Lorette is the chocolate shop beloved of all Eurocrats working around the Schuman Quarter. Tucked away in a little side-street, I almost wonder whether this was the inspiration for the book Chocolat. The window displays, regularly changed, positively dazzle and light up a very humdrum neighbourhood, and the Flemish lady owner is a delight to meet, almost therapist rather than chocolatier.
The speculoos and marzipan and almond bars could give you a coronary, but they're divine and a bargain at about EUR3. The chocolates themselves are extraordinary - she uses only the very finest Belgian chocolate, and you'll find dark chocolate ripped apart by a sudden rush of flavours that she'll tease you to identify before telling you what they are. She will give you sample after sample, and wraps everything extremely prettily. A delight of a shop, and so much more lively than the Godivas and Marcolinis of Brussels. Come Christmas and Easter, you won't just find eggs and trees, but chocolate squirrels, shoes and all sorts of wonderful things. Go forth and savour! read more