Travel

Belgians have elevated -making to a fine art. Stores display like they are precious pieces of jewellery rather than chunks of cocoa crammed with nuts, cream and other goodies

By Kalpana Sunder CHOCOLATE Treasures emember Juliette Binoche and her chocolate shop that seduced a village in the movie Chocolat? RThat’s how heady I feel when I take a trip through , the country obsessed with silky smooth , tantalising truffles and decadent dark chocolates. Once, chocolates were the indulgence of the seriously affluent; it was only in the 19th century, with the advent of large- scale production, that the common man could afford these delicious creations. They say that the personal chef to the The Belgian Duke of Plessis-Praslin in France watched chocolate-making tradition dates intently as a pan full of burnt sugar spilled back to the over a bowlful of almonds. The Duke 17th century. Chocolates at the CORBIS took the fortuitous decision to taste the Pierre Marcolini concoction and was so thrilled that he lent

20 21 his name to this new confection. That’s delight to visit not just for the chocolates how the came into existence. But but also for the history lesson. I was it took Belgian centuries to told, for instance, that ’s wife – perfect this particular treat. Eventually, dismayed by fine chocolates being sold the word praline became synonymous in a paper cone – invented the ballotin, a with a Belgian confection that features a deep decorative cardboard box in which moulded shell of chocolate filled to the chocolates are layered even today. Among brim with cream. their gourmet creations is the exquisite Cocoa was introduced in Belgium Chocolate Caprice or pralines stuffed with during the Spanish rule in the 17th fresh cream, crispy nougat and chocolate. century. Later, when King Leopold II Grand Sablon in is a majestic ruled this lovely country, Belgium’s square fringed by gabled houses and acquisition of the Congo gave them easy the church, the Notre Dame du Sablon, access to African cocoa fields. Several located at one end. The streets lining it slaves worked here, and historians believe have some of the best chocolate shops in CORBIS CORBIS CORBIS

several enticing chocolate flavours on offer rum and cognac, to saffron, curry and like orange blossom, ginger, passion fruit, wasabi-flavoured ones, which tease and mango and even Earl grey tea. tantalise the senses. If you want to woo , though Antwerp, though better known for your sweetheart, check out his chocolate glittering diamonds and religious art, has lipsticks. Thepiece de resistance, however, better known for an interesting chocolate trail. Dominique is a chocolate shooter that offers you a Persoone (dominiquepersoone.be), pure coco high. the city’s best chocolatier, has earned I also check out chocolates with glittering diamonds the moniker ‘shock-o-latier’ for his an interesting twist at Del Rey (delrey. revolutionary creations. His store be) chocolatier, which sells some special and religious art, Chocolate Line, housed in an opulent diamond-shaped chocolates overflowing mansion that once belonged to Belgian’s with cognac and champagne. has an interesting royal family, looks more like a Bond Bruges is a fairytale town of quaint Street jeweller’s store and has an open houses, a skein of canals and bridges, and chocolate trail kitchen where you can watch unusual weeping willows with a whiff of chocolate, chocolates being created — from those frites and waffles in the air. Creative stuffed with black olives and suffused with confectioners here make tons of the city’s

that the history of Belgian chocolates is the city, like Pierre Marcolini (marcolini. not that sweet. However, its present is be) and Wittamer Café wittamer.com( ), rather delicious. which look more like Parisian boutiques Every Belgian town has several than chocolate shops. chocolatiers who elevate chocolate- Wittamer is the grand dame of making to an art form, handling these and a supplier to the delicious treats with white gloves and great royal court. Its taupe and fuchsia tearoom, reverence. I start my chocolate odyssey in with drop dead crystal chandeliers, is the Clockwise from ABOVE: Brussels, the genteel capital of Belgium. perfect setting to enjoy delectable ice- Dominique Persoone, Antwerp’s best chocolatier, experiments with flavours; Jean Neuhaus (neuhaus.be), the inventor creams, pastries and chocolates over a Neuhaus, Brussels’ oldest chocolate shop, of the praline, has the oldest chocolate steaming cup of coffee. Paul Wittamer is is known for Chocolate Caprice; shop in the city; it opened its doors to famous for the exotic confectionary he At Pierre Marcolini chocolatiers, try their European aristocracy in the year 1857. creates, like a sinful Louis Vuitton shoe orange blossom-flavoured candies; Del Rey sells diamond-shaped chocolates; His flagship store in the elegant made out chocolate! The chic Marcolini The old streets in Brussels are lined by mid-19th century Galeries Saint-Hubert store with fashionable black walls, white restaurants, coffee shops and chocolatiers arcade, with its covered passageways, is a polished floors and swish sales staff, has

22 23 The The Essentials Chocolate What to buy Tours Every traveller to Belgium wants to take back chocolates and the decision of where to buy is invariably difficult. There are large variations in quality, pricing and the variety of chocolates available. There are boutique chocolatiers and national chains. There are also several internationally known brands like – chocolates made by the husband (Guy) and wife (Lillian) team, who invented the swirled seashell-shaped chocolates. Filled with a hazelnut praline stuffing, they are often termed as the world’s favourite Belgian chocolates and are sold in about 100 countries around the world. Godiva, another big name from the world of Belgian chocolates, has been around since 1926. Their signature gold ballotin boxes and special chocolates make good gifts for your sweetheart. Godiva uses two special production methods to manufacture chocolates in various sizes and shapes: enrobing, which involves coating a formed centre, like rich caramel, with smooth, melted chocolate; and shell- moulding. They also specialise in fresh fruit dipped in chocolate. Visit their Grand Place shop and watch them from their expansive demonstration window as

Visiting a Belgian chocolate-maker can be an interesting thing to do on a holiday for the sheer mouthwatering experience of being surrounded by liquid chocolate and nuts and all sorts of fruits. favourite pralines – chocolate swans using them the ambrosial Within Belgium, each town has its unique almond paste and a kind of spiced flour. made with pure melted chocolate. The chocolate recipe, many of them world-famous praline A must-visit for is the showstoppers are the edible chocolate varieties that have come to define Belgian chocolate. Choco-Story, the chocolate art museum boxes with patterns of the local gabled For a quick introduction to Belgian chocolate, we recommend a reservation with Brussels Walks. The that charts out the , homes. Because there are 52 chocolate Dark Side of Brussels tour will take you to premiere from the discovery of the heady cocoa shops in Bruges, many more than in any chocolate stores in the capital city. (E-mail: info@ bean by the Mayans and Aztecs to the other Belgian town, a two-hour walking they dip strawberries or orange slices in a chocolate brusselswalks.be). fountain. Their chocolates often contain hazelnut However, for a more indulgent tour, head to the Europeans’ introduction of sugar into and tasting tour of its chocolatiers is pralines made from finely ground hazelnuts and sugar. Chocolate Museum or Musee du Cacoa et du Chocolat chocolate and Belgian’s chocolate-making offered in the summers. However, for that true Willy Wonka moment, in Brussels, where you can learn about the Belgian techniques. Choco-Story also allows By the end of my Belgian tryst, I head to Laurent Gerbaud (chocolatsgerbaud.be) in chocolate-making process. You can tour chocolate Brussels. Gerbaud marries dried fruits, salted nuts and makers such as Le Chocolatier Manon, whose pralines visitors to watch as a chocolatier makes have gained calories, indulged my sweet with spices, a recipe that’s influenced are handmade, hand-moulded and hand-dipped in dark and pralines. I walk tooth and I am on a major sugar rush. by his stint in the Orient. His experimental chocolates their workshop, much like a piece of jewellery. out of the museum clutching my own I now know that chocolate is rich in have no sugar, butter or artificial flavourings. Instead, (salonduchocolat.nl/sdcmanon.htm). praline with the logo of the museum Vitamin E, which prevents premature they contain combinations like pepper, ginger, pear If you are in Belgium in April, drop in at the apricot, citrus and bergamot. Chocolate Festival in Bruges, a four day chocolate imprinted on it. ageing, and in antioxidants. And I So, what makes Belgian chocolate so special? extravaganza. You can do chocolate trails, walks, I also visit one of the oldest have heard that popular quote, which For one, Belgians believe in eating chocolates that are tastings and demonstrations. (visitbelgium.com/ chocolatiers in town — Sukerbuyc chocolatiers in Belgium often repeat, handmade and not mass-produced. They use the best belgianbites). ingredients and the chocolate is made by grinding Round off the indulgent experience with (sukerbuyc.be). The resident chocolate “After eating chocolates you feel god-like, the beans to the minutest microns. The Belgian The Ultimate Chocolate Workshop, an interactive maker, Kristoff Deryckere, tells me that as though you can conquer enemies, lead government keeps strict control over chocolate demonstration that focuses on the origin and history the store creates its own blends, among armies and entice lovers.” production, so look for the AMBAO label with the of Belgian chocolate. They will also teach you the white , which guarantees the freshest, intricacies of making divine Belgian pralines. The tastiest ingredients — with no vegetable fats or Duval in Brussels allows you to see the Facing Page: Travel companies offer tours of the famous chocolatiers in Bruges

e s Ge tt y imag genetically modified additives. step-by-step creation process. (visitbelgium.com). Above: The chocolate art museum houses ancient chocolate-making machines

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