November 2014 – Bring on the chocolate! This year to celebrate Winter, Le Royal Monceau – Raffles Paris is launching its very own chocolate bar by Pierre Hermé - known as "the Picasso of pastry" – who oversees all the pâtisserie at the Palace hotel on avenue Hoche.

From 13 November the deeply stylish Bar Long, designed by Philippe Starck, will be transformed into a homage to chocolate. Pierre Hermé has dreamed up new and wonderful ways of savouring this moreish delight especially for the occasion. Expect new chocolate sensations, textures and flavour combinations - every taste a divine immersion in chocolate pleasure.

The hardest part is knowing where to begin, but a steaming cup of hot chocolate is not a bad place to start. This is liquid chocolate heaven: Pierre Hermé has created four different hot chocolate drinks, each with its own original flavour:

- ORIGINEL - go back to the origins of cocoa with the flavours of pepper, grains and corn foam

- VIENNOIS - pure indulgence. A chocolate drink made with chantilly cream

- COMME AU 16ÈME SIÈCLE – warmed by the spices of South America

- WHISKY CHOCOLAT - rich with the perfumes and aromas of pure malt whisky, cocoa liqueur and whisky cream

For dessert Pierre Hermé has masterminded four totally indulgent treats which are guaranteed to put everyone in the Winter spirit.

- DÉLIRE DÉLICE INFINIMENT PRALINÉ NOISETTE - made with choux pastry, smooth hazelnut cream, caramelised hazelnuts, praline ice cream and hazelnut praline sauce

- AZUR – a journey through flavours, textures and temperatures. This special chocolate mousse is made with Grand Cru Manjari smooth cream and adorned with a chocolate shortbread biscuit, candied Kochi yuzu, thin slices of dried lime and yuzu sauce

- PLÉNITUDE MILLEFEUILLES- created from caramelized puff pastry, Grand Cru Araguani chocolate mascarpone cream, salted butter caramel and dark chocolate slivers with fleur de sel

And finally indulge in a chocolate trilogy:

- MENTHE FRAÎCHE - Grand Cru Caraibe chocolate cream and fresh mint granita

- INCA - Grand Cru Caraibe hot chocolate ganache, avocado and bananas compote

- ROUGE & NOIR - Grand Cru Manjari chocolate cream, Grand Cru Manjari, chantilly cream and crispy fruits in balsamic vinegar gelée

Le Royal Monceau – Raffles Paris 'Bar Chocolat by Pierre Hermé Paris'

13 November 2014 – 31 March 2015

3pm- 6pm

Drinks start from € 14 and desserts Pastries from €21

Information & Reservations: +33 (0)1 42 99 98 50 – dining.paris@raffles.com

www.leroyalmonceau.com

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Harriet Rowlinson T: 020 7421 2500

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NOTE TO EDITORS

THE ROYAL MONCEAU – RAFFLES PARIS reopened in 2010 as the most exciting 5-star luxury hotel in the City of Lights, after a dramatic and complete two-year transformation by designer Philippe Starck. The hotel has 149 luxurious rooms and suites and is just minutes from the Arc-de-Triomphe and the Champs-Elysées in Paris' 8th arrondissement. At Le Royal Monceau – Raffles Paris, art is omnipresent, with an exclusive service of Art Concierge, an Art Bookstore, a private Art Gallery, a 99-seat cinema theatre and an impressive private art collection. Food and drink are an art form here too – from the buzz of the Long Bar on the ground floor, to the two Michelin-star restaurants, 'La Cuisine' for gourmet French food and 'Il Carpaccio' for the best Italian in Paris. Not to be missed are the delicious pastries, macarons and chocolates by Pierre Hermé, considered by Vogue magazine as the 'Picasso of pastry'. The 1,500sqm Spa My Blend by Clarins is an award-winning white paradise, with the longest swimming pool in a Paris hotel. www.LeRoyalMonceau.com

RAFFLES HOTELS & RESORTS: Raffles Hotels & Resorts is an award-winning, luxury international hotel company with a history dating back to 1887 with the opening of Raffles Hotel, Singapore. The portfolio currently comprises eleven luxurious properties, from secluded resorts to city hotels in key locations around the world: in Singapore, Paris, Cambodia, China, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Philippine and most recently Istanbul. Each one is an oasis of calm and charm. The company is embarking on a new phase of expansion, with openings in Istanbul in September, and Poland and Indonesia scheduled over the next year. With a compelling mix of cultures and styles, every hotel in the Raffles family has its own individual personality, with its own story to tell and its own sense of place. However, each one is proud to draw on the timeless essence of Raffles – to deliver thoughtful, personal and discreet service to well-travelled guests.

Raffles Hotels & Resorts is owned by FRHI Holdings Ltd, a leading global hotel company with more than 110 hotels and resorts worldwide under the Raffles, Fairmont and Swissôtel brands. The company also manages Fairmont and Raffles branded residences, Estates and luxury private residence club properties. www.raffles.com

LE ROYAL MONCEAU – RAFFLES PARIS, A PROUD MEMBER OF THE LEADING HOTELS OF THE WORLD LTD: When extraordinary and one-of-a-kind intersect, you have likely found a Leading Hotel. As the largest luxury hotel collection, with more than 430 of the world's greatest properties in over 80 countries, LHW seeks out the exceptional. From grand palaces to intimate city hideaways, from ancient castles to sumptuous safari tent villages, from tropical aeries to mystical paradises, all are utterly unique and boldly independent. Each celebrates the culture of its destination, rather than trying to mask it with corporate-mandated sameness. www.lhw.com/royalmonceauparis