Three Sweet Spots for a Paris Valentine Day

If you are lucky enough to be in Paris over Valentines Day, check out these three great shops.

Natier, owned by the personable Dominique Letterrier is a wonderful small chocolate and traditional French candies shop in the 9th, near the rue de Martyrs Market Street, located at 1 rue Henri Monnier. Natier sells chocolates from four top artisanal chocolate makers, largely traditional in style, some a bit more creative. Clients of mine report addiction issues with the sauternes or bordeaux infused chocolate covered raisins. I love the chocolates generally and the densely delicious fruit patés. A sweet little shop!

Christophe Roussell is relatively new to Paris having successfully plied his trade as a master chocolatier in La Baule. Roussell has opened a fabulous new BAR à Chocolate at 10 rue de Champ de Mars, adding yet one more jewel to that culinary mecca of the rue Cler market street neighborhood. There is a famous tower just a few blocks away too... Roussell make wonderful chocolates and also superb macarons, many based on chocolate in various guises. For Valentines Day you can pick up a pair of chocolate lips... Definitely a must stop in shop.

And finally, another master chocolatier, Jean Paul Hevin. Hevin has three shops in Paris but the mother lode is the shop and upstairs tea room at 231 rue St. Honoré. Here you can buy those fabulous jewel-like chocolates, Hevin's creative chocolate patisserie, and relax in the tea room over killer chocolate chaud or a cup of Mariage Freres tea and a pastry. Sweet indeed.

Happy Valentines Day!

Paris Invites Romance (and Enjoying Chocolates)

How great it this! My first post on my new Paris blog and it's about Chocolate in Paris.

Valentines day and chocolates are an iressistable pairing. Paris is replete with chocolate shops ranging from elegant emporia resembling jewelry shops to warm and wonderful neighborhood shops that sell an extraordinary range of delectables both beautiful and delicious. Check out Chocolat on rue Monsieur le Prince just off the Luxembourg Gardens for excellent chocolates. They just may still have some edible chocolate 'body paint'. I'll leave that one to you. Lars and Lene Boehme are the hip owners and they speak excellent English. There is also a sweet little salon on the second floor to relax and enjoy handmade hot chocolates. Nearest metro is Luxembourg.



Off the beaten path, head over to the 9th arrondissement to 1, rue Henri Monnier and visit the adorable little fine chocolate shop called Natier. Madame Leterrier, the proprietaire speaks excellent English and is a charming and hospitable person. She also sells fruit pates, chocolate covered raisins soaked in Sauternes (or Bordeau) and other delicious candies. Plus a nice selection of Le Palais de Thes teas in attractive tins. Nearest metro is: St. Georges.

For the master chocolatiers, you can't go wrong at Jean Paul Hevin, Michael Chaudun, Christian Constant, Maison du Chocolat, Debauve et Gallais, Patrick Roger and others. More on these fabulous chocolate artisans in coming posts.