Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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Chocolate Shops
Bruggians are connoisseurs of fine chocolate. You'll be tempted by chocolate-filled display
windows all over town. While Godiva is the best big-factory/high-price/high-quality brand,
thereareplentyofsmallerfamily-runplacesinBrugesthatofferexquisitehandmadechocol-
ates. All three of the following chocolatiers are proud of their creative varieties, generous
with their samples, and welcome you to assemble a 100-gram assortment of five or six
chocolates.
Dumon:
Perhaps Bruges' smoothest, creamiest chocolates are at Dumon, just off the
Markt (a selection of 5 or 6 chocolates are a deal at €2.30/100 grams). Nathalie Dumon
runs the store with Madame Dumon still dropping by to help make their top-notch chocolate
daily and sell it fresh (Wed-Mon 10:00-18:00, closed Tue, old chocolate molds on display in
basement,Eiermarkt6,tel.050-346-282).TheDumonsdon'tprovideEnglishlabelsbecause
they believe it's best to describe their chocolates in person—and they do it with an evangel-
ical fervor. Try a small mix-and-match box to sample a few out-of-this-world flavors, and
come back for more of your favorites.
The Chocolate Line:
Locals and tourists alike flock to The Chocolate Line (pricey at
€5.60/100grams)totastethe
gastronomique
varietiesconcoctedbyDominiquePerson—the
mad scientist of chocolate. His unique creations mix chocolate with various, mostly savory,
flavors. Even those that sound gross can be surprisingly good (be adventurous). Options in-
clude Havana cigar (marinated in rum, cognac, and Cuban tobacco leaves—so, therefore,
technically illegal in the US), lemongrass, lavender, ginger (shaped like a Buddha), saffron
curry,spicychili,Moroccanmint,PopRocks/colachocolate,winevinegar,friedonions,bay
leaf, sake, lime/vodka/passion fruit, wasabi, and tomatoes/olives/basil. The kitchen—busy
whipping up 80 varieties—is on display in the back. Enjoy the window display, refreshed
monthly (daily 9:30-18:00 except Sun-Mon opens at 10:30, between Church of Our Lady
and the Markt at Simon Stevinplein 19, tel. 050-341-090).
ConfiserieDeClerck:
Third-generationchocolatemakerJansellshishandmadechocol-
ates for just €1.20/100 grams, making this one of the best deals in town. Some locals
claim his chocolate's just as good as at pricier places—taste it and decide for yourself. The
time-warp candy shop itself is so delightfully old-school, you'll want to visit no matter
what (Mon-Wed and Fri-Sat 10:00-19:00, closed Sun and Thu, Academiestraat 19, tel.
050-345-338).
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Choco-Story: The Chocolate Museum
The Chocolate Fairy leads you through 2,600 years of chocolate history—explaining why,
in the ancient Mexican world of the Mayas and the Aztecs, chocolate was considered the
drink of the gods, and cocoa beans were used as a means of payment. With lots of artifacts
well-describedinEnglish,thiskid-friendlymuseumfillsyouinontheproductionoftruffles,
