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As the weeks draw down to Easter Sunday, Parisian chocolatiers
work triple-overtime filling their shops with a glorious array of
delectable chocolates made only for this special season. Tempting
 chocolates are everywhere … in the patisseries, the
speciality chocolatiers and in those sweet little candy shops
called confiseres, which stock candies from all over France
including copious selections of chocolates.
Indeed, a gift of chocolate at Easter is an
absolute must for friends and family of all ages. Not
surprisingly, the vast selection
available in the French capital
goes way beyond adorable bunnies and chicks. The offerings include
the very traditional dark-chocolate fish of various sizes, including
the darling ‘friture,’ tiny dark chocolate fish often packed
into straw baskets or chocolate boxes so that they resemble a school
of delicious little fish. Then there
are chocolates shaped like
bells symbolizing the ringing out of the good news on Easter, along
with goblets, crosses and scallop shells, the symbol of St. James.
Add to this bounty all manner of flavored and pure chocolate eggs in
various sizes and a fantasy array of chocolate animals such as
donkeys, elephants, camels, rabbits, bunnies, chicks, ducks and
geese.
Here is a sampler of sources to tempt any
chocolate lover.
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Master chocolatiers such as Jean
Paul Hevin create stunning edible masterpieces, with new works
released each year. This year, one stunner is a dark chocolate
fish emerging from a goblet, each a timeless symbol of spring
and of Easter.
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Jean-Charles Rochoux, in St. Germain,
creates fabulous ‘eggs’ filled with rich chocolate praline piped
into real egg shells, sealed with a tiny gold square and adorned
with a perfect little chick made of white chocolate and artfully
colored to resemble the real thing. Nestled in straw in an egg
carton just like those in which fresh eggs are sold in the
markets. This is a sophisticated and understated confection.
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 For those who savor tea and chocolate
pairings, the master tea blenders at Mariage Freres not only
create an annual Easter-tea blend called The de Paques,
they also work with their chocolatier to craft beautiful
Easter chocolates infused with the seasonal tea and dusted with
roasted tea leaves.
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La Bonbonerie de la Trinitie near the Gare
St. Lazare is a perennially alluring top-quality neighborhood
chocolate shop in the ninth arrondissement which is even more
inviting at
 Eastertime. The shelves are chock full of
beautiful creations, both traditional and innovative. Here I
found the greatest array of fantastic chocolate animals,
including adorable little chocolate donkeys pulling carts
stacked with chocolate ‘logs’ lined up alongside endearingly
fierce-looking chocolate gorillas along with the bells, balls,
bunnies, variously tempting styles of candy eggs—all alongside
schools of chocolate fish. One can easily envisage indulgent
French grandmothers or parents taking delight in stocking up on
their Easter gifts here, for beloved children and chocolate
fanciers of all ages.
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 Natier is another charming little premium
quality chocolate shop that serves a savvy family clientele in a
bustling residential quarter just south of Pigalle. Here
you will find gorgeous chocolate baskets filled with fanciful
Easter treats all made with premium milk and high cocoa-content
chocolates. Consider their delectable versions of traditional
bunnies or small praline eggs, (some
of them covered with nougatine), hens, bells, fish in several
sizes either filled or plain, plus the beloved “friture” in 70
per cent dark, milk, white and orange flavors. Natier also
offers small nests made of gianduja with pistachio, real
egg-shells filled with chocolate, several kinds of eggs for
children, and numerous chocolate medallions. Abundance is the
order of the day here.
Chocolates are indispensable to Parisian Easter
celebrations. As ever in this city seemingly obsessed with
gastronomic perfections, the artisans that supply Parisian
chocolate-lovers endeavor to surpass all expectations to tempt,
delight, and seduce their customers. And then there are those
chocolate gorillas… just plain fun! |
