Declinaison Chocolat - Artisan Chocolatier d'Alsace

The first night that we were in Strasbourg we walked through the city and I was mesmerized by the window at Declinaison Chocolat. Little did I know that it would be a window that we would stop by to stare at often and it's contents would catch my attention often. The window was fantastic and simple and the chocolates inside were simple and exquisite.


A close up of the marroon glacee, which were all over Europe at this time of year, and the chocolate Christmas Tree. Each layer was a different variety of chocolate topped with a variety of fruits and dried nuts.The packaging for the holidays was unbelievable. I ended up bringing home some chocolate for some friends from here and was desperate to be able to bring it home in this gorgeous packaging. Unfortunately this packaging was totally impractical for packing!!

The most interesting thing that they had in the shop was "Foie Gras au Chocolat". It was 25 euros and at the time I felt it was a bit to pricey for a whim tasting, but I wish that I had bought it now. It looked awesome and totally interesting. In the regrets list, put "not trying Foie Gras au Chocolat". Oh well, next time.....

New Fabulous Member of the 1001 Team

I was so overwhelmed to get an e-mail forwarded to me by my little sister from a co-worker of hers, TK, who is on board to help me with a bunch of things that I haven't tried. The lovely new team member is East Indian and has offered to help on so many fronts.

In the e-mail that she sent me, TK is able to get the following easily:

Section 6: Aromatics

10. Fenugreek
21. Curry Leaf
41. Galangal
51. Amchur (green mango powder)
52. Black Lime powder
59. Telicherry Pepper (its my grandmother's town and that's where the pepper is grown, i have some off the climber)
63. Ajwain
77. Asafoetida
87. Panch Phoran

TK, can advice where these are available:

6. Holy Basil (Tulsi, Indian Stores)
29. Pandan Leaf (in Sri Lankan stores)
70. Anardana (dried pomegranate seeds or powder from Indian stores)

Under Section 9 Confections, TK has offered to help on the following ones:

Section 9: Confections

65. Jaggery

Indian Sweets

17. Rasgulla (milk balls, soaked in a sugar syrup)
24. Kaju Katli (made w/ cashew nuts, kinda like marzipan)
26. Pista barfi (made w/ pistachios)

So so so exciting. When I get back from the Christmas holidays, I will contact her and chat with her about all of the above. I assume that I will need some help in how I am going to use some of these ingredients. I brought up the fact that I hadn't tried some of them with friends the other night and I got a huge harassing for not having at least tried the Rasgulla. I am super excited to try them.

Thanks TK!

Le Tour du Chocolat

photo care of the NYTimes.com - Rows of chocolate pastries and confections at Jean-Pierre Hevin.

What could be better than spending your time on a velo (bicycle for those of you that are unfamiliar with the term!) exploring the best Chocolatiers in Paris. I am salivating after reading the lovely article in the New York Times Travel section called "Le Tour Du Chocolat". The author visits 8 chocolatiers, many of which I have never heard of, but of course some of which I have, including the master, Jean-Pierre Hevin http://www.jphevin.com/

The article makes you want to visit Paris immediately, rent a velo and take your life into your own hands cycling around the chocolate shops of Paris. Could anything be more decadent???

Section 9: Confections: Items 927 - 1001

Please note that I have linked as many of the 1001 to links on the web, such as wikipedia (those that have links are underlined). I have also indicated in italics and bold, the ones that I have tried. I anticipate over the course of the year, writing about each ingredient, but for the purpose of these lists, I felt that a general list was probably the best.

Section 9: Confections

1. Crystallized Ginger
2. Candied Citrus Peel
3. Marron Glace
4. Ameixas d'Elavas
5. Titaura
6. Licorice Drop
7. Maple Candy
8. Doncaster Butterscotch
9. Buttermint
10. Vichy Mint
11. Chicle Gum
12. Lowzina
13. Peppermint Rock
14. Pear Drop
15. Jelly Bean
16. Fondant
17. Rasgulla
18. Marshmallow
19. Cotton Candy
20. Turkish delight
21. Qum Sohan
22. Turron de Jijona
23. Montelimar Nougat
24. Kaju Katli
25. Habshi Halwa
26. Pista Burfi
27. Cornish Fudge
28. Honeycomb Toffee
29. Soft Caramel
30. Salt caramel
31. Single-Estate Chocolate
32. Milk Chocolate
33. Cocoa Bean
34. Dried Fruit in Chocolate
35. Truffle
36. Lubecker Marzipan
37. Creole Praline
38. Praline
39. Ganache Chocolate
40. Gianduja
41. Chocolate spread
42. Dulce de Leche
43. Green Walut Gliko
44. Black Butter
45. Amardine
46. Membrillo
47. Lekvar
48. Lemon Curd
49. Seville Orange Marmalade
50. Rowan Jelly
51. Fig Jam
52. Sour Cherry Jam
53. Damson Jam
54. Plum Slatko
55. Wild Beach Plum Preserve
56. Maple Syrup
57. Beech Honeydew
58. Heather Honey
59. Hymettus Honey
60. Sidr Honey
61. Manuka Honey
62. Dibis
63. Blackstrap Molasses
64. Muscovado Sugar
65. Jaggery
66. Rapadura
67. Granita Siciliana
68. Lemon Sorbet
69. Agraz
70. Gelato
71. Green Tea Ice Cream
72. Kashta
73. Salep Ice cream

Confections: 49/73 Tasted - 67%

Yippee!! Over 50%. Feels so ridiculous that I am excited about this, but there you go. Also kind of interesting that the ones that I haven't tried are all primarily from India or the Middle East and are all quite bizarre. I think that I foresee a trip to the local Indian supermarket in my future!

I also just jotted down the honey's on the list as I have just run out and what a better excuse to try one of the new ingredients than an actual need? I think that I'll hit Whole Foods, as they tend to have a ton of honey's and jams. I'll let you know how it goes.

Happy Tasting!