Chocolate
The Salon du Chocolat returns to Zurich in April
In two weeks the world known chocolate fair, the Salon du Chocolat will be back in Switzerland at the Zurich Messe. Last year 16,000 visitors came to the fair for its second edition. It is the perfect place to buy your Easter treats, see all of the new Swiss chocolate creations and learn about the magical world of chocolate.
Salon du Chocolat Easter eggs – copyright Salon du Chocolat
Eighty exhibitors will be there from all over the country like Villars Maitre Chocolatier (Fribourg), Suteria (Solothurn), Läderach (Ennenda), Konditorei Voland (Steg), Favarger (Versoix), Thomas Müller (Schaffhausen), Au Palais des Gourmets (Plan les Ouates), Praline Scherrer (St. Gallen), Sprüngli (Zurich), Nobile Cioccolato (Bätterkinden) but also Maison Boissier (Paris). If you would like to buy Carla Bruni’s favourite biscuit, the corne de Gazelle, you will be able to by visiting the stand of La Gazelle d’ Or.
Maison Boissier marshmallows and bonbons – copyright Veronique Gray
The Salon du Chocolat will celebrate its 20th anniversary in Paris at the end of October. Yearly it travels to many French cities like Nantes, Cannes, Bordeaux, Marseille and this year to Toulouse as well. In addition the fair has been to many exciting cities like Shanghai, New York, Cairo, Moscow, Tokyo and more recently London and Brussels.
The two founders, Sylvie Douce and her husband Francois Jeantet will be there to support the maîtres chocolatiers, pastry chefs, chocolate companies, fashion designers and the many participants in the chocolate business. One of the biggest events of the salon is the defilée du chocolat, every afternoon at 17:00 p.m.. It is recommended to find a seat well before the beginning as it can be crowded quickly. The theme for this edition is the magical world of chocolate.
Some of the duos are Laurent Robatel from Villars chocolatier & Marie-Hélène Prongué from the Ecole de Fribourg, the Confiserie Speck & Denise Batumike, the Confiserie Sprüngli & Balseca Weber, Bäckerei-Konditorei Fleischli & Peppermilla and Favarger & Victoria von Fliedner and Christine Carrupt. The visitors will elect their Miss Choco and the name will be released on the last day of the fair.
Chocolate dress from Laurent Robatel (Villars Maitre Chocolatier) and Marie Helene Prongué (Ecole de Couture de Fribourg) credit photo Villars Maitre Chocolat
If you would rather sit for one hour and watch a choco demonstration conducted by famous chefs or enjoy a chocolate tasting, it is all possible at the salon.
Here are a few ideas:
Chocolate Kalamansi Joghurt from Marcel Schmitutz- Copyright Clouds Restaurant
Friday April 4th
- 3:00 p.m.: Chocolate Grand Cru and Single Malt Whisky with Alois Immoos, Chocimo – GER
- 3:00 p.m.: Easter Garden, Jean-Baptiste Jolliet from Guignard Desserts – FR
- 4:00 p.m.: Live chocolate dessert demo with Marcel Schmitutz from Clouds Gastro in Zurich – GER
- 5.40 p.m.: Behind the scenes – the making of the Favarger chocolate dress – ENG
Matcha chocolate – copyright Véronique Gray
Saturday April 5th
- Noon: Maracaibo chocolate mousse from Lars Hellenbrand & Katrin Holzer from the Dolder Grand – GER
- 1:00 p.m.: Rolf Caviezel from Carma – GER
- 4:00 p.m.: About Matcha and Lassi chocolates with Roger Greiner and Pascal Beschle – GER
- 2:00 p.m.: Tuscan Love with Thomas Sporrer from the Gstaad Palace – GER
- 2:00 p.m.: Creation of a chocolate tablet with Grand Cru couverture, Fechlin – GER
Sunday April 6th
Antonino Alampi and Felix Oeder in front of Il Casale in Wetzikon – copyright Veronique Gray
- 11:00 a.m.: Culture, Art and Cacao – the magic GER-ENG
- Noon & 1:00 p.m.: Fabian Sänger Sweet Inspirations – GER
- 2:00 p.m.: Chocolate tart with caramel with Antonino Alampi & Felix Oeder from Il Casale in Wetzikon – GER
- 4:00 p.m.: Dessert with white chocolate and rhubarb, Patrick Reiterer from Mesa Restaurant in Zurich – GER
- 4:00 p.m.: Pairing wine & Champagne with chocolate, Kat Morse Swiss Champagne Ambassador – ENG
The Suteria maîtres-chocolatiers will have live demonstrations at their stand of their famous Champagne truffes.
Suteria truffes and pralines – copyright Véronique Gray
If you come with your children, there are numerous things which could interest them like the patisserie ateliers. As well childcare is provided in Chocoland.
The fair is definitely a plus for all chocolate lovers!
When is it? From April 4th to April 6th
Time: 10:00 a.m. 7:00 p.m. every day Price: 18 CHF, 9 CHF for children from 6 to 12
Where: Zurich Messe in Oerlikon
More information here.
