Last week, Delice et Chocolat, a new French pastry and chocolate shop opened in Ardmore at 7 Station Road. (Right near the train station!)
Brothers Joseph and Antoine Amrani are the masterminds behind this sweet endeavor and are originally from France. Both also worked closely with Philly food legend Georges Perrier with Antoine as a head pastry chef at the Le Bec Fin and Joseph working on the business side.
“My brother’s art inspired my business,” says Joseph. “I was always impressed by his talent. He embodies knowledge of chocolate artisan and the artistic touch of sculptured sugar and color. His palette is sophisticated. That’s what makes him a good executive pastry chef and exceptional chocolatier and macaron maker.”
He adds, “I always worked the business side of high end restaurants. After many years of working for others we decided let’s do something for us. With the help of Angela, my wife, and my son, Nick, we combined our talents to open Delice et Chocolat.”
While the offerings at Delice et Chocolat include plenty of savory options (paninis & quiche) as well as a full coffee bar, they have a huge selection of sweet treats for the sweet tooths in all of us.
Here are five that you most definitely need to try.
Pain au chocolat
Some people call this popular pastry a chocolate croissant but technically, it’s called a pain au chocolat. (Croissant means “crescent” in French so chocolate croissant doesn’t fit the bill for this rectangular treasure trove of pastry layers and chocolate.) Whenever I go to a bakery, this is my go-to item and let me say, the pain au chocolate at Delice et Chocolat is divine. Get one to go with a latte and your day is made. Each pain au chocolat costs $2.75.
Croissant
Okay, so their traditional croissants are excellent as well. If you’re not in the chocolate mood, opt for the original and indulge in the fluffy, buttery goodness of this classic breakfast item. Close your eyes for a second while eating it, and you’ll feel like you’re in Paris, if only for a brief moment. Each croissant costs $2.75.
Delice et Chocolat’s line of Rocher
If you love the gold-wrapped balls of Ferrero Rocher at the grocery store, kick things up a notch with this house-made variety. Coconut, Italian wafer, rice crisps, caramel and chocolate layers combine for a truly decadent chocolate experience. For $12, you can get 4.5 oz.
Chocolate truffles
What could be better than chocolate truffles? Ones that are made of chocolate caramel ganache and rolled in dark cocoa powder. These tiny balls of delight are the perfect dessert being soft, simple and sweet.
Macaron
Upon entering Delice et Chocolat, you’ll be greeted by a rainbow of macarons in flavors like lemon, lemon lavender, strawberry, and raspberry rose. Eating just one is impossible and lucky for you, they’re only $2 each.
The Toraja Cake
Hold up. Did someone say cake? You can’t leave Delice et Chocolat without trying their Toraja cake which features flourless chocolate cake, almond ginger sponge and dark chocolate mousse with a ginger creme brulee center.
The Delice
Of course, two slices of cake are better than one so you better try the shop’s signature dessert item, The Delice which is flourless chocolate cake layered with chocolate mousse. For the chocolate cake traditionalists out there, this one is definitely for you.
For more information, visit deliceetchocolat.com.
