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Chocolate, Macarons and Patissiers in Paris Chocolate and macarons - not macaroons - are found everywhere in Paris. Trying to decide which is the best is as challenging as finding the best chocolate factory or the best bar of chocolate.
My favorite chocolate factory is "à la Petite Fabrique"
à la Petite Fabrique
is located at 12, rue Saint Sabin in the Bastille area (Metro Bastille
or Bréget-Sabin)
The chocolate is home made and you can actually see them make it ! They close for summer holiday the last week of July and first three weeks of August.
During December, the factory is open the three Sundays before Christmas from 9:30 a.m. until 8 p.m.
À la Petite Fabrique have tablet-style chocolate - not bars of chocolate and season specialities.
They
provide gift wrapping as well. - Tablets - lait (milk chocolate) 1,68€, praliné 2,26 euros, amer 2,29 euros, fondant noisettes (hazelnuts) 2,24 euros (prices may change)
Say hello to Jean--Claude from Colleen. Anna works behind the counter as well. You will see Bruno and David working behind the glass.
Preparing "ganache" - chocolate pieces filled with different flavors and covered in chocolate
Bruno putting on the coffee beans
coffee beans
Covering the ganache with liquid chocolate
Jean-Claude working at a fast pace
Fresh off the assembly line Made in Paris Jadis et Gourmande While walking past their window, we had to back up because it was the first time that I had seen a box of chocolates say "Paris" and beckon me within.
When not preparing for the holidays, Easter and Christmas, you will probably find cute little gifts to take back home or give as gifts while staying in Paris.
Their pencil box or reed containers, bottles or large crayons can be filled with balls of chocolate candy . Or you can find them already made up.
The Jadis et Gourmande print shop is located behind the desk and the staff speak English. If you would like something spelled out in English, beware! The "w" and "y" letters are more rare since they are are not as widely used as in French.
The letters are composed of Gianduja Ivoire (Ivory Coast) chocolate (72%), grilled and crushed hazelnuts and praline (a mix of hazelnuts and almonds, caramelized sugar and chocolate).
During the Easter holidays, the worded souvenirs are largely displaced by the bells, chickens and eggs -- no bunnies. If you wish to have a souvenir during this period, make a "command" (place an order) which allows them to prepare it for you within 24 hours.
It is a fun and busy shop -- be sure to "die and go to heaven" with the ganache nature (chocolate covered chocolate).
Jadis et Gourmande 39 rue des Archives, 75004 Paris Metro: Hôtel de Ville Open: Monday 1 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.; Tuesday to Friday: 10 a.m. to to 7:30 p.m.; Saturday: 10:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and soon Sunday: 2 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Telephone: 01 48 04 08 03
Additional Jadis et Gourmande are located at: 88 boulevard Port-Royal 75005 Paris 49 bis avenue Franklin Roosevelt 75008 27 rue Boissy d'Anglas 75008
Eiffel Tower
"The printing press"
L'Atelier du Chocolat Bayonne Bouquets de Chocolats 109, rue Saint-Antoine 75004 near Metro Saint-Paul
Their bouquets are sold by weight: 220 grams for example is 11,40 euros; 1 kilo (kg) or 2 pounds is 51,85 euros.
The bouquets come already assembled or you can pick and choose. My experience shows that the first time an already-assembled provides a taste of everything; but if you have specific tastes, choose your own.
The slabs of chocolate are made at their shop.
Websites about chocolate
The Chocolatiers & Confiseurs de France has a website that lists a select number of shops around France and their specialties (in French).
For further information such as an address, website, e-mail address, what their activity is and their specialties, click on the phrase "en savoir plus".
Marquise de Sévigné has been around since 1898. In October 2005 at the Salon du Chocolat 2005, this company won first prize in the category Praliné (sugared almond taste) along with 8 other awards for their their chocolat fourré pur ganache, chocolat fourré praliné, chocolat alliance and tablette de chocolat.
The Marquise de Sévigné factory and museum is located just south of Strasbourg. In Paris their shops are at 62, rue de Seine in the 6th arrondissement and at Bon Marché. Other chocolate places:
Everywhere you turn, there seem to be chocolate shops in Paris. Make sure that they are not industrial and are made of butter (beurre).
201, rue Saint-Honoré 75001 (Catherine Cluizel)
Learned about la Fontaine at the Salon du Chocolat, visited their shop. Truffles made on site, the rest manufactured outside Paris. The assortment is 8,30€/100g. Chocolate bars in different percentages of cocoa. I like their dark chocolate from Santo Domingo.
Charles Chocolatier 17, rue Montorgueil, On the north side of Les Halles (Metro Les Halles), along my walk from Montorgueil to Notre Dame.
Benoit Chocolats
For macarons that melt in your mouth,
go to Benoit Chocolats near the Saint Paul metro stop. This is a family run business;
the parents are in Angers and the children have been spread over the land (Paris and Lille)
to bring the joy of sweets to the masses!
Magasin Saint-Germain 76 rue de Seine
75006 Metro: Odéon or
Mabillon Open: 6:45 a.m. to 8
p.m. Thursday through Tuesday Closed: Wednesday, ten
days in April and 4 weeks in August Magasin La Glacière 93 rue de la Glacière
75013 Metro: Glacière Open: Tuesday through
Sunday 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Closed: four weeks in
August Telephone 01 45 81 39
09 The store at rue de
Seine is larger and has a wider range of products. La Glacière is more
neighborhood intimate and handles the regular and seasonal macarons and
chocolates. The
New York Times carried an article on the Gérard Mulot's attractions. Gregory Renard
Cacao and Macarons 120 rue Saint-Dominque
75007 Metro: Ecole Militaire Telephone 01 47 05 19
17 Francesca suggests
Gregory Renard Cacao and Macarons. "To be honest, I have
never eaten the chocolates in his shop, but I have become a macron maven and I
think his are the best I have tasted so far. I especially love the Pommes et
Cannelle (apple and cinnamon)." If you haven't tried them and you
like macarons, stop by. He's on rue Saint Dominique in the 7th. The
Washington Post carried an article on Mr. Renard's shop.
Pierre Hermé Francesca wrote an
interesting commentary comparing Gregory Renard and Pierre Hermé macarons that I
would like to share with you:
"Just an update on the macaron situation. Since my last email to you, I have
been to Pierre Hermé twice and, while I still prefer the pomme et cannelle chez
Gregory RENARD, I must say that the macarons I had at Hermé were divine and they
are definitely more original and varied than any place that I have been so far.
The first time I went there I took my Parisian landlady, Helene, who,
surprisingly, didn't know of this place, even though she knows every nook and
cranny in the city. We both had the caramel which will probably be the taste
tester since everyone seems to have that one. In Helene's opinion it was the
best she had ever eaten. The next day she insisted we go back since she had
dreamed of macarons all night and when it comes to things sucreé, I'm easy. She
bought another caramel and I bought a selection of four of the tiny ones. They
were original and sublime and, I might add, expensive. Four of tiny ones cost
over 6€. |
