Everyone knows the Fontainebleau Miami Beach, but did you know they are the only hotel in the U.S. to have its own customized chocolate made for its kitchen and retail? FONTAINEBLEAU SAPPHIRE NOIR™ is made exclusively for the hotel. And to celebrate World Chocolate Day we thought we would highlight what makes this chocolate so very special.

 In collaboration with world-renowned French chocolate brand Cacao Barry, Fontainebleau Miami Beach’s Executive Pastry Chef, Brielle Fratellone traveled to the French chocolatier’s lab, Or Noir™ in France to customize the recipe for Fontainebleau. The resort now offers a unique chocolate bar, signature pralines and petit gateaux sold in the hotel’s signature coffee and patisserie shop Chez Bon Bon, and desserts in the hotel’s signature restaurants including StripSteak by Michael Mina, Scarpetta by Scott Conant and Hakkasan, all using the FONTAINEBLEAU SAPPHIRE NOIR™ recipe.

Chef Fratellone tasted over 20 cocoa masses and chocolates from different countries around the world in order to formulate the ideal dark chocolate recipe. The recipe for Sapphire Noir incorporates cocoa beans from The Dominican Republic, Ecuador and Mexico and features an intense cocoa taste that reveals yellow fruits with woody notes.

The FONTAINEBLEAU SAPPHIRE NOIR™ name describes the relation between chocolate and jewels, each which must have the perfect environment, temperature and ingredients to produce strong, beautiful crystals. Similar to crystals, chocolate must be worked with in the perfect temperature and environment in order achieve the ideal texture and flavor.

“It’s such an honor to be able to bring this custom recipe back to Fontainebleau,” says Fratellone. I think Sapphire Noir is the perfect Miami chocolate for Chez Bon Bon – its complexity works well with all the different flavor profiles we use such as tropical fruits - the possibilities are endless in terms of what we can do with it. I’m incredibly excited to share this with my team and continue to bring our guests only the finest chocolate creations.”

 At Fontainebleau Miami Beach guests will be able to experience FONTAINEBLEAU SAPPHIRE NOIR™  several different ways:

• Chocolate and wine pairing experience at StripSteak by Michael Mina: Guests will have the opportunity to taste three wine varietals from different continents – each paired with Fontainebleau Sapphire Noir. Guests will learn about how each wine complements the dark chocolate. Reservations required. To reserve your seat, call 305-674-4780| $25++ per person | Mondays & Wednesdays beginning March 18, 2019 | 6pm – 7pm

• Fontainebleau Sapphire Noir 3 oz. Dark Chocolate Bar: The complexity of Sapphire Noir in its purest form | $10 each | Chez Bon Bon

• Dark Chocolate Bon Bons: Guests can enjoy Sapphire Noir paired with a variety of different flavors including the Signature Gemstone Collection – a collection of four Sapphire Noir pralines artistically created to look like jewels. The gemstone collection consists of the following flavors: classic Sapphire Noir, mango chili, caramel plantain and smoky mezcal | $2 each

• Fontainebleau Sapphire Noir Petit Gateaux ‘chocolate textures’: Sapphire Noir chocolate creamy, crunch, cake and mousse with coco nib glaze | $6

Back in March we were invited into the pastry kitchen to check out the new line of chocolate (after we had a few chocolate inspired cocktails at Scarpetta), and even got the chance to make our own plated dessert for the evening using the chocolate in multiple forms.

If you haven’t stopped by the Fontainebleau lately, this is the perfect reason to make a trip over for dinner and drinks — making sure you save room for dessert!

Fontainebleau Miami Beach

4441 Collins Avenue

Miami Beach, FL 33140