The stories of Paris sometimes have a chocolate flavor. And on days when that happens, the perfect place to go is Le Chocolat Alain Ducasse. There are three Ducasse chocolate shops in Paris (at La Manufacture, Saint-Honoré, and Saint-Benoît), plus three additional counters located in key spots like Galeries Lafayette, Gare de Lyon, and Gare du Nord. However, among all of them, the must-see destination is the first: La Manufacture de Chocolat on the lively Rue de la Roquette, a true universe you enter with curiosity and leave absolutely enchanted.
As Alain Ducasse himself says, the place is a promise of happiness—and chocolate lovers will know exactly what that means. La Manufacture, located not far from Place de la Bastille, handcrafts chocolate using traditional methods, under the guidance of master chocolatier Nicolas Berger. While for most of us, chocolate is a simple pleasure or an occasional indulgence, for those at La Manufacture, chocolate is a form of art—executed at the highest level. I was not surprised when, in an informal poll among my Parisian friends, Le Chocolat Alain Ducasse was unanimously hailed as “the best chocolate in Paris.” They knew what they were talking about, I thought, and off I went on my own investigation.
Following an old dream, born over 30 years ago when he was a young chef, Alain Ducasse wanted to produce his own chocolate. However, he realized that the only way to do this was to have control over both the selection of ingredients and the production process. This is how La Manufacture de Chocolat on Rue de la Roquette was born, a 320-square-meter space where, according to Ducasse, they have the freedom to take creative approaches that wouldn’t be possible in an industrial setting.
Classic or modern and surprising chocolate bonbons, pralines à l’ancienne—produced in the "old-fashioned style"—unique ganaches, irresistible bars, spreads, grated chocolate for preparing hot drinks on cold days—every creation reflects the care for an exceptional product, where creativity harmoniously blends with technique and savoir-faire. There is also careful attention to the selection of cocoa beans, which carry with them the distinctive characteristics of the regions from which they come. Without a doubt, my Parisian friends were right: Le Chocolat Alain Ducasse is love at first taste.
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