Imperial Chocolat Fontainebleau

Hurry up! Get out of bed. Its the last day for the annual SALON IMPERIAL CHOCOLAT in Fontainebleau just 20+ minutes by train outside Paris. Bear did it. So can you. 

The chocolate salon, like last year, is held inside the chateau and is included in the entre fee(12€). 

Bonaparte slept here, among others. The historic rooms are divine. 

I never noticed before this portrait of a dog fancier. Intriguing. Normally you cross an empty courtyard to get to the chocolate salon.

This year they added tents offering foie gras from the sud-ouest, drinks including warming coffee and rum and other goodies like flaky apple tarts just out of the oven.

Inside a chocolate feast awaits. Many of the chocolatiers are from the Ile-de-France area.

Lots and lots of degustations going on.

We tried the Champagne with a hint of dark chocolate.

Chocolate cake competitions and ateliers for kids.

Bear said bonjour to the head honcho and salon director, top pastry chef FREDERIC CASSEL.

We stopped in his patisserie in town on 71 rue Grande for lunch (quiche Lorraine and citron tarte eaten in the street on the way to the chateau). Instant love❤️ for the chocolate bear celebrating Frederic Cassel's 25 years in business. Enjoy reading PB with your morning coffee☕️ 🥐 and keep Bear in Paris with a letter subscription from my Etsy shop. Bear 🐻 waves Bonjour ❤️from Paris☕️🥐

Imperial Chocolat Fontainebleau

I'm drawing in my hotel room in Clermont-Ferrand whilst at the 19th Rendez vous du Carnet du Voyage conference...remembrances of the fabulous 3-day IMPERIAL CHOCOLAT À CHATEAU FONTAINEBLEAU on Friday...Hurry up! You can still go today.

Friday was a tad misty, a tad gloomy but who cares when such beauty awaits inside the chateau (just 30 minutes from Paris c/o Gare de Lyon).

Forget the rush to Versailles

And the annoying crowds

And long lines.

Fontainebleau makes you feel like a princess (or prince) especially if you visit during the week.

Jaw-dropping splendid decorations

The current exhibit on..

Your reward after visiting the castle...a short walk through the courtyard et voila -Salon du Chocolat

Banks and banks of superb chocolate to taste

And buy

Some of tje best chocolate sculptures ever

Many created with Fontainebleau in mind like this stairway.

Perhaps the best chocolate box ever. Why didn't I get it?

Created by the one and only president of RELAIS DESSERTS, patissiere FREDERIC CASSEL. At the billetterie I said. I was the guest/invitée of Frederic and the ticket man said, "You know, I think he is the best pastry chef in France." I agreed. You must stop in on your way to visit the chateau.

Pastries made for kings and queens IMHO.

True I only got this viennoisserie because it was citron and something different. Utterly fab. Coming home to the Ile Saint Louis, crossing my bridges with an early departure for the RENDEZ-VOUS DU CARNET DE VOYAGE the next morning at 6am. I made it and bought THREE new sketchbooks I probably didn't need. See above picture.

Thanks for reading Parisbreakfast. If you'd like to receive Parisbreakfast watercolors, letters 💌, and maps in your mailbox, check out my Etsy shop. 

HELLO from Clermont-Ferrand in the Auvergne ❤️