Chocolate Paris

As if I really need a reason to visit Paris, Hotel Fouquet's Barriere in Paris on the corner of Avenue des Champs Elysees and Avenue George V has a chocolate-themed package for Easter. Guests staying in the upscale hotel from April 10 to April 13 can se the mood with chocolate treatments in the hotel spa, as well as lessons in the art of gourmet chocolate-making taught by pastry chef Jean-Luc Labat. Package includes an overnight stay, continental breakfast and lunch or dinner for two. Rates start at $1,105 for an overnight tsay based on double occupancy. For more info, go to: Fouquets-Barriere.com

Also, sorry for the lack of postings. Just getting back into the swing of things after the San Francisco Chocolate Salon this past Saturday. I'll be posting shortly with pictures. Winners will be announced by the Salon this week. Being a judge was hard work, but someone's got to do it. Needless to say, I ate a lot of chocolate.

Chocolate French

It's just about Springtime in Paris, and on my other Blog: Mystery Fanfare, I've been writing about authors who set their mysteries in Paris and France. Chocolate, although not the theme of any I reviewed, appears in at least two of them.

When I was a student, I survived in France on wonderful fresh bread with chunks of dark chocolate and a Eurail pass. What a way to travel. Eventually I graduated to better food--Paris has the most divine restaurants, of course, but I'm still a sucker for a good pain au chocolat. That's why I love the book Chocolate French: Recipes, Language, and Directions to Français au Chocolat by A. K. Crump. This book should be on every chocolate lover and Francophile's shelf.
It's a great guide to 'French' as it takes you through an intimate relationship between international French culture and global chocolate cuisine. There are some really amazing recipes from all over the world including Chocolate Bread Pudding, Chocolate Mousse Charlotte, Couscous with honey, raisins and cacao. There are also wonderful photographs of French life, patisseries, chocolatiers, as well as musings on chocolate.

Chocolate French traces the French love of chocolate from its beginnings in the mid-17th century to present-day France. There's also lots of other cultural information on chocolate in film, literature, fashion and life, as well as the exportation of a chocolate loving tradition to other French-speaking countries and colonies, as well as international locations. Don't miss the Napa Valley method for preparing a dipped Camembert and chocolate sandwich.

If you 'study' the vocabulary section, you'll amaze your friends with your 'expert' knowledge of chocolate. Put Chocolate French on your booklist now!