Hot Chocolate in Paris
Jan 24th, 2006, 01:33 PM
#4
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Ladurée is another place to have hot chocolate and pastries. Ladurée has three locations in Paris: avenue des Champs-Elysées, rue Royale, and rue de Bonaparte. I am going to Paris in April and can't decide whether to have the hot chocolate at Angélina or Ladurée. (And, yes, I really must choose just one!)
Jan 24th, 2006, 02:06 PM
#7
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Angelina is the classic place to order hot chocolate; their hot chocolate is so rich and thick that they serve it with a tumbler of icewater (because it invariably leaves you a bit thirsty). It's in a class of its own.
Les Marronniers in the Marais (rue des Archives) serves hot chocolate in the form of steamed milk and molten chocolate that you can mix at your table to taste. There's enough for at least two cups.
The standard hot chocolate in Paris is prepared from a powdered mix; however, the mix is good quality by U.S. standards and still produces a pretty good hot chocolate, particularly if the establishment uses milk instead of water (but that's rare).
Les Marronniers in the Marais (rue des Archives) serves hot chocolate in the form of steamed milk and molten chocolate that you can mix at your table to taste. There's enough for at least two cups.
The standard hot chocolate in Paris is prepared from a powdered mix; however, the mix is good quality by U.S. standards and still produces a pretty good hot chocolate, particularly if the establishment uses milk instead of water (but that's rare).
Jan 24th, 2006, 02:10 PM
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Angelina was sold last year; I haven't heard from anyone who's been there since the Flo group took over.
But my husband is a huge fan of the hot chocolate at Paul's Boulangerie on the rue de Buci.
But my husband is a huge fan of the hot chocolate at Paul's Boulangerie on the rue de Buci.
Jan 24th, 2006, 03:19 PM
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Between Angelina's and Laduree, I prefer Laduree (Rue Royale location). Angelina's has always been packed with tourists. Laduree, at least when I've gone, has had a much more local clientel and had a much more elegant and subdued atmosphere. There is nothing like sitting upstairs beneath the cherub-frescoed ceiling, having a classic French lunch, and delicious dessert.
Jan 24th, 2006, 05:09 PM
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The local corner cafe (le Rendezvous) in 'our' neighborhood also served my hot chocolate this way:
"hot chocolate in the form of steamed milk and molten chocolate that you can mix at your table"
"hot chocolate in the form of steamed milk and molten chocolate that you can mix at your table"
Jan 24th, 2006, 05:39 PM
#14
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All these suggestions sound delicious. I'm thinking we may have to sample several. I read a review somewhere (?) that although the chocolate was superb at Angelina, the service was horrific and not worth the trouble. I'll try it nonetheless, and I've now gone online and visited the Laduree site and will definitely visit at least one of their shops. I think a chocolate crawl may be necessary!
Jan 24th, 2006, 05:55 PM
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Our service at Angelina was fine - not effusive but pleasant and efficient. And the hot chocolate deserves its legendary status, though if you are not a chocoholic it may be a bit over the top for you. In consistency it is a bit like warm chocolate pudding, and is served with a side of cream to cut it a bit. They also sell bags of the chocolate to prepare at home which make an excellent gift for chocolate fiends.
I have had hot chocolate in several other places in and around Paris and can honestly say that none were bad. After Angelina's, the best was in a tea room in the commercial section of the town of Versailles.
I have had hot chocolate in several other places in and around Paris and can honestly say that none were bad. After Angelina's, the best was in a tea room in the commercial section of the town of Versailles.
Jan 24th, 2006, 09:58 PM
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Last time I was at Angelina (a few months ago), the chocolate was still excellent. The service is lackluster, but then again, bad service is a French tradition.
It seems that about half the restaurants in Paris are owned by Flo or other large corporations. The charming little restaurant you see at the end of a street is just as likely to belong to a faceless multinational today as it is to belong to a modest French family. And unfortunately the drive is always towards profits in large corporations, so a sale to a large holding company sometimes spells a decline in quality of cuisine and service.
It seems that about half the restaurants in Paris are owned by Flo or other large corporations. The charming little restaurant you see at the end of a street is just as likely to belong to a faceless multinational today as it is to belong to a modest French family. And unfortunately the drive is always towards profits in large corporations, so a sale to a large holding company sometimes spells a decline in quality of cuisine and service.
