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Posts Tagged ‘Hot Chocolate’

Paris Perfect’s Hot Chocolate Challenge – Angelina

Wednesday, February 27th, 2013

Hot chocolate and the sumptuous Mont Blanc dessert at Angelina – heaven for chocolate lovers in Paris!

February has us in the midst of winter, and while you may be dreaming of warmer days ahead, console yourself with one of Paris’ favorite winter indulgences – hot chocolate! After visiting the famous Café de Flore in Saint Germain des Prés, the stunning Café de la Paix and the Pâtisserie Viennoise, the Paris Perfect Hot Chocolate Challenge continues with a review of the famous Angelina Tea Room!

The Great Hot Chocolate Challenge – Part 4: Angelina

Ahh … for many, there is no other choice for chocolat chaud in Paris! It must be Angelina’s or nothing. What can be said about this rich, thick, intensely chocolate sip of heaven that has not already been said? We will try our best, but words may not do justice. Attention all chocolate lovers … this is one stop you won’t want to miss on your next trip to Paris!

The gorgeous interior of Angelina’s in Paris

Angelina is a full service café and tea room, serving breakfast, brunch, salads and sandwiches, but for many, the hot chocolate and desserts are the main attractions. The original Angelina patisserie and tearoom, designed in the luxurious Belle Époque style, is located at 226 Rue de Rivoli, across from the Tuileries Gardens in the 1st arrondissement. Founded in 1903 by Austrian confectioner, Antoine Rumpelmayer, the tea room was named after his daughter-in-law, and has been a favorite spot for over a century for well-heeled Parisians and celebrities, including Marcel Proust and Coco Chanel.

Luscious whipped cream arrives with your hot chocolate at Angelina’s

The famous hot chocolate, known as L’Africain, is made from a luscious blend of four different cocoa beans from Africa. Sweet, thick and rich, and served with fresh whipped cream on the side, it is a taste not to be missed.

A chocolate lovers dream!

We conducted our tasting at the Angelina’s tea room located inside the Galeries Lafayette on Boulevard Haussmann. Located upstairs in a far corner of the grand department store, the salon is tricky to find. Just head towards the designer handbags and turn to your left … keeping a lookout for the signs like this one.

Take a hot chocolate break while shopping at the Galeries Lafayette

The décor was pleasant, done in tones of gray and cream, but of course cannot compare to the grandeur of the flagship Rivoli salon. But for convenience, try this location inside Galeries Lafayette for a chocolate fix when your tired feet need a break from shopping.

Service was prompt and efficient, and the chocolate was served in individual white ceramic pitchers, with the luscious cream on the side. Sinfully thick, the pour-out was met with enthusiastic oohs and ahhhs.

Oooh … the anticipation!

The density is so thick, it reminds you of a melted chocolate bar, and could easily be enjoyed as a sauce for ice cream or profiteroles. Note how the velvet clings to the cup.

Rich and thick hot chocolate at Angelina

Full disclosure … one of our testers found Angelina’s hot chocolate to be almost too rich and sweet for her tastes, but the other three in our group were in chocolate Heaven. Here are the final results:

Angelina Scoring

Density: 5

Sweetness: 4.5

Presentation: 4

Ambience: Rivoli tea room = 5; Galeries Lafayette = 3

Service: 3.5

We think Angelina’s should be on every chocolate lover’s “must do” list. What do you think? Have you tried Angelina’s? Let us know your thoughts in the “Comments” section.

And you can even purchase bottles of the famous chocolat chaud to bring back with you. I still have one bottle stashed in my fridge, saving it for a dreadful day when I desperately need a “little bit of Paris.” Just knowing I have it lifts my spirits!

Angelina’s has 6 locations in Paris, 2 at Versailles, 1 in Lyon, coming soon to Nice, and 16 locations in Japan! You are sure to find one close to your shopping or sightseeing excursions.

The elegant Angelina tearoom on Rue de Rivoli in Paris

Angelina’s Tea Salon

226 Rue de Rivoli, 75001, Paris

+33 (0)1.42.60.82.00

Open daily 7:30 am – 7:00 pm (weekends open at 8:30 am)

Directions to flagship Angelina’s Tea Salon on Rue de Rivoli from the 7^th arrondissement:

Metro Line 8, Ecole Militaire, direction Point du Lac. Exit Concorde, then walk east on Rue de Rivoli 8 minutes

Bus Line 69 from Rapp/Bourdonnaise, direction Gambetta. Exit Pont Royal, then a 6 minute walk north through Tuileries garden and northwest on Rue de Rivoli.

In the area, enjoy strolling through the Tuileries Gardens from Place la Concorde all the way to the Louvre. Read more about things to see and do in the 1st arrondissement in Paris.

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Thank you to Mary Ann Grisham for this guest post for the Paris Perfect Blog!

Photo Credits: Angelina tea room with Mont Blanc courtesy Angelina, Angelina interior by Gryffindor, Angelina hot chocolate and whipped cream by Charley, Cup of Angelina hot chocolate by summer park, all other photos by Mary Ann Grisham.

Tags: 1st arrondissement, Hot Chocolate
Posted in Food & Drink, Paris Things To Do, Parisian Living, Restaurants & Cafés | No Comments »

The French Coconut

Friday, February 22nd, 2013

Before we publish our review of Angelina’s famous chocolat chaud for the Paris Perfect Hot Chocolate Challenge, I’d like to share a story with you. It’s been said the French are like coconuts … hard on the outside, but soft on the inside. To some they may seem reserved, standoffish or even cold. But I have proof this is not true! They are as soft and sentimental as anyone…once you get past the rough exterior.

My children and I were visiting Paris in January 2010 and had heard so much about Angelina’s wonderful hot chocolate, we planned a visit there for our last night in Paris as a special evening to remember. I called ahead to find out their hours and be sure they were open. We plotted our bus route and while we were waiting at the bus stop, I noticed a sign advising of les manifestations.

I knew this meant strike or demonstration, but my French was not good enough to understand all of it. We hopped aboard and were on our way. What we learned the hard way was the sign was notifying riders the normal route was altered for the day and several stops would be omitted (including the stop for Angelina’s) to avoid the demonstrations. I didn’t figure this out until we were two stops beyond our destination, and by this time it was about 30 minutes before Angelina’s closing time.

I grabbed the children, jumped off the bus at the next stop and we started running south, not sure of where we were or how to reach Angelina’s, but knew it was south of us. It was cold and dark … the street lamps lighting our way as we ran…literally…through the streets of Paris, with no map or GPS, with one goal in mind … get to Rue de Rivoli and find Angelina’s!

We ran down small side streets and stopped in a hotel to ask directions. The kind desk clerk let us consult his map and helped guide us. Breathless, we arrived at Angelina’s 10 minutes before closing time, a bit disheveled, but ecstatically happy as we saw the bright, beautiful tea room filled with happy patrons.

I approached the maître d’, greeted him with my best “bonsoir monsieur,” and politely asked for a table for three. He looked at me slightly condescendingly and replied, “Non, je regrette Madame, our last seating was five minutes ago.” Even though reservations were not required, we had just missed their last seating and he would not accommodate us.

Heartbreak!

He suggested we come back tomorrow, but I explained this was our last night in Paris and we were leaving in the morning. I begged … pleaded … groveled … cajoled … all to no avail. “No Madame, it is not possible.” I was not going to persuade this immovable Frenchman. Rules were rules, and exceptions could not be made.

As a last-ditch effort, I turned to my 9 year old, looked down into his big, brown eyes which were now welling up with tears, stroked his cheek softly and said (loudly enough for the maitre d’ to hear me) “I’m sorry, baby, we tried. We won’t be able to try Angelina’s famous hot chocolate.”

Well, that was an emotional watershed moment for le coconut Frenchman. He said simply, “Wait here, Madame,” turned abruptly and scurried off. I had no idea what he was planning, but I was silently hoping he would get permission from some unseen manager to seat us as a late arrival. We waited for what seemed like 10 minutes, and our hopes were growing dim.

To our great surprise, he returned with a large paper “to go” cup of hot chocolate with three straws, and a white paper bag with four delicate, pastel macarons. He refused any payment, and wished us bon appétit and bonne chance. We thanked him profusely, bade him au revoir, turned and left. Back out on the street, we took turns lapping up the delicious hot chocolate and shared the sweet, fragrant macarons, so happy to be in Paris on this dark, cold night in January. Le Coconut had saved the day!

Hot chocolate and macarons make everything better!

Staying tuned for the upcoming review of the hot chocolate at Angelina’s … from another visit … in the next installment of Paris Perfect’s Hot Chocolate Challenge!

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Thank you to Mary Ann Grisham for this guest post for the Paris Perfect Blog!

Photo Credits: Paris bus stop by Marko Kudjerski, Paris in the rain by Nicolas Vigier, Angelina’s interior by Gryffindor, Macarons by Cocoinzenl

Tags: Hot Chocolate
Posted in Food & Drink, Parisian Living, Pastries, Restaurants & Cafés | No Comments »

Paris Perfect’s Hot Chocolate Challenge – Pâtisserie Viennoise

Friday, December 7th, 2012

Patisserie Viennoise Paris Hot Chocolate

Stop by Pâtisserie Viennoise for excellent hot chocolate in the 6th arrondissement

After a stop at the famous Café de Flore in Saint Germain des Prés and a visit to the luxurious Café de la Paix, our happy team of hot chocolate tasters next stopped in at a local favorite - Pâtisserie Viennoise in the 6th arrondissement. Quite a different experience, Mary Ann Grisham shares some helpful tips and the hot chocolate review of Pâtisserie Viennoise in Paris.

The Great Hot Chocolate Challenge – Part 3: Pâtisserie Viennoise

Pâtisserie Viennoise is a small, unassuming patisserie and lunch spot tucked away on a tiny side street in the 6^th arrondissement. This is not a tourist hang out … far from it. It’s a spot where locals crowd in on their lunch hour and students from the Sorbonne drop by for an inexpensive pastry or coffee. The brown wooden tables and booths appear unchanged since the 1950s … in other words … do not go here for the décor. The waitresses are busy and brusque, but not rude, and be aware at lunch time the tables are reserved for patrons ordering food, so you will need to order a meal with your chocolate if you come during the peak lunch rush.

We learned of Pâtisserie Viennoise from the charming and humorous review by former Chez Panisse pastry chef turned American ex-pat and dessert virtuoso David Lebovitz (see our recent interview with David here). In David’s book The Sweet Life in Paris, he describes his death-defying approach to the pâtisserie, with his back pressed firmly against the walls of the buildings as he sidles his way down the narrow alleyway to avoid being run over by the #86 bus.

“The Sweet Life in Paris” by David Lebovitz

Thanks to David’s thoughtful warnings, we wore our Spanx and skinny jeans that day, determined to squeeze down the narrow street and successfully make our way into the café. We survived the gauntlet, and after a short wait our group of six was seated at a booth for fourin the back. We wedged our way into the booth and ordered off the small blackboard menu at each table, pleased that we had Parisian friends, Michael and Marlys Schurmann, with us to help translate. Michael is the author of Paris Movie Walks: Ten Guided Tours Through the City of Lights! Camera! Action! and the popular blog Easy Hiker and Marlys is well-known on Twitter as @ParisBuff.

Hot chocolate in Paris with Marlys and Michael

Our lunch was inexpensive and edible, but not remarkable. After the dishes were cleared, it was now time for the main attraction. No silver pitchers here … the dark hot chocolate was served in a simple cup, crowned by this luscious mountain of soft, velvety sweet cream, oozing over the top and cascading down sides of the cup.

Patisserie Viennoise Hot Chocolate Paris

Perhaps not pretty … but oh so tasty!

Now David is a purist, a connoisseur with refined taste who orders his chocolat chaud straight up, without the snowy velvet mountain of cream, and prefers dark bitter chocolate over the sweet variety. We only wish we could be so sophisticated. Unrefined amateurs that we are, we lapped up the cream and had to mix in a spoon or two of sugar to cut the bite of the dark chocolate. We have to admit, the chocolate itself was warm, not hot, and noticeably thinner than what we sampled previously … and we were spoiled by the fancier presentations.

Pâtisserie Viennoise Scoring

Density: 2.5

Sweetness: 2

Presentation: 2

Ambience: 2

Service: 2.5

All in all, it was definitely worth the stop just to experience the local lunch crowd, and if you like your chocolate towards the bitter side this may be the spot for you.

Pâtisserie Viennoise

8 Rue de l’École de Médecine, 75006 Paris

+33 1 43 26 60 48

Hours: Monday – Friday 9:00 am – 7:00 pm

Bus: #87 from Rapp Bourdonnaise to Saint Germain Odeon stop

Metro: Lines 4,10; exit Odeon

In the neighborhood:

This plaque marks the spot where the Treaty of Paris was signed

A 12 minute walk north and west brings you to Rue Jacob, which has important significance in U.S. history. Benjamin Franklin lived at 52 rue Jacob, and a commemorative plaque marks the spot at 56 Rue Jacob that the Treaty of Paris was signed by John Adams, Benjamin Franklin and other signatories on September 3, 1783, in which England officially recognized the independence of the United States.

Photo credits: Pâtisserie Viennoise by Evan Bench, Treaty of Paris plaque creative commons

Tags: 6th arrondissement, Hot Chocolate
Posted in Food & Drink, Paris Things To Do, Parisian Living, Restaurants & Cafés | No Comments »

Paris Perfect’s Hot Chocolate Challenge – Café de la Paix

Tuesday, November 20th, 2012

The elegant Café de la Paix near the Opéra Garnier in Paris

Our enthusiastic team of hot chocolate tasters is back with their second report in our Paris Hot Chocolate Challenge. Their first stop was the famous Café de Flore in Saint Germain des Prés. With top rankings for presentation, service and ambiance, how will their next stop stack up? Mary Ann Grisham is back with the review of the sumptuous Café de la Paix near the Opéra Garnier in the 9th arrondissement.

The Great Hot Chocolate Challenge – Part 2: Café de la Paix

We found Café de la Paix quite by accident. We had planned a self-guided tour of the Palais Garnier one crisp morning, and when we arrived at the beautiful opera house, we were told to return in one hour as rehearsals were underway for an upcoming production and we could not be allowed in. Slightly disappointed, we wandered a bit around the area and then noticed directly across the street the attractive Café de la Paix. Admiring the gorgeous exterior, we approached the front door and to our delight, we were invited in, shown into a large dining room and given a prime seat by the window overlooking the Palais Garnier.

The stunning Opéra Garnier in Paris and the Café de la Paix

Café de la Paix interior is luxurious and elaborate, in the style of the French Second Empire, with soaring columns, ornate moldings and breathtaking ceiling frescos. The cafe opened in 1862 and its proximity, directly across the street from the Palais, attracted famous patrons, including Jules Masseret, Emile Zola, Guy de Maupassant and the Prince of Wales, who became King Edward VII of the UK.

The gorgeous dining room of the Café de la Paix in Paris

The Café is the full service elegant restaurant for the five star Le Grand Hotel Intercontinental, with numerous dining rooms, a summer terrace, oyster bar, and an upscale family friendly, although pricey €82, Sunday brunch. In researching the Café de la Paix story, I came across this charming bit of history on their website:

In 1898, on a sultry summer afternoon, a regular customer by the name of Oscar Wilde witnessed a strange phenomenon: the street had just been watered down and a light mist was rising from the ground. Suddenly, within the fog forming across the square, he saw a golden angel appear, who kept growing and growing… This caused much excitement… Women fainted… Tables were knocked over… Was this a miracle? Not at all. It was the golden allegorical character perched atop the Opéra that was actually reflecting the sunrays into the mist, and it was its image floating in the middle of the square!

Cafe de la Paix Paris Sumptuous Interior

The sumptuous interior of the Café de la Paix in Paris

While we did not see golden angels rising in the mist, we viewed this slight delay in our plans as a perfect opportunity to indulge, so we ordered hot chocolate! It was served piping hot in silver pots with sugar cubes on the side along with a pitcher of cream. The chocolate was very thick and strong. I sweetened mine a bit with a sugar cube and thinned it some with the cream, creating a near perfect concoction that became my new favorite. The pot easily filled two cups and would be perfect for sharing.

Café de la Paix Scoring

Density: 4

Sweetness: 3

Presentation: 4

Ambience: 5

Service: 4

Although the service was not as friendly as at Café de Flore, it was efficient. I found it hard to leave such a beautiful room and luscious chocolate and vowed to return. Keep in mind, when it’s time to pay, you are paying for the luxe Café atmosphere and stunning view of the Opéra as well. If you have the time, feel free to linger as you will not be rushed here.

Enjoy hot chocolate in the beautiful surroundings of the Café de la Paix in Paris

In the neighbourhood:

There is so much to see in this area…in addition to the Opera, you’ll find the Fragonard Musee de Parfum at 9 Rue Scribe, which offers free guided tours through museum housed in a 1860 Napoleon III townhouse, and of course a gift shop filled with delightful Fragonard fragrances, soaps and toiletries. You can also enroll in the hands-on 90 minute Parfum Apprentice Workshop, where you will create your own signature fragrance to take home with you.

The area is a shopper’s dream with many specialty stores at all price points, the grand magasins, Galeries Lafayette and Printemps, and a large Apple store just a few blocks away.

Café de la Paix

12 Boulevard des Capucines, 75009 Paris

Open every day 7am- 11pm

Metro stop: Opéra (lines 3, 7, 8)

Bus: #42 Bus line (full review here); exit Capucines – Caumartin

Warning: Be on guard for pickpockets near the Opéra area…several in our group were approached by a woman holding out a “gold” ring, asking if we’d dropped it in the street. Don’t fall for this old ruse. Just waive your hand, avoid eye contact and keep walking.

Photo credits: Café de la Paix by Juan Pablo Garnham, Opéra Garnier by André Luis, Interior photos courtesy Café de la Paix

Tags: 9th arrondissement, Hot Chocolate, Opera Garnier, paris cafe
Posted in Food & Drink | 1 Comment »

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