Beginning Nov. 15 until Jan. 15, 2017, Chef Gilles Marchal will set up Maison Chaudun from Paris for the first time in Hong Kong and exclusively at the Mandarin Cake Shop. This is the perfect indulgence for a holiday season gift. Chef Marchal will bring his selection of the world’s greatest classic chocolates to Hong Kong, including dark, milk and pavés.

The signature of Maison Chaudun is the pavé, a little square of ganache dusted with bitter cocoa powder, embodying the combination of sophistication and simplicity. The fresh, melting soft chocolate fuses perfectly with the cocoa. The ganache requires a long process as it is made from three types of chocolate combined with whipped cream and left to mature for 24 hours. It is then cut into small squares using a guitar cutter, left to mature for another 24 hours, and then coated in bitter cocoa. The fresh chocolate is natural and free from preservatives, sugar and additives.

“Chocolate is an art form that is all about the balance,” shares Chef Marchal. “Our chocolates are about finding subtle, more elegant notes where the flavors complement each other and linger on the palate. I am honored to have been invited by the legendary Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong to share my passion especially during this magical time of the year.”

The chocolate is available at the Mandarin Cake Shop. A box of nine pavés cost HKD198 ($25) and a box of 25 costs HKD558 ($71). Maison Chaudun will also offer a variety of truffles, pralines, pain d’epice, candied confit fruit peels and more. A box of six Maison Chaudun limited-edition play cards will also be available for purchase; created using a secret recipe to celebrate the 30^th anniversary of the brand, the cards cost HKD698 ($89).