In addition to the very seasonal Pumpkin Pique-Nique Bistro Bar that Chocolat Moderne sent me last weekend, I was also fortunate enough to receive yet another Bistro Bar – the Hazelnut Hysterie.
Packaged similarly to the Pumpkin Pique-Nique, it also featured the same bar-style blocks with smooth, intense dark chocolate base. The chocolate itself has a subtle coffee taste, and perhaps a hint of a vanilla undertone.
The praline inside is sweet and creamy, features bits of well-roasted, flavorful hazelnuts. There are also some bits of candied hazelnuts scattered throughout, and while they balance well with the dark chocolate bar, they are just a little too big for my liking, though not so much so that I couldn’t appreciate the praline.
The praline was soft, which is how I prefer my pralines, though this resulted in a bit of the thick chocolate bar breaking away from the praline during bites. As with the Pumpkin Pique-Nique, I would also prefer a higher ratio of praline to bar coating, though I’m not sure that’s structurally possible in this bar format. It appears that Chocolat Moderne offers traditional molded chocolates; perhaps those would present the ratio I’m looking for. I’ll have to procure some and try them out.
Ok sooo I'm officially craving chocolate!!! This looks SO amazing. I love chocolate with a hint of coffee :)
ReplyDeleteFellow veggie lover :) - if you like chocolate with hints of coffee, see if you can find the Vosges Creole bar - http://districtchocoholic.blogspot.com/2010/10/vosges-bars-creole.html
ReplyDeleteOh my, this one sounds divine.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely. I want to go check out their "chocolate laboratory" (their words).
ReplyDeleteOh, I'm so envious! I finished up my last chocolat moderne the other week, and now I have to find out that these ones exist over in your country! *sobs*
ReplyDeleteAh well. That's what we chocolate bloggers do, I guess! Make it so others can live vicariously through us ;)
Yeah, we have to live through each other, or organize exchanges. I see the British chocolate bloggers going on and on about Hotel Chocolat, and get upset until I remember that I can get Vosges. At the grocery store ;).
ReplyDeleteThanks for two great reviews, Victoria! We would love it if you came to visit. Just so you know, we also have a fabulous Espresso Moderne Bar, which has toffee infused with Illy espresso: http://store.chocolatmoderne.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=7_45&products_id=184
ReplyDelete@The District Chocoholic
@Lauren I am so, so excited to get myself to NYC to check out your chocolate laboratory, among other things. And lily espresso??? WOW. So creative.
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