French chocolate brand Valrhona is planning to officially launch its ‘new generation’ of gourmet chocolate named Dulcey in the UAE starting from this February.

The world’s first blond chocolate, Dulcey, will be introduced into the Emirates via its exclusive regional distributor, Chef Middle East, at Gourmet Abu Dhabi, the UAE’s annual haute cuisine festival which runs from February 5 to 20.

“Gourmet Abu Dhabi visitors will be able to discover this new edition to the global chocolate pantheon at a special chocolate themed dinner in the first week of the festival,” said Zeyneb Larabi, the Middle East sales manager, Valrhona.

"All I can tell you is that it is not dark chocolate, it is not milk chocolate and it is not white chocolate – smelling of toasted Breton short bread and caramelised milk with intense biscuity flavours and a creamy texture, Dulcey is a is a completely new creation by Valrhona and an irresistible chocolate taste sensation," noted Larabi.

"We expect it will totally tantalise gastronomic tastebuds when presented by our ambassador master chefs and patissiers during Gourmet Abu Dhabi," he added

Valrhona, he said, has signed up as Gourmet Abu Dhabi’s ‘Official Chocolate Partner’ while another Chef Middle East product – Les Vergers Boiron is the festival’s ‘Official Fruit & Vegetable Puree Partner.’

Chef Middle East will also feature its exclusive Sarrade French duck foiegras at a dinner event during the festival.

“With the local hospitality industry expanding at an increasing rate, and with the number of new hotels coming on line, Abu Dhabi has become an increasingly important focus for our business in the UAE,” said Frederique Simon, business development manager, Chef Middle East, which is Gourmet Abu Dhabi’s ‘Premium Gourmet Purveyor Partner.’

“We have experienced 30 to 40 per cent growth in sales of our products in Abu Dhabi over the last two years and have a number of new high-end valued clients including the Fairmont Bab Al Bahr and Jumeirah at Etihad Towers,” he added.

New Les Vergers Boiron processed and frozen food products will also be unveiled at February’s Gourmet Abu Dhabi.

“Our products are sold in the form of purees traditionally to meet the requirements of pastry chefs, although we have seen a steady increase in interest from mixologists interested in using our purees to inspire cocktail menus,” remarked Nael Berry, the area sales manager, Les Vergers Boiron.

“Abu Dhabi has been an active market for us over the past few years and we have a number of barman ambassadors within hotels in the UAE capital. For Gourmet Abu Dhabi we’re aiming to launch a new concept for our brand, which we are certain will capture the imagination of our regional professional customers,” he added.-TradeArabia News Service