Co Kildare chocolate cafe rated as 'best in Ireland' in food expert's review

 A chocolate cafe in Maynooth has been described as one of the best in Ireland by a food expert in an Irish Times review that has been published yesterday.

L'Art Du Chocolat, based on Main Street in Maynooth, was subject of a review from Aoife McElwain in today's newspaper, and is run by business Patterson Nicolas Bateau and Cyril Borie from the French region of Bayonne.

Having first opened up a windowless basement premises in the K Club, the operators moved their base to Maynooth in November of last year to get some much needed sunlight.

The review describes some of the best chocolates on offer at the north Kildare store, which sound absolutely scrumptious.

"Flavoured drinks can blast the palate with sugary sweetness whereas here balance and subtlety are applied to allow space for the chocolate to shine through. I’m also impressed by the coffee (€3.10 for a cappuccino). It’s made with beans hand-roasted down the road in Celbridge by Alex Thorpe and Luigi Fanzini of Baobab Coffee Roasters. L’Art Du Chocolat’s barista draws great flavour from a Colombian bean with strong caramel and nutty tones, a taste profile very appropriate to a chocolate shop."

L'Art Du Chocolat are currently importing their beans from French Valrhona, but they have plans to become bean-to-bar in the near future, meaning they would take over the entire chocolate making process from its very origins.

The business also hosts classes to pass on their knowledge to customers, the next of which will be on Thursday April 13.