So long Mother’s Day, we’re now moving on to the Easter season! As much as we’re fans on hot cross buns, it wouldn’t be Easter without a proper egg hunt and a serious chocolate game. To celebrate it the French way, we’ve rounded up some of the most exciting options out there.
The most arty of all Easter eggs by Pierre Hermé
One of the most famous French pastry chefs, Pierre Hermé is renowned for his delicate macarons and pâtisseries. Now is time to discover his gorgeous range of chocolates too! Inspired by Art Brut, his 2022 Easter collection focuses on nature with driftwood, polished pebbles and fossilised leaves beautifully translated into chocolate eggs.
Available in dark, milk or caramelised blonde chocolate, his sculptural creations make one of the finest Easter treats - with a side of his iconic “Infiniment Chocolat” macarons, of course!
Easter collection from £29 - All Easter Eggs (Exubérant, Fossilis, Empreinte and Pompon Rabbit) are exclusively available by Click & Collect at Monmouth Street Shop and Courier Delivery within London Zone 1.
Pierre Hermé
38 Monmouth Street
+44 (0) 207 240 8653
Monday-Friday 11.30am-7pm, Saturday 10.30am-7pm, Sunday 12pm-6pm
© Pierre Hermé
Easter fishing by the canalside with Le Chocolat Alain Ducasse
In addition to his gastronomic table at The Dorchester, legendary Michelin-starred chef and entrepreneur Alain Ducasse opened his bijou chocolate shop in Coal Drops Yard in 2222, showcasing artisan pralinés, ganaches and truffles made in La Manufacture in Paris.
This year, la Manufacture de Chocolat Alain Ducasse goes fishing, with a gourmet Easter chocolate hunt! Expertly designed by Pierre Tachon (Soins Graphiques), the praline-filled “fritures” fish-shaped gems hide in a stunning graphic lobster or crab, guaranteeing a far-from-fishy catch of the day.
Le Chocolat Alain Ducasse
Monday-Sunday 11am-7pm
Coal Drops Yard, Unit 15
Bagley Walk, King’s Cross, London N1C 4DH
lechocolat-alainducasse.com
© @atelier mai 98
The girliest Easter egg, courtesy of Ladurée
You can never go wrong with anything from this The Parisian institution best known for tea and macarons. Now celebrating its 160th anniversary, Ladurée has just unveiled a majestic Easter egg with a delicate bow on it, filled with mini figurines inspired by its iconic pastries. Our favourite has to be the pink chocolate version!
But if you’re not into the whole egg hunt thing, and still want to treat yourself to some chocolatey luxury, then the “75 Champs-Elysées” bonbons are just the thing: dark ganache infused with Madagascan vanilla and a crispy dark chocolate coat, oui oui oui !
Easter egg from £25
“75 Champs-Elysées” chocolate gift box, £25
https://www.laduree.co.uk/
© ©Ladurée
Pampering yourself with Chouchoute chocolates
Since 2002, French traiteur-turned-chocolate entrepreneur Pierre Soualah has earned a well-established reputation around Birmingham for high-end handmade chocolates. Today the Chouchoute retail shop may no longer be, but this sweet operation is still going strong online! Indulge in Easter speckled mini eggs, chocolate assortments of ganaches, pralines and truffles, but also in their selection of French confiseries like calissons d’Aix and pâtes de fruits.
Brummies, you must act fast for dark and milk chocolate large Easter eggs, as local delivery or click & collect slots are only available until Sunday 10 April.
© ©Chouchoute
The best of both worlds with Continuum Conceits
A one-woman band from a barn in Herefordshire? Tell us more! Since 2013, Alexandra Pechabadens has been making her French and British-inspired artisan chocolates in small batches, by hand. Wrapped in cute hand-drawn packaging, they’re to be found around local markets, but the good news is she also sells her delights online.
Made from organic chocolate, her traditional Easter eggs come in three sizes, and the biggest ones are even sold in halves - never saying no to a chance to mix two flavours! For the ultimate Frenchie, we’d recommend the cheeky Armagnac and Agen prune dark chocolate along with Ile de Ré salted caramel for a buttery, creamy option with that gorgeous hint of salt. Miam!
© ©Continuum
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Valentine Benoist
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