Attention chocoholics! From now until 19 February 2012, Harbour City in Tsim Sha Tsui has been transformed into a chocolate lover's paradise with the third annual "Chocolate Trail" exhibition.
A five-metre tall chocolate fountain, complete with syrup oozing from the top with a rich chocolate scent awaits, along with a colourful macaron tree and jumbo-sized desserts like cupcakes and donuts scattered around the mall.
While the displays themselves are (unfortunately) inedible, simply make your way over to the "Chocolate Kingdom" where you'll be able to sample over 20 different gourmet chocolate brands from around the world, including:
- agnès b. DÉLICES (France)
- COVA Pasticceria & Confetteria (Italy)
- Debailleul (Belgium)
- GODIVA Chocolatier (Belgium)
- Häagen-Dazs™ (United States)
- Jean-Paul Hévin Chocolatier (France)
- Leonidas (Beligum)
- Library Café (Hong Kong)
- Movenpick (Swiss)
- Paul Lafayet (Hong Kong)
- ROYCE’ (Japan)
- Venchi (Italy)
- Armani Dolci (Italy)
- Chez Shibata (Japan)
- Coppeneur (Germany)
- De Neuville (France)
- Goossens Chocolatier (Belgium)
- La Madeleine de Proust (France)
- La Maison du Chocolat (France)
- Let Them Eat Cake (Hong Kong)
- Lucullas (Hong Kong)
- MiO MiKO Belgian Chocolates & Coffee (Belgium)
- Thomas Haas (Canada)
Not sure where to start? We asked Hong Kong-based food and travel writer Chan Chun Wai to give us his top three recommendations:
1. Coppeneur
What: "This German chocolate brand is in Hong Kong for the first time and its Venezuelan Porcelana bar is rated the number one chocolate bar in the world by industry review, slightly ahead of my all-time favourite Amedei," said Chan.
Must-try: "The Champagne hearts are just superb. Its champagne cream filling is full of champagne flavour, making it great for any festive event as well as any other day."
2. Thomas Haas
What: Known for their famous 'Sparkle' cookie, this Canadian chocolate brand has created new macaron flavours just for the Chocolate Trail event.
Must-try: "The gold and the silver macarons are my favourites because their colours go so well with Chinese New Year," Chan explained. "The gold one is dark chocolate with mandarin, and the silver one is liquorice and vanilla. Both are cute and sparkling but never too sweet."
3. Chez Shibata
What: "Chef Shibata is a top patisserie chef in Japan who has culinary experience at Escoffier Hotel and Chez Mirabelle in France," said Chan. "His cakes and chocolates show how French cooking techniques can be combined with the Japanese's obsessive attention to details."
Must-try: The New-Yorker chocolate-covered walnuts and the Trois d'amour, a trio of chocolate and nuts.
Besides indulging in world class chocolates, the Harbour City Chocolate Trail also gives you a chance to immerse yourself in the world of chocolate with a 'Chocolate Magic' photo exhibition, a chocoholics' surreal world art exhibition, a "Little Chef of Chocolate" workshop and various charity sales. For more information, visit www.harbourcity.com.hk.
