And they’re right when they say food feeds the soul as the number of bakeries,cafes and chocolate shops I visited in the region are as much a part of the landscape as the hills and the villages themselves. What the novel does so well is to capture the French passion and love for food – food can solve all problems much like the British cup of tea. It’ s just a shame you can’t lick and taste the screen Sadly I didn’t but I did buy something that reminded me of the novel…. Could this be the inspiration for the setting of glorious Chocolat? – Nerac.

Similarly my trip to nearby Nérac, on the beautiful river Baïse was a cause for chocolate celebration as this is definitely where I expected to see Vianne.

I also found that many of the people who work there also think they live there if not judging on the number of times when someone spotted my English twang to my French and asked me if I was here because of the book. He relaxed a little and drank some chocolateĪah what a shame Lansquenet-Sous-Tannes is fictional! Having said that if you’ve ever been to the region Lot et Garonne or to the Lavardac area you will think you are there. But Vianne’s reach is even stronger and greater than she could have hoped for and chocolate has a way of making things taste great. The dark side of the chocolate comes in the form of priest Francis Reynaud, who opposes this newcomer and non-believer, and his job now is to spoil whatever Vianne has planned for her shop and for the village. Before long she is stirring up a lot more than just her latest recipe… She brings with her daughter Anouk, as well as a dose of witchcraft, and an imaginary pet rabbit Her dreams is to make fine confectionary and to see into people’s souls – good food is the food of the soul – and so she sets up a chocolate shop.

Vianne Roche blows into Lansquenet-Sous-Tannes, a (fictional) sleepy French town but apparently based on the Now this is one booktrail that I just had to go on – I mean France and French artisan chocolate?Ī procession of chocolate figures, cat, dogs, rabbits, some with raisin eyes, pink marzipan ears, tails made of liquorice-whips with sugar flowers between their teeth. The setting, the language, the story, the flavour….

Joanne harris chocolat books in order