Huize van Wely

Okay, don’t believe the extravagant money signs; this place is NOT expensive. For what you get here, the prices are really good. In the US, you can buy Sees candies for the prices of the chocolates in Huize Van Wely, except these chocolates are a million times better. I came here and spent $ 50 on two pastries, two boxes of small truffles (nine per box), and a box of about eight chocolates. The quality of the chocolates and the selection of flavors are unbeatable. Sorry, no photos of the pastries I bought, because I ate them both in about five minutes.

By car it only takes about five hours to get from Amsterdam to Reims and arrive in champagne wonderland. Mat en I go there quite often to score champagne for modest prices. We used to spread bottles amongst our friends, but not anymore. Each time we visited them and brought champagne with us, we were asked: ‘Why? Did you buy a house/​when is the wedding/​did you find a new job/​new assigment?’ It was depressing to repeatedly say ‘no’. It felt like nothing positive happened in our lives. The Dutch only drink champagne on special occasions, whereas the French drink it anytime, anyplace and anywhere. Love the French for that. I think there’s no such thing as a bad day to have champagne or a gâteau with that exquisite sparkling wine. Je vous présente: a Moët et Chandon-​raspberry masterpiece — champagne mousse outside, raspberries inside — created by Huize van Wely. This prestigious patisserie is all about class and quality. Obviously the champagne collection — pastry, cake, chocolate — doesn’t come cheap. But the return on your investment is magnifique.