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Where is the best place to buy chocolate in Paris

Where is the best place to buy chocolate in Paris

Old Mar 29th, 2006, 06:10 PM
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Old Mar 30th, 2006, 07:39 AM
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Another vote for Angelina's. We have another special little place we always go called Valentin's in the Passage Jeoffrey (9th) Beautiful candies and homemade jams. It is a Good stopping place for lunch or tea. Very cozy. Husband and wife owners. Very nice. My husband especially likes the chocolates at Hediards.
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Old Mar 30th, 2006, 09:53 AM
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Astrid Chocolate on Rue Cherchi-Midi in the 6th. I originally went here as that's my daughter's name and I thought she'd get a kick out of it. She didn't like the chocolate - too high a cocoa content. I ate the entire two pounds
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Old Mar 30th, 2006, 10:56 AM
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Old Mar 30th, 2006, 02:24 PM
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Suzanne2, I LOVE Le Valentin! I had breakfast there this past February. Here's some photos:
http://www.pbase.com/beatchick/image/57583986

Start here, click next - there are 4 photos.
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Old Mar 30th, 2006, 07:13 PM
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Wonderful Pictures- really enjoyed the tour tonight
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Old Mar 30th, 2006, 08:30 PM
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The only thing I shopped for and specifically seeked out on our last trip to Paris(just returned a couple of days ago) is to go hit chocolate stores and like what was already mentioned here, these were the top recommended names to me by the locals:

Jean-Paul Hevin
3 Rue Vavin Metro Vavin

Michel Chaudun
149 Rue De L'Univeriste

Debauve et Gallais
30 Rue Des Saints Peres
I think they also have a website and you can order online(need to verify)

Pierre Marcolini
89 Rue De Seine

Pierre Herme
72 Rue Bonaparte
He is more well known as a patisserie and when he was recommended to me I indicated that I was more interested in chocolates, both the locals who recommended him to me insisted that I just have to go, to at least try his pastries. One of the ones who insisted was the manager at our hotel who although she was always very professional and helpful, she was always quite formal and reserved and when she heard that I was considering to go, it was the first time I saw her break into a smile, complete with her eyes rolling, at the thought of his pastries. She recommended the Mille Feuille and I do have to say, my eyes were also rolling when I finally had it(I ate it several hours later on the plane ride back to the US) so the quality is not as fresh anymore but it was still excellent - now I am intrigued and wondering how much better it would have been if I ate it soon after picking it up.

Christian Constant
Rue D'Assas(I think it's 32)

Jean-Charles Rochoux
16 Rue D'Assas

Patrick Roger
108 Blvd Saint Germain

I was only able to hit the last 4 and don't really want to count La Maison du Chocolat since you can get them in the US through Williams Sonoma and in NY. I also got some from Hediard but thought they were really bad compared to the ones above. In and by itself Hediard would probably be good but to compare against the others, it tastes very processed and manufactured in a factory.

Jean-Charles Rochoux's chocloates were actually being made downstairs from the store so you can smell it and has a short shelf-life(if you can control yourself). I specially liked their square shaped truffles if you like dark chocolate.

The one I regret not having gone back to to get some more was Patrick Roger. Because we tried to travel as light as possible, I didn't bring my laptop with me to research places as we went along and since his shop was so close to our hotel(I really just happened to run into this by accident on my way to Monoprix) in St Germain, I took for granted that I could always easily go back to it again to get some more before we leave. Of course, as it turned, I did not have enough time to go back and in retrospect, and after sampling all the chocolate, his was one of the best for me. I went to a flower shop after picking up some of his chocolates and while engaging in small talk asked if she recommends his chocolate and she mentioned that he was well known because he was so and so. Because my French is very rudimentary, I didn't know what she meant but looked up what she was referring to when we came back to the US. It turned out she was referring to his being designated or awarded(?) "Meilleur Ouvrier de France" which I guess is a big deal, and as far as presentation is concerned for giving as presents for the same price, his was quite impressive because of the packaging. I noticed that if you are buying "loose" chocolates, or handpicking the pieces, you get more for your money that way but they are pretty tight with packaging. You only will get it in the little plastic bag, such is not the case with Patrick Roger - they put the sachet inside a really nice bag.

Although La Maison Chocolat seems popular in the US, if your time is limited and by going here means you will miss hitting another store, I would skip it(although that might be hard since there's so many of them there). I figure, since you can order them from the US anyway, I would save my effort for some other store. Richart is already in the US too.

Hope that helps!
 
Old Mar 31st, 2006, 04:59 AM
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I also loved Jean Paul Hevin. I bought tons of chocolates back from there and everyone loved them. We also really liked Cacao et Chocolat on Ile St.
Louis.

Our hotel was near Rue Cler and we also bought some chocolate from Jeff de Bruges. While I guess not really French (hence the "Bruges" in the name), the chocolate was pretty good.

Tracy
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Old Apr 1st, 2006, 10:12 AM
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Happy Cheesehead! I'm glad you liked the photos.

Tracy, who cares if it's French or Belgian - it's CHOCOLATE, no!?!?

I'm really going to have to try Jean-Paul Hevin & Jeff de Bruges next time I get to Paris.
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Old Jun 12th, 2006, 02:03 PM
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Just returned from 2 weeks in Paris. We found fantastic tasting chocolates in a one-man shop on Rue Dauphine (near the Seine end of the street) in the 6th. Rive Gauche Chocolates...very creamy, great flavors (distinct but subtle), and less expensive (since it is a one-man shop). The proprietor speaks a little English and we spoke a little French...it all worked out with some pointing.
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