CHOCOLATE TRAVEL
From mouthwatering bûches de noël to candy-filled advent calendars, chocolate abounds during year-end festivities.
Head to europe’s old-world cities to surround yourself in some of the world’s finest sweet concepts.
WHAT TO SEE IN BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
Brussels is the capital of both Belgium and its chocolate industry. Much of the city is modern, but its old-world squares, Grand-Place and Place du Grand Sablon, are key stops on a chocolate-focused itinerary. A stone’s throw from the Grand Place is the 320-year-old Museum of Cocoa and Chocolate, tracing the history of cocoa from its Mayan origins to modern-day production in the Ivory Coast. In addition to the standard five-euro visit, the museum offers a €150 tour gourmand of the historical center of Brussels, with an emphasis on chocolate. mucc.be
The Grand Sablon is a quaint square dotted by antique shops, and Brussel’s epicenter of chocolate, with one chocolatier after another. Outside of the city center, the popular Concept Chocolate offers tours of its factory, which can be combined with workshops as well as wine or beer tastings. conceptchocolate.eu
WHAT TO SEE IN PARIS, FRANCE
The chocolate market in Paris is dominated by artisanal chocolatiers, creating delicious bonbons (filled chocolates), tablettes (bars) and truffes (truffles). Create alongside the masters at the workshops at the Concorde branch of Edwart Chocolatier, where chocolate enthusiasts are taught simple recipes that can be recreated at home. Edwart won an award for creativity at the Paris Salon du Chocolat with its Praline au Curry Madras, and the workshop teaches how to use imaginative ingredients such as truffle or eucalyptus. edwart.fr
Workshops for both kids and adults are also offered at Choco-Story. This three-part museum starts with the history of cocoa in the Americas, arrives at the introduction of chocolate in Europe and its modern manufacture, then ends with an all-you-can-eat tasting. Special Christmas-themed workshops run in December. museeduchocolat.fr
The website ChocoParis is chock-full of resources for the chocolate lover, with comprehensive listings of chocolate shops by arrondissement, three “do-it-yourself” chocolate walks, and a list of chocolate-making classes around the city.
WHAT TO SEE IN ZURICH, SWITZERLAND
Swiss innovator François-Louis Cailler founded the first mechanized chocolate production facility; Jean Neuhaus created the first filled chocolates; Rodolphe Lindt developed the “conching” technique that makes chocolate so smooth; Daniel Peter was the first to successfully combine milk with cocoa, leading to Switzerland’s signature milk chocolate. To learn more about Swiss chocolate history, take a daytrip to the Maison Cailler chocolate factory at Broc, where you can learn about the chocolate-making process as well as attend an atelier. cailler.ch
Back in town, Nopra Chocolate offers both workshops and chocolate-themed tours. During the holidays, tours explore the Christmas markets, and tastings at local shops are always part of the experience. noprachocolate.com
 |
STAYGuests at the centrally-located, five-star Hotel Amigo will find Galler chocolates in their rooms, and a Chocolate Afternoon Tea created by the famed Pierre Marcolini in the hotel bar. roccofortehotels.com, doubles from $335. Alternative: The comfortable Hotel Marivaux offers a “chocolate weekend” package: one night for two including breakfast and a three-course dinner, a hot chocolate welcome drink, a chocolate surprise in the room, and two tickets to the Museum of Cocoa and Chocolate, all for $190. hotelmarivaux.be |
 |
EAT & DRINKWith more than 2,000 chocolate shops in Belgium, it’s hard to choose just a few. Global brands include Callebaut, Cote d’Or, Guylian, Leonidas and Neuhaus, but Bruxellois tend to prefer artisanal chocolates. A few to sample are: Wittamer – with a branch at the Grand Sablon, this century-old family-owned chocolatier enchants both locals and tourists with its heritage recipes. wittamer.com Alex & Alex –not far from the Grand Sablon, this café pairs Champagne with chocolates made by Frederic Blondeel, considered by many as some of the best in the city. alex-alex.eu Pierre Marcolini – head to the two-story flagship store at the Grand Sablon and be sure to try one of the single-origin Grand Cru chocolate bars. eu.marcolini.com |
|
STAYWhere else to stay than the Hotel Paris Bastille Boutet, a former chocolate factory converted into luxury hotel in the 11th arrondissement. True to its chocolatier roots, the spa offers treatments with organic cocoa oil, and luxe hot chocolate is served at the bar. sofitel.com Doubles from $300. Alternative: With over two dozen chocolatiers and patisseries in the 6th arrondissement, Saint-Germain-des-Prés is the city’s unofficial cocoa capital. Three-star Hotel La Perle is a beloved budget-friendly choice in the neighborhood, with cozy rooms and attentive staff. hotel-paris-laperle.com Doubles from $160. |
|
EAT & DRINKJean-Paul Hévin – Considered one of Paris’s finest chocolatiers, Hévin is renowned for both quality and creativity (chocolates filled with goat cheese ganache, anyone?). Head to the branch on Rue St-Honoré for a cup of his legendary hot chocolate. jeanpaulhevin.com Patrick Roger – A designated MOF, or Meilleur Ouvrier de France (the highest rank for a French chocolatier), Roger does not disappoint. Tell shop staff your palate preferences (fruity? spicy? smoky?) and they will guide you to the perfect piece of chocolate. patrickroger.com Jean-Charles Rouchoux – Seek out Rouchoux’s sole boutique to try his impeccable bonbons, as well as whimsical horses, hedgehogs, the Eiffel Tower and tiny toddlers, all crafted out of the finest chocolate. jcrochoux.com Patrice Chapon – A Paris “must”, Chapon is famed not only for his flawless bonbons, but also for his chocolate mousse bar, where guests can choose between five varieties of silky single-origin mousse. |
|
STAYThe ultimate in luxury, Baur au Lac is set in its own private park in the heart of Zurich, and boasts spacious rooms, butlers, and limousines. Its Chocoholic package includes a box of house-made chocolates, a white chocolate martini at the bar, a five-course dinner at its Michelin-starred restaurant with a special chocolate dessert, hot chocolate with shortbread biscuits for turndown service, and an exclusive wine- tasting accompanied by chocolate. Doubles from $850; Two-night Chocoholic package $3,053 for two persons. bauraulac.ch Alternative: Hotel Adler offers one of the best values in Zurich’s old town, with comfortable rooms and a country-house ambience. |
|
EAT & DRINKConfiserie Sprüngli – Dating to 1839, Sprüngli is a sixth-generation family chocolatier with 25 outlets in Switzerland (and one in Dubai). Head to their tea house on Paradeplatz and try a slice of rich truffle cake. spruengli.ch Läderach – Founded in 1962, Läderach quickly became one of Switzerland’s premier chocolate-makers, now with more than 50 boutiques. At its shop on Bahnhofstrasse, Zurich’s main street, visitors can watch as pralines and FrischSchoggi (chocolate bark) are made. laederach.com Conditorei Péclard im Schober – This traditional café in the heart of Zurich’s old town is the place to go for a cup of rich hot chocolate. Accompany it with a slice of chocolate mousse cake, or pick up some truffles to snack on later. conditorei-schober.ch Vollenweider – Competing with Sprüngli as a local favorite, Vollenweider offers both pastries and chocolates, the latter made with all organic ingredients. The Grand Cru chocolates are made with single-origin cocoa, enhanced by vanilla bourbon from Madagascar. vollenweiderchocolatier.ch |
