Countryside Mall Gets a Whole Lot Sweeter on November 19

(CLEARWATER, FL – 11/9/15) Living in their native France, the Peyronnet family took for granted the abundance of chocolate shops that the French enjoy. Upon moving to Clearwater, they were surprised to find so few options existed here, and none in the midrange price point.

“You can find traditional American chocolate bars in the grocery, or very high-end, high-cost chocolates in large chains or specialty shops, but as for a high-quality, mid-priced chocolate that is handmade, that’s difficult to come by in this area,” explained Francis Peyronnet, businessman turned chocolatier.

This revelation launched a quest by the father and son duo, Francis and Fabien Peyronnet, to introduce a new way to share quality French-inspired chocolate with the Tampa Bay area. On Thursday, November 19, their sweet dream becomes reality, as Le Bouquet by Francis™ opens its first shop in the Westfield Countryside Mall. Customers will discover a distinctively creative “bouquet” presentation, much like flowers are packaged, to share the gift of chocolate with friends and loved ones for every occasion.

The artfully wrapped barks produced in a variety of milk, dark and white chocolates are the creation of award-winning Executive Pastry Chef Jean-François Bonnet, a Franco-American who has called Brooklyn, New York his home for nearly 20 years. Chef Bonnet has been twice listed among Dessert Professional magazine’s Top 10 Pastry Chefs in America and featured in Food & Wine magazine’s Masters Series. Each blend contains exotic fruits, spices, fresh herbs and regional flavors in delicious combinations like mandarin orange and cinnamon, peanut butter and banana, peppermint and others. In addition to pre-assembled and custom bouquets in half-pound and one-pound sizes, Le Bouquet by Francis™ also features a beautiful array of boxed bonbons, spreads, cubes and traditional chocolate bars.

“We feel very fortunate to partner with Chef Jean-François to offer the purest chocolate flavors with a French touch,” shared Fabien Peyronnet. “For him, chocolate is an outlet for creativity and passion, and we’re excited to bring his distinctive recipes to our customers in an entirely new way.”

Le Bouquet by Francis is located in the Westfield Countryside Mall at 27001 U.S. Hwy. 19 North, Clearwater 33761, on the lower level near Macy’s and the ice rink. Opening day will be Thursday, November 19, with a grand opening celebration from 4:30-6:30 pm. Guests are invited to talk chocolate with Chef Bonnet and enjoy samples and raffle items, with an official ribbon cutting at 5:15 pm.

For more information, contact Fabien Peyronnet at (727) 228-3811 or contact@lebouquetbyfrancis.com, or visit LeBouquetByFrancis.com.

ABOUT LE BOUQUET BY FRANCIS™
Le Bouquet by Francis™ is founded by Francis and Fabien Peyronnet, a French father and son duo who sought to share their passion for chocolate with an American audience through a unique way of discovering, enjoying and giving—the chocolate bouquet. Le Bouquet’s chocolates are hand made through the artistry of French-born Executive Pastry Chef Jean-François Bonnet, who produces chocolates from the finest ingredients and products out of his chocolate factory in Brooklyn, New York. Bonnet has made the United States his home for nearly two decades, and was twice listed among the Top 10 Pastry Chefs in America. For more information, visit LeBouquetByFrancis.com.

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