Chocolate is clearly not just for Easter, but it's one of those occasions that calls for the finest, particularly if you're buying gifts for the grown-ups.
So if you've ever indulged yourself or others at Le Chocolat Alain Ducasse, Gard du Nord, whilst waiting for the Eurostar – or at any other of the Michelin-starred chef's chocolatiers in Paris – it will be welcome news thata new concession has just opened at Harrods, Knightsbridge.
This follows the opening at Coal Drops Yard, the Heatherwick-designed shopping district in Kings Cross late last year.
Offering single-origin and flavoured ganaches, pralinés, chocolate bars, Easter treats and more,Le Chocolat Alain Ducasse was born from the chef's long held desire to produce his own high quality chocolate for his restaurants, returning to the source and the essence of what chocolate is made of.
A world away from mass-produced bars, these chocolates are made traditionally by artisans, in Paris, in a workshop at the back of a small cobbled courtyard at 40 rue de la Roquette, using bespoke machinery and time honoured methods. They're then transported to both London stores several times a week.
The team selects quality cocoa beans based on their purity as much as on their personality from more than 15 origins, including Peru, Sao Tomé, Madagascar, Dominican Republic, Trinidad and Vietnam.
Alain Ducasse is the artistic director, defining the flavours while the chocolatiers work their magic, taste and fine-tune the ingredients to create these world class chocolates that express the character of their origins, in the way that a good cup of coffee would.
Based in the Chocolate and Confectionery Room on the ground floor of Harrods, the shelves are lined with chocolate bars and selection boxes of ganaches and pralinés and there's a chocolate bonbon cabinet too, so be warned, with this much temptation you may not make it to the other floors.
Harrods, 87-135 Brompton Road, London, SW1X 7XL.
Find more Easter treats here.
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