of chocolate mousse.
Okay, let's keep going with the chocolate tour now, shall we?
The one place that many fellow chocolatiers suggested was Chapon, because they have not only a selection of chocolates but an entire chocolate mousse "bar" where you can get all kinds of chocolate mousse.
Wall of chocolate at Chapon.
Chocolate mousse outside of Chapon.
The chocolate mousse was delightful but a bit too rich even for me, and I found the shop person to be almost insufferably condescending. This was, overall, not my most favorite place on the list despite the gorgeous selection of chocolate bars in their own very unique packaging. I left with a single origin from Madagascar.
If Chapon was my least favorite of my journey, then maybe I should talk about which shop ultimately emerged at the winner....
If Chapon was my least favorite of my journey, then maybe I should talk about which shop ultimately emerged at the winner....
Jean-Paul Hevin.
The thing about Jean-Paul Hevin is that I didn't realize it was the winner of all the shops until I'd gotten my chocolates back safely to the states and consumed them from the comfort of my bed while recovering from jet lag. It wasn't until I bit into the piece decorated with a transfer sheet that read "Amande" that I knew who won my heart. A simple almond praline coated in dark chocolate. Sleek, smooth, with no colored cocoa butter or insane flourishes; just a simple, elegant, and robustly flavored little gem.
The shop was beautiful but I was thoroughly surprised by just how much their chocolate blew me away. A nice, unexpected little joy.
The shop was beautiful but I was thoroughly surprised by just how much their chocolate blew me away. A nice, unexpected little joy.
Sophisticated and simple.
The uniformity was really something.
As I mentioned earlier, I visited quite a lot of chocolate shops on my little journey through Paris, and not all of them were super memorable. Really though, that's probably just because I tried to fit so many into our short trip! Perhaps next visit I will leave a bit more space to really get to enjoy all of the shops I encounter.
Of course, I don't think any trip to Paris would be complete without visiting a really fancy macaron store, and I found just the one.
Laduree.
According to the internet, Laduree has been selling their sweets since 1862 and sells nearly 15,000 macarons PER DAY.
When I say that this shop was exquisite, I mean it. A beautiful and inviting exterior leads you through a door into a grand interior that I'm pretty sure every sugar-holic's dreams are made of. There was a stunning amount of detail in every inch of this shop, right down to the sturdy, metallic silver decorated boxes they place your macarons in. A truly exceptional experience. And the macarons? Well, they really are as good as people say they are. Not a bump in the shells, just the right texture, all in various colors and flavors that will delight even the most cynical of souls.
When I say that this shop was exquisite, I mean it. A beautiful and inviting exterior leads you through a door into a grand interior that I'm pretty sure every sugar-holic's dreams are made of. There was a stunning amount of detail in every inch of this shop, right down to the sturdy, metallic silver decorated boxes they place your macarons in. A truly exceptional experience. And the macarons? Well, they really are as good as people say they are. Not a bump in the shells, just the right texture, all in various colors and flavors that will delight even the most cynical of souls.
With fully bellies, we wandered the city for one and a half days seeing all that we could. We walked over twelve miles our first day there trying to squeeze in as much as we could. My only regret is that we didn't get nearly enough time at the Louvre.
They say they close at 10, but they start shutting exhibits down at 9. We got their late after having to leave a very pretentious tapas restaurant and trying to find somewhere else to get dinner (which ended up being at a very busy Japanese restaurant called Aki!). Though I've never considered myself terribly fussed with art museums, the Louvre really changed my perception of them. Full of wonder, history, and bigger than I'd ever even imagined. This -not the chocolate! - is the one thing that makes me want to return to Paris immediately.
Though our visit was short, it was indeed very productive.
And as for that fear of it not living up to my expectations? Nonsense, truly.
Paris surpassed every idea of it I'd ever had, and I cannot wait to go back and feel its magic again.
They say they close at 10, but they start shutting exhibits down at 9. We got their late after having to leave a very pretentious tapas restaurant and trying to find somewhere else to get dinner (which ended up being at a very busy Japanese restaurant called Aki!). Though I've never considered myself terribly fussed with art museums, the Louvre really changed my perception of them. Full of wonder, history, and bigger than I'd ever even imagined. This -not the chocolate! - is the one thing that makes me want to return to Paris immediately.
Though our visit was short, it was indeed very productive.
And as for that fear of it not living up to my expectations? Nonsense, truly.
Paris surpassed every idea of it I'd ever had, and I cannot wait to go back and feel its magic again.
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