MAROU in Tokyo: Salon du Chocolat 2013

It all started like that. We were preparing to wind down after a long day at last year’s Salon du Chocolat in Paris, and chatting with Elise, the über cool PR for the Salon over a well deserved glass of Brumont Vintage (the sweet, late-harvest 100% Tannat atomic bomb of a wine we were serving to VIPs along with our chocolate), when I received her sharp elbow in my ribs, with a hushed command to immediately go and greet the elegant Japanese lady who had just stopped in front of our stand, “You must talk to her: she’s from Isetan!” said Elise.

From this first impromptu introduction we were able to meet the Japanese buyers from Isetan and let them sample our chocolates. They in turn offered us an informal invitation to please visit the Salon du Chocolat in Tokyo that is hosted and organised by the legendary Shinjuku department store. We couldn’t possibly say no.

Fast forward 2 months and we arrived in Tokyo, breathing the cold dry winter air and ready to find out all about the local Salon du Chocolat scene. Although set in a much smaller venue than the one in Paris, the Tokyo Salon makes up for lost space with an offering that is much higher in quality, industrial players are all but absent and the accent is on beautifully presented high end artisan products.

For us, who were just visiting, the Salon offered an opportunity to meet again some old friends from the Salon, like Salon founder François Doucet and Stéphane Bonnat, or Hugo & Victor’s co-founder Sylvain Blanc.

As well as local celebrities Sadaharu Aoki and Koji Tsuchiya:

We also got to know better a few of the chocolate and pastry maestros who came to Tokyo like Sébastien Bouillet from Lyon.

After this great introduction to Tokyo we are now hoping to make the cut for exhibiting at the 2014 edition of the Salon. がんばろう！