Magazine declares local shop’s chocolates 1 of 9 ‘best in the world’

Conde Nast Traveler magazine’s web site has listed a Dayton-area candy shop’s chocolates as one of the nine “Best Chocolates in the World.”

In an article entitled "Where to Find the Best Chocolate in the World," Conde Nast Traveler writer Edna Ishayik singles out the Belgian chocolatier Mary as one of the world's nine best. The company operates nine shops in Belgium and exactly one in the U.S. — Madame Delluc Artisan Chocolatier at 2510 Far Hills Ave. (Ohio 48) in Oakwood. We were first to tell you about Madame Delluc's opening in December 2015.

Here’s what the magazine had to say about Mary chocolates:

“The 97-year-old chocolatier known for its eye-popping displays of bon bons is a favorite of the Belgian royal family. But its high-class tablets, packaged in charming, pastel boxes, are worthy of a taste as well. Perhaps most worthy is Mary’s 72 percent dark chocolate bar made with beans from the equatorial (and volcanic) African island of Sao Tomé.”

Madame Delluc co-founder Francoise Walusis said the Conde Nast praise represents “yet another bragging point for Dayton and Oakwood.”

Madame Delluc is the first venture of Francoise Imports, operated by Walusis and her husband John Walusis of Washington Twp., and her brother-in-law Brian Walusis of Miami Twp. Francoise Walusis is a native of Belgium whose father was a diplomat for the Belgian government. She came to Ohio 20 years ago to attend Wittenberg University.

This is not the first media shout-out that Madame Delluc has received. The shop was mentioned favorably in a column published earlier this year in "goop," an online newsletter/web magazine launched by Gwyneth Paltrow.

>> Oakwood chocolate shop scores national shout-out

In a column entitled "What Women Really Want for Valentine's Day," Kate Wolfson, Senior Editor for goop, listed several gift items that she said are all about the "grand romantic gesture." Among those items listed was the Madame Delluc box of chocolates, "Ballotin 18 Pralines."

Mary Chocolatier was founded in Brussels in 1919. The company produces its chocolates using original recipes developed by founder Marie Delluc in the 1920s.

For more information about Madame Delluc, check out its web site.

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