Salon du Chocolat 2012

The Salon du Chocolat is Europe’s annual chocolate trade show, featuring some of the finest chocolatiers from around the world showing and selling their delicious creations. This year’s 18th edition is devoted to the “New Worlds of Chocolate”: new flavors, new sources for cocoa, new trends and new talents. The 150 participants include chocolate exhibiters, chefs and pâtissiers who will demonstrate their recipes on the show’s podium. Among them: chocolate stars Jean-Paul Hévin, Jean-Charles Rochoux, Henri Leroux, Pierre Marcolini, Franck Kestener and Pralus; and legendary maisons Puyricard and Boissier. Well represented is the new generation of up-and-coming chocolatiers, who will show off their skills during the special Demonstration Day for young talents. Other exhibitors include international chocolate producers and cocoa-producing countries.

Besides cocoa-based confections, there are competitions and awards, chocolate-making demonstrations; chocolate sculptures; the Cocoa Show, featuring dance, songs, rituals and traditions of cocoa-producing countries; Chocosphere—lectures (in French) on topics including chocolate and health and the history of chocolate; a bookstore, boutique and—one of the biggest annual highlights—the  runway show of chocolate-inspired fashions.

A must for all chocolate fans, and fun even for those who aren’t.

October 31–Nov 4, 2012. Porte de Versailles, 15th, Pavilions 5/2 and 5/3. Métro: Porte de Versailles. 10 am-7 pm. €13. website