For those of us who are real chocoholics, being away from our favorite domestic chocolate supply can be a serious problem. So I offer a small guide to places you might seek out if you are traveling beyond your borders and find yourself longing for the best chocolate fix available.
PARIS
If you are visiting the Tuileries Gardens in Paris or walking to or from the Louvre Museum in the neighborhood of the Place de la Concorde, you are probably walking beneath the arched porticos of the elegant Rue de Rivoli. Here elegant shops offer French perfumes and accessories, and small outdoor cafes beckon weary passers-by to stop in for refreshment. Eat a meal if you must, since it is quite difficult in Paris to be disappointed with any restaurant fare. Save your dessert for later, however, because you are within a stone’s throw of a great Mecca of chocolate just steps away from your table.
Angelina is the name of the famous chocolate shop dating back to 1903 when Antoine Rumpelmayer named the chocolatorium after his daughter-in-law. Since then the assorted chocolate delicacies– and especially the thick hot chocolate served with extra cream on the side– have been providing superb chocolate fixes to those in need. Be sure to buy some of the hot chocolate mixture sold in the store to take home with you to try to relive the moment once you leave Paris. (There are smaller Angelina concessions around Paris, but this original shop is incomparable for the ambiance as well as the fare.)
To walk off some of the poundage you might consider a power walk around the beautiful Place Vendome behind the rue de Rivoli which can actually serve as a wonderful walking “track!”
LONDON
Winding down a wonderful day in London during which you have visited the fabulous British Museum and Kensington Gardens, the chocolate yearnings suddenly start rumbling in your tummy. Walk or take the tube in the direction of the Harrods Department Store (Knightsbridge stop for the Piccadilly, District or Circle Lines, or the Sloane Square stop on the District or Circle lines.) This elegant store actually offers a bar where chocolate is served exclusively in a variety of delectable forms. “The Chocolate Bar” as it is appropriately named is on the second floor and will meet every expectation you may have for the perfect chocolate “fix.”
As you leave Harrods, think about continuing on foot (at a brisk pace, I might add) to the elegant and ultimately walkable Sloane Square area where upscale shops provide fabulous window shopping for all, and expensive but rewarding really shopping for those willing and able to cope with the prices. In the beautiful Codogan Square area, step in to the Codogan Hotel, the sedate but beautiful lodging place of Oscar Wilde during the time immediately preceding his trial and imprisonment. If you’re in the mood for a longer hike, head up Elizabeth Street to Buckingham Palace, about 1.5 miles away. (District Line tube takes about 15 minutes, but it won’t help burn off the chocolate calories.)
MEXICO CITY
Visit the priceless and breathtaking Anthropology Museum in Mexico City on a day when you have the time to give its intriguing collection the attention it deserves. The museum is a pleasant walk from the Zona Rosa, the stylish and secure neighborhood that is a popular visitors’ quarter. One favorite hotel of mine there is La Casona, a smaller boutique hotel beautifully appointed and with an attentive staff. Click HERE for a photographic essay on Mexico’s amazing capital.
Mexico City offers a wide range of restaurants and shops, and is also the birthplace of chocolate. For those likely to suffer from a chocolate addiction, it has Sanborns, an enchanting turn-of-last-century restaurant that also serves a typical hot chocolate– rich and with that traditional hint of cinnamon Mexicans often add to any chocolate recipe. Additionally, Sanborns has a fabulous atmosphere with its famous orgiinal blue tile interior. This only adds to the Mexican chocolate experience.
As a chocolate lover, I have found that great cities around the globe (and many smaller villages as well) often provide wonderful opportunities to savor chocolate in its many forms. For chocoholics, an enjoyable journey is only made better by the addition of local chocolate so add chocolate to your next trip’s “to do” list!