Burnaby chocolatier Christophe Bonzon says he is bringing the world's best milk chocolate to the city.
Bonzon, owner of Chez Christophe Chocolaterie Patisserie, says he recently began importing chocolate from Carma, an awarding-winning Swiss chocolate company.
In 2006, Carma's Claire blend was awarded a gold medal for the world's best milk chocolate from the Accademia Maestri Pasticceri Italiani, according to Bonzon.
"We've been in talks with this brand since last October," Bonzon says, adding he's the first chocolatier in Canada to import the brand.
As for what makes Carma unique, Bonzon says it is the creamy flavour of the chocolate.
"You can almost taste the Swiss milk in it," he says.
This year, Carma has two new lines, Seline and Caline. Bonzon is importing the company's Seline milk chocolate line, which is 38 per cent cocoa.
A big trend in the industry is working with single origin chocolate, to capture the flavour specific to the bean, Bonzon says. He is looking at bringing in single origin chocolate soon, he adds - one from Madagascar.
For now, Bonzon is working with the Seline chocolate in his chocolates and sculptures.
He recently invited the NOW to watch him create some of his sculptures and to sample the new chocolate - it was creamy and rich, with the flavour of the milk holding its own.
Bonzon, who was previously a pastry chef at Cin Cin Restaurant in Vancouver, opened the shop in Burnaby Heights this spring with his wife, Jess Bonzon.
For more on the shop, go to the Chez Christophe Chocolaterie Patisserie page on Facebook.
