Gourmet Alert in Laval where new chocolate maker and boutique Talie Chocolat opened recently, in a charming cottage on foodie Sainte-Rose Boulevard. Small, quaint and decorated with taste, the petite boutique welcomes you with the heady aroma of cocoa that puts a smile on every face. In other words, a new go-to gourmet stop, and not just for Easter when I first visited.
Don’t go looking for antiquated Greek origins, Talie is simply an abbreviation of its owner’s name, Natalie Lahaye, an ex-pharmacist seeking a second career. Mind you, she was probably destined from the start, what with a Belgian pappy and a mammy that hailed from Brittany. Her chocolate bites are all crafted from Valrhona chocolate of the highest quality, a fact never in doubt from the moment you cross the threshold. What seduced and surprised me was the originality of her chocolates, the wide assortment of Grands Crus (from Valrhona of course, but also Pralus, Cluizel, Marou & Co.) sold in drops and other formats. Psst! I spied Easter eggs made with Dulcey, a chocolate dear to my heart that I praised here not so long ago. Yes, yes, you are expected to nibble but also cook your bounty, delivered in your expectant Oliver Twist hands in the cutest of packagings.
Inside Secret: Don’t leave without trying or buying the chocolate spread with fleur de sel, it’s to die for. The almonds caramelized in maple sugar, then dredged in dark chocolate powder, make the perfect hostess gift. As for the chocolate bites, my advice is to just hoard them for yourself, even if you need to hide the lot from the kids. Sharing’s out of the question. Next time, I am so buying the homemade shooters of fine liqueurs, sealed in imported chocolate. Hey, finally a good excuse to drive to Laval and enjoy one of its prettiest neighbourhoods (that is, hum, mine!).
Where? When? How?
Where: 15 boul. Saint-Rose, Laval, Québec, H7L 5W4, 514-462-0588
When: Wednesday to Sunday only
How: Follow them on Facebook to learn more.
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