A self-professed chocoholic who rarely says no to dark chocolate, especially if it’s filled with praline, I was thrilled to discover the art of making this decadent sweet treat, first introduced to France in 1615, as a gift to Louis XIII from his Spanish princess. I was eager to learn the tricks of the trade from friend and chocolate connoisseur Lisa Allen of Tarts & Truffles. Lisa’s chocolate-making workshops take place at one of my favorite independent chocolate shops, Edwart Chocolatier near the Louvre.
The workshop began with Lisa teaching us how hazelnut praline is made. With the smell alone, I was in heaven.
The next step on this chocolate journey was to melt the chocolate and prepare it to meet with its praline center.
I must say that while Lisa’s adept hands make ‘tempering’ the chocolate look easy, it’s a process! What resulted from this sweet experience were the most divine truffles, covered in coconut flakes or my personal favorite, topped with almonds. The best part of all was feasting on these homemade creations. We also tasted Edwart’s exquisite array of chocolates in flavors ranging from Corsican lemon to curry. Ask to try their single origins chocolate too, from Venezuela and Papua New Guinea.
If you’re on the market for chocolate in Paris, which you certainly should be, here’s my list of favorite chocolate shops. Or simply contact Lisa and she’ll give you an expert chocolate tour.
