Frans is an institution, in Seattle but also far beyond that city. In 1970, Fran Bigelow visited Paris and, like so many of us, fell in love with its flavours…and its chocolate. She returned to Seattle and went to Culinary school before launching her first chocolate shop. Today the shop is run by her daughter and her son.

I was lucky enough to meet them while I was on a special tour visiting chocolate makers around the city as part of the Northwest Chocolate Festival at Frans Georgetown location. It is is housed in an old warehouse that has had the luxury upgrade. Here you can buy their chocolates but also watch them making them (they use their own special blend of Valrhona chocolate).

They don’t sell their hot chocolate at the Georgetown location, so I found my way to the shop in downtown Seattle on 1st street. The hot chocolate is made from 68% Dominican Republic (certified organic and fair-trade) and can be ordered as a thicker shot or in a more classic style, with or without a dollop of whip cream. It was beautiful, although served in a disposable cup which, as you know if you read my blog, I hate for not just sustainability reasons but more because often all I taste is the cardboard. There is no sit down area at Frans, just takeaway, but I wish they would put in a little espresso counter where you could stand there and have your daily shot of Frans before going back out into the rain. It was delicious. You can also buy this hot chocolate in containers to make at home.

You can’t visit Frans without also picking up some of their chocolate. One option is to buy the special virtual tasting in honour of their 40th Anniversary. For $40 you receive a box which includes many of the company’s classics and a link to listen to a video of Fran guiding you through the different products. Frans also has some interesting partnerships, including this one raising awareness of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity in support of cacao farming and sustainable farming practices using a blend specially sourced by Valhrona and with part of the proceeds going to a support local biodiversity projects.

Frans Chocolate has four locations in Seattle and two locations in Japan (one in Kobe and one in Kyoto). www.frans.com