What is the best chocolate to bring back to great cooks?
Feb 18th, 2002, 12:14 AM
#4
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A favorite with bakers and candy makers, and top of the line baking chocolate is Valhrona.<BR><BR>Another excellent baking chocolate that you can pick up in many supermarkets is "Poulain 1848 - Dessert". Great for chocolate tartes, souffles, etc.<BR><BR>PB<BR>
Feb 18th, 2002, 02:18 AM
#5
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Jan-<BR> I got Cocoa Barry pistoles (like a larger flat chocolate chip) which I couldn't find in the US. Patricia Wells' book 'The Food Lover's Guide to Paris' had a listing for G Detou (58, rue Tiquetonne Paris 2 01.42.36.54.67) which is a baker's supply shop. It had great stuff for very reasonable prices. They also carry Valhrona which is wonderful chocolate but available in the US.
Oct 30th, 2002, 05:33 AM
#7
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I know Valhrona is available in the States, but does anyone know what the price difference is if you buy it in Paris and bring it home? Also, is it subject to VAT? (i.e. do I need to tell my husband he has to stop at the VAT window at the airport) I use it in baking quite a bit and would love not to pay so much!! Thanks...
Oct 30th, 2002, 05:50 AM
#10
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Margaret, in Paris I recently paid 2.40 Euros per 75g bar of Valrona Caraibe. Unfortunately, I don't recall the price of their baking chocolate.<BR><BR>I also bought a few bars of the Nestle dessert chocolate at 1.82 Euros per 200g bar. It makes a lovely mousse au chocolat (recipe on the package).
Oct 30th, 2002, 08:06 AM
#11
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I'm an amateur cook and baker, and I prefer Lindt when I want to use fine chocolate for my recipes. It comes in thinner bars that are easy to break up; I've only ever seen Valharona in thick<BR>bars that I need to break up with a hammer.<BR><BR>If any of you want to compare prices,<BR>the New York (City) Cake and Baking Company is a source in the US for all such products, and they do ship everywhere.
Oct 30th, 2002, 10:07 AM
#12
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Everything in Europe has a VAT already added into the retail price (this it the law); the key is knowing which percentage of the VAT goes with what merchandise. Chocolate is not a luxury item so is not subject to the highest VAT amount (i.e. perfumes, automobiles, luxury goods per se). Unless you made it a point to spend over 150 Euro or more in a store on chocolate, you won't be able to claim the VAT and the store probably won't give you the option of filling out the paperwork. Nevertheless, try to ask at Printemps for example (if they sell the cooking chocolate you are looking for) and see what they say. I could be wrong, but I venture to say that on this one, you're going to have to pay for the chocolate (the "lower" VAT is already included in the price) without getting a refund.
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