“Nine out of ten people like chocolate. The tenth person always lies.”
John Q. Tullius
Are you tempted by the chocolate bunnies smiling at you in every shop at the moment?
I must confess that since I moved to the country of Toblerone, Lindt and Läderach, I now turn my nose at Cadbury and Hershey's chocolate bars... But quality over quantity is so much more satisfying!
Switzerland is indeed famous for the high quality of its delicious chocolate treats. Would you like to become a chocolate connoisseur? Here are 5 Great Tips to Enjoy Chocolate In French:
1. Le péché mignon
Péché mignon literally means ''cute sin'' (sweet temptation).
If chocolate is your guilty pleasure, make sure to know how to order your favourite type when buying your Easter presents in the next few days!
- Je voudrais un lapin en chocolat noir. (I would like a bunny made of dark chocolate.)
- Avez-vous un autre oeuf de Pâques en chocolat au lait? (Do you have another Easter egg made of milk chocolate?)
- Auriez-vous une poule en chocolat blanc? (Would you have a hen made of white chocolate?)
- Je préfère le chocolat noir / au lait / blanc. (I prefer dark / milk / white chocolate.)
- C'est un chocolat fourré au praliné. (This chocolate is filled with nut-praline cream.)
- Est-ce que cet oeuf est vide ou rempli/fourré? (Is this egg empty or full/stuffed?)
- Pourriez-vous emballer ce lapin? C'est pour offrir. (Could you wrap this bunny? It's a gift.)
2. Le Festichoc de Versoix
Did you know that Switzerland's biggest chocolate festival takes place every March in Versoix? This year's edition didn't take place, of course, but I am hopeful that we will be able to enjoy this lovely gathering in 2021. For your information, le Festichoc features more than 30 artisans chocolatiers from Switzerland and abroad. It is the perfect place to shop for your Easter presents! (Plus the entrance is free!)
Au menu:
- Exhibition of chocolate sculptures
- Dégustations (tasting)
- Animation for children
- Sale of chocolate creations.
3. Favarger & The Chocolate Factory
As I live in Versoix, a few blocks away from Favarger's Chocolate Factory, I sometimes catch a delicious whiff of melting chocolate on my way to the train station.
My péché mignon is their nougalines... Invented in 1932, this ''creamy walnut praline paste is delicately encased by two crunchy walnut-flavoured nougatine shells, exquisitely covered with a fine layer of milk chocolate.'' Crunchiness and creaminess combined at its best! You can still buy them at the Coop in Versoix and probably in most Coops around Geneva.
Would you like to learn more about Favarger? Once the situation with Covid-19 is better, book a guided tour for your family and friends! Discover the history of chocolate, Favarger and its manufacture. Do not eat too much before the tour as you will have plenty of opportunities to taste their delicious chocolates!
Watch this video to learn more about Le monde de Favarger.
4. Le train du chocolat
Have you ever heard of The Chocolate Train which runs between Montreux and the Cailler-Nestlé Chocolate Factory at Broc? A must for all railway enthusiasts with a sweet tooth! (It is obviously not running at the moment, but it is always good to know for your future trips.)
The Montreux-Berner Oberland Railway has dedicated a whole train to the world’s most delicate temptation. Whether you prefer travelling with the “Belle Époque”-Pullman 1915 vintage coaches or the modern panorama coaches, this trip will be en première classe, nothing less!
When in Gruyère, make sure to stop by the HR Giger Museum for a drink at the Alien Café. Deliciously spooky!
5. Donkey Milk Chocolate, Anyone?
Swiss chocolate maker Gérard Fornerod was asked by Pierluigi Orunesu, founder of Eurolactis, a donkey milk producer based in Morges (Vaud Canton), to create some chocolate donkeys to present to the Pope. (Orunesu paid him a visit in Rome to show off his products!) When he returned, Pierluigi suggested making recipes with his product. So, Fornerod started to make pastries and the result was apparently really good!
According to Eurolactis, donkey milk is high in essential fatty acids and vitamins. It is also very similar to the milk of a human mother. Due to the relative rarity of donkey milk, a 25g bar of chocolate is priced at 9.90CHF.
Are you tempted to give it a try? It is not possible to buy it online yet, but make sure to visit Gérard Fornerod’s website so you can encourage this Morges business and get your chocolates delivered to your door!
I hope you now have more tools to enjoy chocolate in French!
Isabelle
As a native Québécoise, born to a Franco-Belgian family, now living in Nyon with her two children, Isabelle is no stranger to the expat reality! Trained as a professional opera singer, her passion for arts and languages led her to become an ambassador of the French language & francophone culture, i.e. a French Teacher!
She founded Prêt à Parler in January 2015. Since then she's been hard at work helping native and non-native English-speaking expats make French part of their everyday life! Prêt à Parler's mission is based on what Isabelle does best: helping busy professionals and parents improve their French language skills by providing a high quality, eco-friendly, fun, no-nonsense approach to learning French online!
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