Salon du Chocolat et de la Pâtisserie launched its first edition in Dubai at the iconic Galeries Lafayette — The Dubai Mall, on Thursday 12 May.

The opening ceremony was held in the presence of H.E. Consul General of France in Dubai Nathalie Kennedy, Gerald Palacios, president of the organizing body of Salon du Chocolat France, chefs, industry professionals and media.

Joumana Dammous-Salamé, managing director of Hospitality Services, the event organizer, welcomed guests and spoke about the importance of bringing such an exciting event to the UAE. “Dubai is a dynamic city and a gastronomy capital. We are thrilled to be debuting Salon du Chocolat et de la Pâtisserie here and look forward to three outstanding days of sweet delights.”

Dedicated to those who share a passion for chocolate and pastry, the much-loved show brings together professional chocolate tasters, chocolatiers, chocolate aficionados, authors and pastry chefs for a rich program of chocolate-inspired events. From May 12 to May 14, visitors will be able to meet more than 50 exhibitors and watch more than 30 pastry chefs in action. Special features include: the Fashion Show, in collaboration with ESMOD Dubai; the Pastry Show, where pastry chefs will host workshops; the Choco Démo, a space to mingle with influencers and food bloggers; an area for children to get creative with chocolate; and three chocolate competitions for amateurs.

“All the chocolate art and sculptures have been specially created for the show by Idriss B,” said Maha El Khoury, projects and sales director at Hospitality Services. She added that visitors have plenty to enjoy: exploring stands, sampling and buying chocolate, and attending special workshops and masterclasses with renowned chefs from around the world. “We are expecting several thousand attendees over the coming days. There really is something for everyone,” El Khoury added.

Established in Paris in 1994, the exhibition has become a reference for chocolate enthusiasts, with events taking place in New York, Tokyo, London, Brussels, Cologne, Lyon, Moscow, Shanghai, Marseille, Zurich, Cannes, Bordeaux, Monaco, Milano, Hong Kong, Beirut and many other cities.

After the success of Salon du Chocolat Beirut, which was established in 2014 by Hospitality Services, Dubai has become the second city in the Middle East and the 13th in the world for this chocolate extravaganza.

In addition to Dubai, Salon du Chocolat will be debuting in Riyadh this year. Set to take place in November, more details will be announced soon.