2009 Feb 13 Sweets For Your Sweet
Struggling for a Valentine’s gift? See if these chocolatiers and confectioners have anything to please your sweet-toothed sweetheart.
Cocoa Ballet
Located just a few minutes from Houhai on the tourist-baiting lane of Yandai Xiejie, this store crams a fine selection of chocolates into its tiny space. The dark chocolate is one to woo the cocoa purist in your life. Chocolates can be bought by the piece or in boxes – all are priced at RMB 29 for 50g. Daily 11.30am-11.30pm. 30 Yandai Xiejie, Xicheng District. (133 8137 7712)
可可芭蕾巧克力艺术沙龙, 西城区烟袋斜街30号
Leonidas
This Belgian chocolatier offers over 80 flavors and boasts that they use the very finest materials in the production of each. Sure to please partners of all tastes. Prices for all chocolates are fixed at RMB 88 for 100g. Daily 10am-10pm. B1/F, Shin Kong Place, 87 Jianguo Lu, Chaoyang District. (800 810 0094)
比利时列奥尼达斯巧克力 (北辰店), 朝阳区建国路87号新光天地地下1层
Debauve & Gallais
If concepts such as “heritage” and “tradition” are your loved one’s thing, Debauve & Gallais’ 200 years in the game ought to make you a popular person this Valentine’s. The ranks of the brand’s fan club are said to number European royal families and non-regal celebrities; you can join the elites by splashing out from as little as RMB 29 per chocolate. Their “Gold Coin of Valentine” box (RMB 99) has the words “I love you” branded on every one of the chocolate coins inside – in French, naturally. Daily 10am-9pm. L423, 4/F, Seasons Place, 2 Jinchengfang Jie, Xicheng District. (6622 0071)
黛堡嘉莱, 西城区金城坊街2号金融街购物中心L423
Fauchon
This international brand brought luxury French chocolates to the high-end Chinese consumer a few years back with its first branch in the Middle Kingdom. Another one for history-loving lovers, Fauchon has been doing its chocolatey thing for 120 years. Erstwhile fans of Nirvana might enjoy their heart-shaped boxes of chocolates (RMB 180), a special Valentine’s Day treat. Daily 10am-10pm. B1-2/F, Shin Kong Place, 87 Jianguo Lu, Chaoyang District. (6533 1266 ext 8008)
馥颂美食精品店, 朝阳区建国路87号新光天地地下1层
Qiaole Fang
The decor is warm and sweet, but this small store’s main attractions are its handmade chocolates, which the customers can even make themselves. This is your best bet for winning the heart of an artistically inclined soul. Special Valentine’s offers include heart-shaped chocolates and RMB 160 boxes of sweet treats. Daily 11am-10pm. Bldg 1, Jiaoda Jiayuan (south gate of Jiaotong University), Haidian District. (8216 2863)
巧乐坊手工巧克力店, 海淀区交大南门交大嘉园1号楼底商
La Place
The chocolates from La Place are attractively hand-made, with the raw materials all imported from Belgium. For Valentine’s Day, the store is offering a “Valentine’s Gems” gift box (RMB 200 per box of 12) and a Rose Champagne Chocolate gift box (RMB 200 per box of 12). Daily 9am-6pm. 3, Bldg 41, Xinyuan Jie, Chaoyang District. (6466 8090)
朝阳区新源街41楼3号
Awfully Chocolate
Famous for its chocolate cakes, Awfully Chocolate is offering cute heart-shaped gateaux for Valentine’s Day. Choose from their original chocolate cake (RMB 150 for 6-inch cake), chocolate cake with rum and cherry (RMB 190 for 6-inch cake), and banana chocolate cake (RMB 180 for 6-inch cake). Besides the cakes, the store also has delicious chocolates on sale including chocolate truffles (RMB 78 per box) and chocolate truffles with coffee liqueur (RMB 85 per box). 1) Daily 10am-9pm. Rm 108, Bldg 2, Wanda Plaza, 93 Jianguo Lu, Chaoyang District. (5820 5826, beijing@awfullychocolate.com.cn); 2) Daily 9am-9pm. Bldg 2, Carrefour Shopping Center, Zhongguancun Plaza, Haidian District. (5172 2511) www.awfullychocolate.com.cn
1) 朝阳区建国路93号万达广场2号楼108; 2) 海淀区中关村家乐福购物中心B2楼(肯德基旁)
Compiled by Wang Xueqiao; this article was originally published in agenda
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