Wednesday, November 02, 2022

Chocolate is good for you, Salon du Chocolat

 

I went back to the Salon du Chocolat on Monday to see what I had missed opening night like this giant sculpture by Francois Daubinet. Is it really made of chocolate? The Answer: OUI from M. Daubinet ๐Ÿ‘


There were many chocolate sculptures. Animals are always a favorite. So far no one had taken a bite.  

I personally loved these little cross-legged giraffes (the sculptures are not made of chocolate) from Uganda Palet D’Or - a Japanese company run by chocolatier Shunsuke Saegusa. 

Bonnie said I should go back and get some Pralus Infernale nougat bars. You could buy a suitcase full of them, perfect for traveling. The French have something called gateaux de voyage (usually an elaborate pound cake). Chocolate should certainly be included as a traveling companion. I tasted a bite. They were delicious. 

Talk about taking bites, this stand had their chocolates well-protected behind a thick shield from wandering hands. 

I am still on the lookout for small, reasonable boxes of chocolates and found it at top chocolatier, Vincent Guerlais. The top of the box says, as if we needed a reminder,
Une vie sans chocolat est une vie ร  laquelle manque l’essentiel”, a quote from M.Colan & F.Norton. (A life without chocolate is a life without essentials.) I completely agree. The 6 chocolates inside, which I meant to paint, are all gone. Trop bon! 

Orange ๐ŸŠ and chocolate go well together. Is it because the cabosse or cacao bean is often orange or 
a color wheel thing? ‘Orange zest and orange-flower water has been used to flavor chocolate since the 17th century’ to  quote The Flavor Thesaurus by Niki Segit.

Especially orange flavor in orangettes  which are 
suppose to be easy to DIY. Have you ever made orangettes?

And pain d’epice, the French version of gingerbread which I’ve come to love over the years. 

Heading downstairs at the Salon you find world-wide guest producteurs, the sources where chocolate actually comes from. 

And a livelier party going on.

more educational chocolate-wise too. Peru, Ghana, Philippines, Japan, Brazil, Madagascar were represented to name a few. Bean-to-bar tablets was emphasized rather than fancy bonbons.

And les fรจves de cacao were ever present. This is where the healthier aspect of chocolate comes in to play. I bought a pound bag of cacao powder from the Madagascar stand. 

Shouka of Chemonix-Mont-Blanc Alpes was touting their fรจves infusions. I wish I’d bought some. It was hot at the Salon, though they were not giving out tastes. I wonder how it tastes. Have you tried it. 

Lovely vanilla beans are always at the Salon.

I wonder what you do with Vanilla jelly? Any ideas? 

Cindy asked me if I went back to the Salon for more tasting.
 Attending opening night you only see limited fancier stands. I went back to see the producteurs downstairs and learn more about the chocolate-making process. Plus its fun to attend with the general public. 


More cooking demos and chocolate contests were going on. Plus a lot of screaming and celebrating ๐Ÿพ๐Ÿฅ‚๐Ÿ˜Š๐ŸŽ‰  Plus on the way home I got to see Halloween celebrators on the Metro. 
Thank Thanks for reading Parisbreakfast. Please share with friends. Visit my Etsy shop to keep me reporting from Paris๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท


26 comments:

  1. I can’t believe you went back! So much chocolate it’s overwhelming. Was fun you saw more completed sculptures and obviously there was still plenty to taste!

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    1. Anonymous5:32 AM

      Attending opening night you only see limited fancier stands. I went back to see the producteurs downstairs and learn more about the chocolate making process. Plus its more fun to attend with the general public. More demos and chocolate contests going on. Plus a lot of screaming and celebrating ๐Ÿ˜Š๐ŸŽ‰

      Delete
  2. Those large chocolate sculptures are truly amazing. I wonder what the process is to create them? I love chocolate & orange. Chocolate & raspberry is also quite tasty. Interesting to see the various countries represented.๐Ÿ—ผ❤️๐Ÿซ๐ŸŠ๐ŸŒ

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    1. Anonymous6:46 AM

      Chocolate + raspberry is a perfect match Ga. Jean-Paul Hevin has been making a little pastry for years with that divine combo.
      http://parisbreakfasts.blogspot.com/2010/06/frahm-bwahz.html

      Delete
  3. Anonymous6:47 AM

    Yummy. Anabel

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  4. Bonnie L7:39 AM

    Yay for going back to the Salon du Chocolat!! We get more of your fabulous pictures! Fairly priced vanilla beans, bags of cocoa, pain d’รฉpice, orangettes, pretty little boxes of chocolates…sigh!…I want them all! Irresistible!

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    1. Anonymous7:57 AM

      I wish more people came to Paris in October-November! A lot of goodies

      Delete
  5. Anonymous9:31 AM

    Bob said, look at all of those sculptures! No wonder the price of chocolate has gone up!

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    1. Anonymous9:32 AM

      I am certain the sculptures like any sculpture has an inner framework. All leftover Easter chocolate is melted down so….

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  6. Anonymous9:56 AM

    I think I’d be there every day of the salon. SO much to see. I love orangettes but after going to a chocolatier you recommended, Maison Paries, their citronettes are now my absolute favorite.

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  7. Anonymous9:57 AM

    Citronettes ARE wonderful! I thought seriously about going back yesterday. There is a lot to discover.

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  8. Anonymous9:59 AM

    Yes to pain d’epice, but the moist variety heavy with honey…not the dry stuff people put foie gras on.

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    1. Anonymous10:00 AM

      I didn’t realize there was a difference…give me rock hard pain d’รฉpices every time

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  9. Anonymous10:02 AM

    I’d put that vanilla jelly between cake layers…or on a piece of pound cake…or on a teaspoon?? Your vanilla map was gorgeous. No one does vanilla like the French.

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    1. Anonymous10:04 AM

      It does make a big difference that France has a ready supply of Vanilla from Madagascar and Taihiti

      Delete
  10. Anonymous10:06 AM

    I have one of those Pralus inferno bar ‘suitcases’ around here somewhere! (I can’t throw out cute boxes either!). But I’ve since learned to order just the ones I love most…pistache and nougat…sometimes milk…and must try the cafรฉ! And, their Pralulines!

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  11. Anonymous12:17 PM

    Fabulous Lynne

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  12. Anonymous2:30 PM

    Alrighty then. Thank you for The Cacao powder info ! MeredithM

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  13. Anonymous3:35 PM

    At the salon is there any awareness of the Darkside of chocolate production? AWA

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous3:36 PM

      It is a non-political event.

      Delete
  14. Anonymous3:39 PM

    Oh Carol!
    I love this post!
    Thanks!
    Peggy

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  15. Anonymous3:44 PM

    Thanks for returning to the Solon du Chocolate exhibit again and encouraging us that “CHOCOLATE IS GOOD FOR US!!”. And, thank you for having old posts on the side. I just revisited the Ritz Chalet de Noel one. LOVE IT!! CARLA

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  16. I love that Pralus suitcase and can't pass up orangettes. When in Paris I keep an open package in the apartment for a quick pick me up

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    1. Anonymous12:09 PM

      How are you able to KEEP an open package in the house? Even a closed package doesn’t last long

      Delete
  17. Anonymous12:10 PM

    Best news I’ve heard in a long time!! I have a bag of dark dark cocoa powder in my fridge…will try in my chai at 2nd tea today

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  18. Anonymous5:24 PM

    Here in the US a year or so ago at Christmas there was a special edition herbal tea called Paris Nights or something that had mint and cacao nibs in it. It was very nice. Just a hint of both.

    ReplyDelete

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