DESPITE ITS FRENCH NAME L'ARTISAN DU CHOCOLAT is a purely British enterprise based in London. Founded in 1999 (under the name of
L'Atelier du Chocolat) by Gerard Coleman and Anne Weyns, the chocolate of this Irish-Belgian couple rapidly entered the world of Michelin-starred gastronomy, featuring in the restaurants of Gordon Ramsay and Heston Blumenthal within the next two years.
L'ARTISAN DU CHOCOLAT sells a wide range of filled chocolates, liquid salted caramels (for which they are famous) and other confectionary as well as single origin bars from six origins, discussed below.
Website: www.artisanduchocolat.com
Stores: The only L'ARTISAN DU CHOCOLAT store is in Chelsea, London:
89 Lower Sloane Street, London SW1W 8DA,
Tel: +44(0)2078248365,
Fax: +44(0)2077306139,
open Mon-Sat 10-7, and Sundays in December only.
There also is a factory shop:
The Long Barrow, Orbital Park, Ashford, Kent TN24 0GA, open Mon-Fri 9-5.30.
And a stall at Borough Market in London, on Saturdays from 9-4.
Availability: Apart from the above locations the L'ARTISAN DU CHOCOLAT produce can also be bought from the website which has an online shop selling the entire range.
THE CHOCOLATE BARS
click on countries of origin for more information
MADAGASCAR 80% Madagascar
This unusually dark Madagascar bar carries sour notes of gooseberry combined with hints of blackberry. These flavours form an interesting contrast to the citrus aromas which are typical of Madagascan bars, and make this bar an interesting addition to a Madagascan tasting comparison.
JAVA 72% Java, Indonesia
This well-balanced Trinitario bar from Java brings a dense earthy dryness to the mouth with flavours of wine, tobacco and copper.
The other four origins of L'ARTISAN DU CHOCOLAT chocolate are from the Dominican Republic, Peru (fair trade) and Venezuela. There is also another, sugar-free, Madagascan bar. All bars except that one also come as a dark milk (40%) version.