Best Chocolate Shops in Paris – Part II Milk Chocolate Friday, Dec 24 2010

Hopefully, everyone has seen our reviews on white chocolate  and checked out the winners! Now we will reveal the milk chocolate winners. In the milk chocolate category our tasters sampled nine different chocolate shops and the winners were almost unanimous. The decisions are never easy with so many delicous chocolates out there. See if you agree with our selections

Milk Chocolate Winners

1. Un Dimanche a Paris – Pierre Cluizel, 4-6-8 cour du Commerce, 75006 Paris   The milk  chocolate was very sophisticated and creamy inside and out. This utimately got the groups vote 100%. The chocolate was a real delight and the new concept store pretty chic. You can learn more about Pierre Cluizel’s (chocolatier Michel Cluizel’s son) shop at http://www.thepariskitchen.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=172:its-all-about-chocolate-at-pierre-cluizels-new-concept-store&catid=30:bakeries-chocolate-pastries&Itemid=45

2. Patrick Roger, 108 Blvd Saint Germain, 75006 Paris   As a self proclaimed chocolate artist, Patrick Roger offers some innovative flavors and combinations.  Of the chocolates we tasted this one had  creamy texture with the most delightful vanilla taste. Yumm! He also had some incredible shapes, that were fun and tasty, but  almost to cute to eat. Well maybe not, after all it’s still chocolate!

3. Jeff Bruges -  163 rue de Rennes, 75006 Paris – Jeff Bruges was one of our winners in the white chocolate category too and his milk chocolate received praise from our group of tasters as well. The chocolate was a smooth and velvety with a nutty center. These chocolates  melted in your mouth!

Watch for the final post on our dark chocolate results. Coming Soon!

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Paris photos Thursday, Dec 16 2010

Check out these photos by Caught In The Act Photography! Photographer Deb Trombly accompanied our recent Paris shopping group and took some great pics.

 

You can see more Paris photos on CITA’s blog at http://www.citaportraits.com/

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Best Chocolate Shops in Paris – White Chocolate Results Wednesday, Dec 8 2010

As I indicated in my previous post, I would be conducting a chocolate tasting in Paris during my recent stay and the result are in. This was an extremely difficult task and a little overwhelming since there were so many great chocolatiers to choose from, but with some organization and planning the tasting was an amazing, enjoyable and eye-opening experience.

I spent the last week walking around Paris collecting chocolates from nine different chocolate shops. I then used a group of 10 tasters and implemented some guidelines for the tastings. In the end the group was able to select the top three chocolate shops in Paris for white, milk and dark chocolate. although we didn’t sample every shop next year we will conduct part II of our tasting and sample the remaining shops in  which can then go head to head with this years winners.

White Chocolate Winners - There were not as many shops that carry white chocolate, but many do offer special molded chocolates for special occasions or bars.

1. Pierre Marcolin , 89 rue de Seine, 75006 Paris  -  Belgian Chocolate maker opened a shop in Paris in 2003. The white chocolate bar was a milky off white color with dark colored flecks throughout. It was  not too sweet and had some interesting flavours that were subtle with a hint of  carmelized dary and vanilla.

2. Jeff de Bruges, 163 rue de Rennes, 75006 Paris - Originating in Bruges, this chocolate incoporates a bit of Belgian and French cultures in a masterful and delectable presentation of chocolate. The white chocolate was a vanilla and praline coated white chocolate, which seemed to be the most simple of the white chocolates, but the taste was creamy and very sopisticated.

3. Jadis & Gourmande, 56 rue Sainte Placide, 75006 Paris – Traditional Paris chocolate shop with lots tasty an fun shaped chocolates. The white chocolate we sampled was cut into simple christmas shapes and made of very standard, yet tasty traditional white chocolate. This  chocolate was the lightest tasting white of the bunch, but with a great white chocolate flavour.

The tasting began with the white chocolate and worked throught the milk chocolates and ended with the dark varieties. More to come about our milk chocolate discovery.

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An Appetite for Chocolate – Uncovering the best chocolate shops in Paris Friday, Dec 3 2010

Paris has a number of fabulous chocolate shops to choose from and what better destination for a chocoholic to visit. Of course the chocoholic doesn’t need an excuse to sample a morsel or two of any delectable confection and I am no exception. So, while in Paris this  week I will be discovering the best chocolate shops. Now I have sampled chocolates before on my countless travels throughout France, but this time it will been done with purpose and not just for the shear enjoyment, although I am sure both will be inevitable.

 I will be tasting  samples from Parisian master chocolatiers and rating them, but to be very scientific about the whole thing, I have a small group of select tasters accompanying  me on this trip that will also be offering their opinions and preferences. Tastings will include a variety of dark, milk and white chocolates. Yumm…..I can’t wait!

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