Bottega Storica Odilla BastoniGabriele Maiolani’s passion for chocolate was passed on to him by his mother Odilla Bastoni, a famous porcelain painter with numerous contacts in France. It was in France that Maiolani trained, first with maître chocolatier André Sauvadet in Lapalisse, near Vichy, then at Valrhona in Tain l’Hermitage. And it’s to his mother that Gabriele has dedicated his shop in Turin’s Crocetta neighbourhood, where his recipes are still inspired by the cahier used for generations at Aux Vérités de Lapalisse, Sauvadet’s patisserie. His impressive range includes Gran nocciolato (with PGI Piedmontese hazelnuts), giandujotti, chocolate-coated orange zest and seasonal fruits candied in situ. Then come a hundred or so praline typologies made with a mandolin. In addition to classic flavors, you’ll also find passion fruit, raspberry, pistachio and Mozia salt. Last but not least, Palet d’Or is made with robust-flavoured, astringent Venezuela dark chocolate (75%), according to Maiolani the variety best suited to the Turinese tradition.
