I came across The Valentine Cake (aka Le Valentin) in Paris along 30 passage Jouffroy, a cute passageway in the center of Paris during a recent December visit. As a way to get out of the cold and get a late afternoon caffeine boost, a friend of mine and I ducked in this inviting and quaint chocolate-rich cafe which has been open since 1994.
The cafe is woman-owned (yay) — Odile Yver — who I had a chance to meet during our visit. Products headlight “plums of Lorraine”, jams, pastries, cakes, dark chocolate cakes and a wide selection of teas. Valrhona partner, they offer quality chocolate based on traditional manufacturing with rich aromas and spices.
To give you a flavor for what you could dive into in all their glory, take a look at some of Yver’s selection, starting with the Black Forest delight. In addition to trying out their chocolate, you should meander through the Passage Jouffroy in any event and take in all the quaintness, charm and culture that the area has to offer. And if you’re still not tempted, look at the photos more slowly :-)
Dark chocolate, dark chocolate and dark chocolate.
Renee Blodgett is the founder of We Blog the World. The site combines the magic of an online culture and travel magazine with a global blog network and has contributors from every continent in the world. Having lived in 10 countries and explored nearly 80, she is an avid traveler, and a lover, observer and participant in cultural diversity.
She is also the CEO and founder of Magic Sauce Media, a new media services consultancy focused on viral marketing, social media, branding, events and PR. For over 20 years, she has helped companies from 12 countries get traction in the market. Known for her global and organic approach to product and corporate launches, Renee practices what she pitches and as an active user of social media, she helps clients navigate digital waters from around the world. Renee has been blogging for over 16 years and regularly writes on her personal blog Down the Avenue, Huffington Post, BlogHer, We Blog the World and other sites. She was ranked #12 Social Media Influencer by Forbes Magazine and is listed as a new media influencer and game changer on various sites and books on the new media revolution. In 2013, she was listed as the 6th most influential woman in social media by Forbes Magazine on a Top 20 List.
Her passion for art, storytelling and photography led to the launch of Magic Sauce Photography, which is a visual extension of her writing, the result of which has led to producing six photo books: Galapagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome, Urbanization and Ecuador.
Renee is also the co-founder of Traveling Geeks, an initiative that brings entrepreneurs, thought leaders, bloggers, creators, curators and influencers to other countries to share and learn from peers, governments, corporations, and the general public in order to educate, share, evaluate, and promote innovative technologies.
