While in Neuchâtel, we visited the local art and history museum (Musée d’art et d’histoire, click above to see full size image). They are running an exhibition on the accomplishments of a local chocolatier, Phillipe Suchard, titled “Le monde selon Suchard” (The world according to Suchard).  Phillipe was born in 1797 near Neuchâtel and opened his factory in 1826 in Serrières which is very close to where I will be working.  By the end of the 19th century, his company, Suchard, was the largest chocolate producer in Europe.  His biography is on Wikipedia at  Suchard wiki.

They also make Sugus (瑞士糖) which I remember fondly since it was one of the most popular candy to stock in a Chinese new year candy box.

The exhibition included his laboratory instruments, production equipments, period advertising art and objects, and a wall of moulds, including easter eggs and bunnies.

At the end of the exhibition, we were given a fresh sample of the milk chocolate to taste.  My video below just cannot show how warm and smooth it was.  According to the museum’s calendar, they would be holding many chocolate-related events including a Grande Fête du Chocolat in October, which was described as:

Les Plaisir du chocolat au musée.  Démonstration, fabrication et dégustation par des confiseurs chocolatiers neuchâtelois …

Sounds fun, no? I am tempted even though I am not a fan of chocolate. We felt as if we wandered into the film set of Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory – the atmosphere of the museum is definitely more Gene Wilder’s original than Johnny Depp’s remake.  It was Scrumdidilyumptuous !

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDk7rbpHw2w&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0]