[Shanghai 上海] Pierre Marcolini

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Pierre Marcolini

Add: 206, K11 Shopping Mall, 300 Middle Huaihai Road
Tel: 6333 7318
Hours: 10am-10pm
Price: [chocolate] 20-22 RMB/ea [macaron] 250 RMB/ea (pre-packaged boxes available)
Visited: Jun 2016

I passed by a Pierre Marcolini boutique five years ago in Brussels by chance, and, without knowing anything about this brand, bought two boxes of chocolates just because the shop was pretty. Some post hoc research told me that Pierre Marcolini won the title of World Champion of Pastry in 1995, and has shops not only in Brussels, but also in Paris, London, Tokyo, Monaco, Luxembourg etc. In fact, he is kind of a big deal.

五年前在布魯塞爾閒逛時,曾無意間經過一家非常漂亮的巧克力店。擡頭一看,名字是 ”Pierre Marcolini“…嗯,沒聽過,不過樣子似乎很厲害,那就買兩盒試試吧。後來才知道 Pierre Marcolini 是位出名的比利時巧克力大師,1995 年在法國裏昂得到世界甜點冠軍之後,于布魯塞爾開了自己的第一家巧克力店,現在在巴黎、倫敦、東京、摩納哥等地方也都能看到他的作品。

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But it wasn’t until moving to Paris that I got to know a bit more about this chocolatier, mostly through a French TV show I used to follow called “Qui Sera Le Prochain Grand Pâtissier” (Who Will be the Next Big Pastry Chef”), in which Pierre Marcolini was one of the four judges.

不過其實對這位巧克力師更多的印象,是來自我後來住巴黎時看的一個叫做 “Qui Sera Le Prochain Grand Pâtissier”(誰會成爲下一個甜點大師)的電視節目。這是個幾乎所有法國甜點師都會看的節目,我當時也不例外的每周追隨,而 Pierre Marcolini 就是四位大有來頭的評審之一。

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And just last week, his boutique opened in Shanghai. So far it’s a temporary pop-up on the second floor of K11 shopping mall, though a tea salon is scheduled open in October – something to look forward to. On an unrelated note, even the doorknobs are in the shape of Marcolini’s signature chocolate squares…how cute!

就在上周,他的巧克力店在上海開幕了。地點位于 K11 的二樓,目前只是暫時的零售 pop-up store,十月份會開有座位的 salon de thé,除了有巧克力之外,聽說還會有別的驚喜?不知道是甜點還是冰淇淋還是什麽,總之令人有些期待。(連門把都是 Marcolini 巧克力磚的造型,可愛。)

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Et voilà voilà, les chocolats.

店裏主打的自然是巧克力。

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[Paris] Le Chocolat Alain Ducasse

Le Chocolat Alain Ducasse

Add: 40 rue de la Roquette, 75011*
Tel: 01 48 05 82 86
Website: www.lechocolat-alainducasse.com
Hours: [Tue-Sat] 10:30am-7pm
Price: €14+/chocolate bar, €25+/discovery box
Visited: Sep 2015

The first bean-to-bar chocolate manufacturing facility in Paris, opened by none other than THE Alain Ducasse himself. Unfortunately photos are not allowed inside the shop so I can’t show you the fun things happening inside the factory, so do go and see it for yourself. Together with Patrick Roger, this is on the top of my chocolatier list in Paris.

*Additional locations available, details on their website.

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I took home a discovery box (€28), which includes:

  • 5 single origin chocolates: Java, Madagascar, Venezuela, Peru, and Trinidad.
  • 7 ganache chocolates: raspberry, lime, tonka, mint, passionfruit & coconut, coffee, and vanilla.
  • 9 praline chocolates: hazelnuts (black and milk chocolate), almonds (black and milk chocolate), coconut, peanut, hazelnut and almond (black and milk chocolate), and pistachio.

You can also choose boxes with only single origins, ganaches, or pralines, and you can pick your own combinations at a higher price.

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[Paris] La Maison du Chocolat

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La Maison du Chocolat

Add*: Carrousel du Louvre, 99 rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris
Tel: 01 42 97 13 50
Hours: 10am~8pm (open everyday)
Website: www.lamaisonduchocolat.com
Price: €4.70~5.20/pastry
Tasted on:  Mar 2013

La Maison du Chocolat, opened in 1977 by Robert Linxe (the “ganache magician”), is world-famous for its exquisite chocolate creations: ganaches, truffles, and mendiants in classic and not so classic flavors like basil, rosemary, and jasmine. I can’t claim to be a chocoholic, but am still very much attracted to its alluring assortment of chocolate pastries. These plain-looking éclairs, tarts, and cakes might not impress your eyes, but will absolutely wow your taste buds.

*Numerous locations available in Paris and around the world, check website for detail. 

Les chocolats.

Les macarons et les patisseries.

Start with a tartelette chocolat (€5.20), which is perfect in every way. The chocolate ganache is smooth, shiny, rich in flavor but not too sweet, while the tart shell is crumbly and crisp even until the second day. So simple, so good.

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[Paris] Jean-Paul Hévin

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Jean-Paul Hévin

Add*: 231 Rue Saint-Honoré, 75001 Paris
Tel: +33 1 55 35 35 96
Hours: 10am~7:30pm
Website: www.jeanpaulhevin.com
Price: €4~7/pastry
Visited on: Jan 2013

Chocolate bonbons, chocolate truffles, chocolate cakes, chocolate ganache-filled macarons, hot chocolates…why yes, Jean-Paul Hévin must be the ultimate wonderland for chocolate lovers. I don’t claim to be a chocoholic myself, but the chocolate desserts here are indeed difficult to resist. Good news for those in Asia: JPH also operates several boutiques in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and China!

*4 locations available in Paris, check website for detail.

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[Paris] Patrick Roger

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Patrick Roger

Add: 91 rue de Rennes 75006 Paris*
Tel: 01 45 44 66 13
Hours: [Mon-Sat] 10:30am~7:30pm
Website: www.patrickroger.com
Price: single origin chocolates €7/box
Visited on: 2012/10

On my way home from La Maison du Chocolat, a tasse de chocolat in hand and ready to spend the night sipping hot chocolate while wrapped up in blankets, I happened to pass by a boutique by Patrick Roger, one of the top chocolatiers in France. Ah well, a few more blocks of chocolates won’t hurt, will they?

*Various locations available, check website for full listing.

So who is Patrick Roger? A chocolate madman who is especially well-known of transforming chocolates into majestic sculptures, and for his innovative yet refined combinations of flavors and textures. He has earned the title of Un des Meilleurs Ouvriers de France (shortened to MOF), a unique award in France according to category of trades in a contest between professionals. Oh yes, It is a big deal.

In his minimalist boutique, chocolates and their variations are displayed in signature green boxes.

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