Looking for creative holiday gifts for your loved ones that don’t break the bank? Chocolates are a safe bet (most of the time) and can sweep your loved ones off their feet.
This Christmas, you can spread joy, cheer and sweetness through a handcrafted chocolate collection from your favourite Burnaby patisserie, Mon Paris.
Mon Paris Patisserie is a one-stop shop for all things chocolate this holidays — its Christmas menu has a collection of signature treats and handcrafted chocolate creations aimed at delighting the loved ones on your gift list.
For pastry chef Elena Krasnova, holiday dessert planning is a piece of cake.
One of their signature holiday menu items is the traditional Yule logs, with unconventional flavours. “Each creation has its own unique personality and flavour combination, adding personal expression to your festive table,” Krasnova said.
Since opening in 2017, the Yule logs (Mon Paris Bûches de Noël) have always had a place on the menu for the holidays, she said. One Mon Paris Bûches de Noël can serve eight, and comes in three flavours.
Yule logs are available to order now for pickup from Dec. 22 through Dec. 24.
The new blue-yule log addition to the menu is called "Blackcurrant Jingle Bells," which is a decadent blackcurrant mousse and blueberry compote with vanilla biscuit and cream. Krasnova said the flavour for the Christmas pastry was inspired by one of the year-round bestsellers.
The other two Christmas favourites are "Cranberry Cheer," which is a cranberry and ruby-chocolate crunch filled with vanilla crème brûlée, redcurrant confit, and almond biscuit with cranberry mousse and "Chocolate Speculoos," which is a spiced vanilla crémeaux and ginger biscuit with dark chocolate mousse.
Other than the pastries, the patisserie also has other holiday chocolate gifts which can be ordered for pickup.
They have chocolate holiday trees that are made with milk or dark chocolate and a variety of nuts and dried fruits.
For the ginger-haters, who want to have their version of a gingerbread house, the patisserie has a chocolate "gingerbread" house, available in milk-chocolate — all decked up for the holidays. Edible decorative Christmas tree ornaments are available in milk or dark chocolate flavours, containing two signature truffles.
And if you want to add a touch of tradition and gift flowers to your chocolate-loving loved ones, their signature poinsettia flower pot, is available in milk, dark, and ruby chocolate for devouring as soon as the present is opened.
The patisserie also has cylinder-shaped chocolate bars that include three seasonal flavours including chestnut and rum in dark chocolate, speculoos and raspberry in white chocolate, and lime cheesecake in milk chocolate.
"We always do different designs on the ornaments," the pastry chef said. "Last year it was a snowman with few truffles around in in the box. This year we have a chocolate gingerbread house filled with truffles inside. We always brainstorm [for ideas] around mid summer. We don't want to do the same collection every year, so some items stay and some change every year."
