I know most of you read this blog because it's about Dublin but this also my little personal space where I can share things or places I love, so I've decided to start a series called 'Taste of Paris' to tell you all about my favourite Parisian spots.
For my first post I was actually planning to blog about a restaurant but then I realised it was the start of the Easter weekend and that it would be better to blog about... Le chocolat. Sorry to disappoint you, it's not about Johnny Depp and Juliette Binoche in a movie about chocolate but about a place I visited when I was in Paris a few weeks ago: Le Chocolat Alain Ducasse.
Michelin-starred chef Alain Ducasse fell in love with chocolate about 30 years ago while he was working with some amazing pastry chefs. Ever since, he has had the dream of producing his own chocolate.
Well he did it! He created Le Chocolat Alain Ducasse, a chocolate factory located close to Bastille on rue de la Roquette in the 11th district. The premises used to be a Renault garage, there is a front courtyard, the shop and the factory itself.
Because they have see through windows you can actually look at what's going on inside and if you're lucky you might see the staff at work. Nicolas Berger is the artisan chocolate maker in Le Chocolat and he transforms cocoa beans into chocolate bars or divine little pieces of chocolate that then are sold in the beautiful onsite shop.
When you get in you can smell the beautiful fragrance of chocolate.
The boutique is stunning, chic and industrial looking at the same time and the chocolates are displayed in a centrepiece in the middle of the room, as well as on all the surrounding shelves.
Ganaches, truffles, chocolate bars, the choice can easily make you dizzy if you love chocolate.
Le Chocolat is a luxury chocolate shop so prices are quite high but they make a nice gift for chocolate lovers and the place is so pretty that it's really worth visiting. It's actually the video below that made me want to visit this place a few months ago, have a little look, it's absolutely stunning and there is no better time than this Easter weekend to be dreaming of chocolate! Happy Easter everyone!
Le Chocolat Alain Ducasse
40 rue de la Roquette
75011 Paris
http://www.lechocolat-alainducasse.com
