When you arrive in Paris, you’ll notice many of France’s best chocolate boutiques in the elegant sections of town. They’re the shops of the French master chocolate makers, the best of the best for chocolate.
Do you ever wonder how these artisans mastered their craft? Is there a typical path to becoming a French master chocolate maker, or “chocolatier?”
A Path to Mastery
The French path to excellence in this domain seems to be a combination of early family initiation and formal training.
Then add to those experiences some high-level apprenticeships and regular participation in top competitions, both domestic and international. Now you have a recipe for success!
Here’s an example of the trajectory taken by one of my favorite French master chocolate makers, Jean-Paul Hévin. He has earned one of France’s highest awards given by his peers, the title of “Meilleur Ouvrier de France”, for his mastery of chocolate making.
(The M.O.F. or “Best Craftsman of France” is a title awarded during a competition held once every 4 years. Its objective is to maintain and transmit French know-how and excellence. There are many categories for a variety of professions. It’s so grueling it can drive its participants to tears).
Before earning this prestigious title, the road to success for Jean-Paul Hévin started early. It was very long and involved working and competing abroad.
Early Life
Like many great French chefs, Jean-Paul Hevin learned to cook from his mother when he was young. She introduced him to traditional savory recipes. (His father was a farmer in the Mayenne region of France).
However, during his teenage years, he quickly developed a preference for pastry and chocolate-making. After obtaining his diploma in pastry-making he started working for the “Intercontinental,” a luxury hotel in Paris.
Presitigous Apprenticeship
Hévin later apprenticed in pastry and chocolate with the legendary chef Joel Robuchon at the Hotel Nikko in Paris.
Chocolate soon became his unique pursuit.
In 1983 he won First Prize in the World Chocolate Masters. It was at this time that he discovered Japan and began working for the prestigious French shop “Peltier” in Tokyo.
Influences
He quickly became a fan of the Far East. Today he has boutiques in both Japan and Hong Kong.
Jean-Paul Hévin is widely recognized for his mastery of beautiful, jewel-like presentations of his chocolates and often creates new flavors on a whim.
In 1999 he created the unusual mix of cheese and chocolate with his “aperitif chocolates.”
He enjoys sculpting chocolate and loves to create beautiful edible stilettos for ladies and life-size chocolate cigars for gentlemen.
He also designs each year for the Paris “Salon du Chocolat” a wearable chocolate dress which is then worn on the runway by the model who opens the show.
His pastry talents haven’t gone to waste at all: his cakes are a reference in Paris for French chocolate fans.
His chocolate cake infused with Tonka beans is one of my favorite desserts.
In 2005 his chocolate macaroons were ranked the best in Paris by food guide books.
Competition Ignites Talent
Between 1979 and 1984 he competed in and won numerous international pastry and chocolate competitions.
List of Awards (just a few of many)
1979 : Gold Medal in the Gastronomy Competition of Arpajon, France
1982: First Prize – French Pastry Cup
1983 : First Prize – World Chocolate Masters
1986 : Meilleur Ouvrier de France in Pastry/Confectionary
2003: French “Croqueurs de Chocolat” Club attributes their highest ranking of 5 Chocolate Bars to Hévin
2004 : Nikkei Shinbun (Japanese Business Newspaper) ranks Hévin as Best Chocolate Maker in Japan
2005: Best Chocolate Macaroon of Paris
After opening several boutiques in Paris, he opened his own boutiques in Tokyo and Hiroshima in 2002. Today he is recognized by the Japanese as one of the best chocolate-makers in Japan.
Innovation: Selling Cakes Online
I recently discovered Hevin’s chocolate “Traveller’s Cakes.”
These dense chocolate cakes could be ordered easily online and sent through the mail during the COVID 19 lockdown in Paris.
Below is a photo of one of the chocolate cakes I served after lunch:
The cake (in the photo above) was beautifully wrapped and arrived in perfect condition on my doorstep. Each decorative chocolate figurine had been stashed in a beautifully protective gold box.
This dessert gave me a good chocolate fix during confinement when all the Paris shops were closed. Surprisingly, it was not too sweet: the wonderful aromas of the high-quality chocolate were more prevalent than the sugar.
Is French Chocolate Different?
I remember attending my first conference on the subject of French chocolate. The speaker was the founder of the Maison du Chocolat, Robert Lynx.
One of the key points made during that presentation was that French chocolate is different from Belgian and Swiss chocolate.
Monsieur Lynx explained that the French use less sugar than the Swiss or Belgians. They also favor dark chocolate over milk chocolate. (although he admitted to having a personal preference for milk chocolate).
He also emphasized that the aim of French chocolate makers is above all to highlight the aromas of the particular chocolate being used.
So a French master chocolate maker lightens up on the sugar and milk in his recipe to let the chocolate flavor shine. Similarly, a top jam maker highlights the aromas of the fruit used by adding as little sugar as possible.
The conference with Robert Lynx took place many years ago, so things have changed by now: excellent single-origin chocolate and bean-to-bar chocolate makers can be found in many countries. They’re also striving to use less sugar and placing more emphasis on the flavor of the high-quality chocolate they’re using.
Conclusion:
There isn’t one typical path to excellence among French master chocolate makers. However, there are several similarities. Here are 3:
- Most are initiated by their family early in life into the love of well-made food. Often their mothers or grandmothers have the strongest influence.
2. Some have formal training, others not, but their apprenticeship begins at an early age. Skills are perfected through the transmission of excellence during these internships.
3. There’s often a willingness to submit their work to the judgment of others through competition. Though this isn’t a common element among all French master chocolate makers, competition is certainly a catalyst that brings their talents to the fore.
Where to buy French Chocolate in the United States:
La Maison du Chocolat has several shops in New York City. You can order many of their fabulous chocolate products online for shipping anywhere in the country.
There’s also a Click & Collect service (even for their chocolate pastries!) if you’re in the New York City area. You can find more information on their website here…
Valrhona has been producing some of the world’s finest chocolate since 1922 in the village of Tain L’Hermitage, France. You can find their high-quality products on Amazon.com:
Valrhona Assortment of Almonds & Hazelnuts coated in Equinoxe dark chocolate on Amazon.com
Valrhona Ultimate Pure Cocoa Powder for Hot Chocolate and Baking on Amazon.com
And now you: do you have a favorite chocolate maker?
Are we following each other yet? Come on over and say “Hi” on Instagram and Facebook!
Bouquet Garni 101: How To Use These Traditional French Herbs