A pleasant visit to Debauve & Gallais, Chocolatier to the king's of France.

Debauve & Gallais is a French chocolate manufacturer founded by Sulpice Debauve in 1800. After his nephew Antoine Gallais joined the company in 1823, the company adopted their current name. In 1819 the company received the royal warrant as purveyors to the French court, and was the official chocolate supplier for Emperor Napoleon and of kings Louis XVIII, Charles X and Louis Philippe.

Two Decembers ago while planing my month long Paris vacation a good friend told me "Do not to miss going to Debauve & Gallais, it was designed by Percier and Fontaine" That's all I needed to hear. Percier and Fontaine were some of the best architects and designers in the world. I had heard about this place before but not being a big fan of chocolate I never sought the place out. On this trip I thought I would give it a try. I'm glad I did. Upon arriving in front of the shop I was taken back by the outstandingly beautiful original Neoclassical exterior. I had to cross the street and take this in for a few moments. Soon I entered the shop and was amazed even more by the tastefully decorated original 1819 interior. The only chocolate I love is chocolate covered orange peels. In French called "Orangette". 

I discovered these years ago while vacationing in Belgium. I bought a pack of Orangettes as a gift and decided to taste one. The rest was history. I had fallen in love. At Debauve & Gallais I bought a pound of Orangettes for 60 euros and a lot of other stuff to give as gifts such as the Pistoles made for French Queen Marie Antoinette. Sulpice Debauve (1757-1836), former chemist to French king Louis XVI, devised "the novel combination of cocoa, cane sugar, and medicine after Marie Antoinette complained to him about the unpleasant taste of the medicines she had to take. The queen was so pleased that she named those exquisite coin-shaped chocolates Pistoles. Debauve continued to create a variety of flavored Pistoles for the queen.

When I first entered the shop I was by myself but soon the shop filled with eager customers buying chocolate presents for Christmas! The man that waited on me was so nice and gave me a book on the history of the Chocolatier. I also bought some wonderful fruit candy Nougat that keep me coming back to this beautiful store during the rest of my stay in Paris. It was a joy and pleasure to visit this historic Paris Chocolatier. Now no visit to Paris is complete without stopping by this fabulous chocolate shop on rue des Saint-Pères a few times!

The Debauve & Gallais chocolate shop on rue des Saint-Pères, near Saint-Germain-des-Prés, has been operating in the same location for almost 200 years.

The elegant window displays at Debauve & Gallais are always worth a pause. 

Some of the original Neoclassical decorations on the front of the shop. In 1819, Napoleon's official architects Percier and Fontaine designed the new shop, which is now classified as a historical monument, located at 30 Rue des Saints-Pères. 

Some of the original Neoclassical decorations on the front of the shop. In 1819, Napoleon's official architects Percier and Fontaine designed the new shop, which is now classified as a historical monument, located at 30 Rue des Saints-Pères. 

n 1816, Debauve was appointed as the sole chocolate supplier to the French royal families.

Debauve & Gallais’ signature items include its chocolate pistoles, small discs of chocolate that vary according to cacao content (ranging from 45 per cent to 99 per cent) and flavorings (almond oil, bitter coffee, Bourbon vanilla and orange blossom).

The 1819 design of the boutique's Neoclassical interior is by Percier and Fontaine, Napoleon's official architects and interior designers. 

The 1819 design of the boutique's Neoclassical interior is by Percier and Fontaine, Napoleon's official architects and interior designers. 

In 1818, Debauve’s main shop was moved to its present location on rue des Saints-Pères (7th arr.), where Debauve formed a partnership with his nephew, who was also a chemist.

Balzac, Proust and Brillat-Savarin were regulars at the new store.

At its height, the company had a “chain”of 65 boutiques throughout France. Today, the company has two shops in Paris, with the second one located on rue Vivienne.

A self portrait 

Candy fruit under a 19th century dome. 

A nice early 19th century display counter 

Tasting chocolates - according to Sulpice Debauve

Purveyor to French kings and a must for all true connoisseurs, Debauve & Gallais is pleased to offer a singular range of dark chocolates featuring an exceptional grade of aromatic cocoa (many consisting of 72%, 85%, even 99% cocoa) aimed at an exclusive clientele of chocolate purists. Many aesthetes and gourmands have attempted to define the rules for chocolate tasting. For our part, we offer several reflections made by our founder, Sulpice Debauve, on the subject. These reflections were taken from correspondence dating back to the 1830s and reveal his thoughts on the ideal circumstances, moment, and methods of tasting.

FIRST RULE: Circumstances - a spiritual state

According to the Aztec culture, cocoa - or Theobroma - is the drink of the gods. Like many of the most refined foods, cocoa tasting requires a clean palate. Tasting should be a moment of meditation, an opportunity to escape the stresses of daily life and renew our sense of true values. "It is important, above all, to take one's time and to make each moment of tasting a moment of eternity. Serene, surrounded by loved ones, with a calm spirit - allow yourself to become absorbed in the taste of the chocolate."

SECOND RULE: The moment - heightening one's awareness of tastes and aromas

The ideal moment for tasting a dark chocolate bonbon is between meals. In effect, hunger sharpens the perception of cold aromas while the beginning of the digestive process awakens the perception of hot aromas. It is also possible to approach tasting in this way: before meals, taste "hot aromas" - in this case, ganaches - and after meals, taste only "cold aromas" - or pralinés. "The palate appreciates all best when its tasting ability isn't muddled by a pressing hunger or the saturation of the tastebuds following a large meal."

My girl Marie Antoinette. 

THIRD RULE: Methods - perception and enjoyment of the details

Debauve's instructions for eating chocolates are precise: Place a chocolate in the middle of your tongue. Chew slowly, several times. Let the chocolate linger for several seconds, during which time you may notice a warm sensation from the outer coating of cocoa as it melts on the tongue. The bonbon - still resting on the palate - then begins to withdraw into a blend of subtle aromas until finally it overwhelms the palate with all of the richness of its flavors.

The 1819 design of the boutique's Neoclassical exterior is by Percier and Fontaine, Napoleon's official architects and interior designers. 

In 1823, Debauve took in his nephew Jean-Baptiste Auguste Gallais (1787-1838), also a chemist, as an associate in order to create and distribute his dietary chocolates; known then as "healthy chocolates" they were made with almond milk, vanilla and orange blossom water. Gallais published four years later in 1827 his Monographie du cacao ou manuel de l'amateur de chocolat which offered a scientific approach to chocolate.

My Orangettes & the outstanding fruit candy Nougat that keep me coming back to this beautiful store during the rest of my stay in Paris.  Washed down with a 1830's Louis Philippe flute of Vueve Clicquot. 

The elegant window displays at Debauve & Gallais are always worth a pause. 

Debauve & Gallais claims to be one of the few former royal suppliers in France who retain their independence, and are family owned and operated till today. In 1989, Madame Paule Cuvelier took over the Debauve & Gallais establishment. With the help of her son, Bernard Poussin, Debauve & Gallais have now expanded their business worldwide and have offices in New York, Seoul, Dubai, Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, Bucharest, Taipei, Hong Kong, Beijing, Nanjing, Shanghai, and Chengdu. The New York branch was run by Yoo Byung-eun's son Keith H. Yoo.

Debauve & Gallais offer a wide range of dark chocolates whose cocoa percentage comes as high as 99%. Over time they have built a cult following among gourmands, aristocrats, artists, writers and celebrities.

The elegant window displays at Debauve & Gallais are always worth a pause. 

Some of my Debauve & Gallais Chocolates displayed in my Paris apt-  Marie Antoinette chocolate coins. These were first developed for Queen Marie Antoinette in order to ease her distaste for taking medicine.

My son Cyprian stops by my Paris apt for a visit and enjoys a Louis Philippe glass of sparkling Peach wine & Debauve & Gallais Royal chocolates!  

Debauve & Gallais

30, rue des Saints-Pères, 75007 Paris

Tel. +33 (0)1 45 48 54 67

Métro: Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Sèvres-Babylone

Hours: Mon. to Sat. 9:00am to 7pm

Other locations in Paris:

33, rue Vivienne, 75002 Paris

Tel. +33 (0)1 40 39 05 50

Métro: Bourse or Grands Boulevards

Hours: Mon. to Sat. 9:00am to 7pm

For Debauve & Gallais international locations, click here.

Today's Purchases

This is just some of the goodies I bought at the estate sale 

It has been some time since I wrote a "Today's Purchases" Post. Since the last Today's' Purchases almost 2 years ago. I have moved from Mobile, Alabama to New Orleans, Louisiana  a year and a half ago. The last estate sale I went to was about a year ago. I was in Mobile a few weeks ago and was convinced to come down for the June estate sale. I'm very happy I did, as you will see.  

This month’s estate sale was a fabulous sale. I got everything I wanted on the first day and the things I waited for on 60% off day Sunday.  Each month this sale have over twenty thousand items to look at. I try to look at each table twice or more so that I don’t miss anything but sometimes I still do only to discover it on Sunday the last day of the sale and best day of the sale because the items are 60% off the marked price. 

This is just some of the goodies I bought at the estate sale

Perhaps the rarest and most sought after piece of Early Louisiana furniture by Early Louisiana furniture collectors is the Louisiana made cabriole leg table. Under 30 good cabriole leg tables are known to survive. I'm lucky to own a original 18th century one. I bought a very good reproduction of a Early Louisiana table in Mobile, Alabama a few weeks before the estate sale. The owner had this table copied from a original that he sold to the LSU Museum of Art. 

The original is considered one of the most beautiful of early Louisiana tables.  Early Louisiana cabriole leg tables are a unique regional style that blends French and Spanish refinement with country simplicity. They were used as tea tables, dressing table and could be found in just about every room in a 18th early 19th c, Louisiana home. This Louisiana-style table features delicate cabriole legs and a fancy scalloped aprons while the lack of carvings, inlays, or other complex details lends a rustic feel. The table legs are joined to the aprons with pegged mortise-and-tenons.

The original owner of this cabriole leg table is a Alabamian, who moved to Louisiana and embrace the unique culture, furniture, decorative arts and architecture of Historic Louisiana. I'm proud that this fine copy is now in my collection.  I latter found out that most of the pieces that I latter bought at the estate sale also came from his wonderful collection out of New Orleans and would be returning back to New Orleans with me. 

French Charles X  double handled Paris porcelain soup bowl $5.

Since my astrological sign is Leo. I decided at this sale to start to collecting Lion related antiques and decorative arts.  I was happy to find this circa 1820 period Charles X Paris porcelain broth bowl in good condition for $5. This type of two handled bowl is extremely rare and were custom made like this one for Noble family's. Most have lids. But this one most likely did not as anything that had a cover the rims were not glazed. This bowl has a glazed gilt rim.  It has a beautiful crowned Noble family shield painted on the front with standing lion. 

18th century Italian  Engraving of Hercules $10.

18th century Italian engraving of of Hercules, from the book "Le Pitture Antiche D'Ercolano" and was produced over the years 1757 to 1771 in Naples and illustrated the art works found in the excavations of Herculaneum.  The book was commissioned by Charles III, the King of the two Sicilies.

I was happy to grab this fine 18th century engraving of a  nude Hercules wrestling a Lion. I have a few gold leaf 18th century French frames that have got from this estate sale in the past that I can have this framed in. 

Crystal etched lion mug by  Ward, Rowland $5.

London, England & Nairobi, Kenya (1880 to present) 

The Rowland Ward company made its name in the late 19th & early 20th Centuries as taxidermists, specializing in African big game animals. Responding to demand, the company expanded into actually arranging safaris & retailing all kinds of goods connected with them, including crystal vases & drinking-glasses, engraved with African animals, usually made in Bohemia & Germany 

My beer will taste divine out of this hand cut and etched vintage mug with lion by The Rowland Ward company.  

A pair of 19th century wine glasses $3. I call these Peter Patout glasses. After my deer friend Peter Patout. Peter a French Louisiana Creole aristocracy! He is a great antiques dealer, collector and fabulous host. If you called upon Peter you might drink wine out of glasses like this.    

American Wine glass circa 1870. $1.

A late Georgian Dipped refined white earthenware mug with white sprig molding in a Hunt motif.  

Although unmarked, this mug was possibly made by English potters Turner or 

Spode, circa 1810. $15. 

The Mug has an applied handle finished with an acanthus type motif the top of the mug features a classical turned border and overall it is styled similarly to Mocha Ware pottery of the era. 

This Antique Cider Cup features what is called sprigged decoration which was the method of applying the cameo like details to the pottery in the manner of Wedgwood Jasper Stoneware.

This nice Old Paris porcelain platter was $25. Circa 1840-1860. 

I love pre 1860 books. This estate sale has been a great source for gilt tooled leather bound books. I got this box full priced $1-$15. 

1828 7 books about Jews priced at $1. a piece. 

Maryland armorial bookplate on 6 gold tooled books I got $5. each. 

18th century German book 

18th century German armorial engraved bookplate

French book 1830 

4 silt damask curtains panels 8 feet wide by 10 feet long, they have to be Scalamandre. $70. 

A Mahogany and gilt bronze ormolu Louis Philippe side chair that needs some TLC on cabriole legs terminating in scroll feet. Circa 1830, $75. With in min of doing research on this chair I discovered a French cabinetmaker that I could attribute it to.  

Joseph-Pierre-François Jeanselme was one of the founding members of the Jeanselme family furniture dynasty. The Jeanselme family firm was one of the foremost firms of cabinet makers in Paris, from its foundation in 1824 until its demise in 1930. During the forties and fifties of the 19th Century they received several commissions to furnish several palaces amongst which Fontainbleau and the Palais Royal.

Although my chair could be stamped Jeanselme, it was upholstered at a latter date with springs and dust cover that could be covering the stamp. I found these two lite blue chairs are exactly like my chair but they don't have the pricey hand chased ormolu   

Another stamped Jeanselme sikde chair 

A stamped Jeanselme arm chair 

My chair appears as tho it has been in a attic or basement for a 100 years. But for $75. it will be well worth the investment it would take to get this charming chair back in style. 

The hand chased ormolu features Classical winged griffin with lyre on the crest 

The profile of the chair is nice. 

The sides of the chair has ormolu in the shape of Classical anthemion palmettes.  

I was in love with this large Louis Philippe framed engraving, but at $245. I wanted to see if I could get it Sunday 60% off. 

The gilt 1831 Frame had nice NeoClassical molding 

Just to show you how big the framed print is it is shown next to the Louis Philippe side chair. 

The framed engraving is all original with original glass and backer on the frame that has never been open. 

The stamp on the back of the framer 

I got the date 1831 Louis Philippe engraving on Sunday 60% off at $98. 

I feel in love with this 18th century French Beechwood carved Louis XVI bergère circa 1780-1790. 

Priced at $110. I could have got it but wanted to see if I could get it 60% off. 

On nice stop-fluted tapering legs.

On Sunday I got the 18th century French Louis XVI bergère at 60% off priced at $44. 

I'm not crazy about the fabric on the bergère. I need to look thru my Lyon silk lampas. I like this pattern Lampas titled "Les quatres parties du monde", Lyon France, c. 1785, but maybe in a light blue for the bergère. 

I got this Petit  Decanter on Sunday 60% off of $25. It has a purplish tent to it. 

6 large English Mother of Pearl Handled Dinner Knives with hallmarks circa 1830. Were priced at $10 each but I got them on Sunday for $4. each. 

I love the carved Mother of Pearl Handles