Cocoa creativity: The Salon du Chocolat is back in town

Non-melting chocolate, Valentine's chocolates for singles and a croissant-donut hybrid called a Cronut are among the unusual new trends on show at the third edition of the Salon du Chocolat in Brussels this weekend.

This year the theme is Cocoa Expressions, Chocolate Innovations and the salon will focus on the creativity, avant-gardism and capacity to innovate that is the heart of the profession.

Highlighted trends include Bean-to-Bar, in which the chocolatier is no longer buying couverture chocolate from manufacturers but sourcing his own beans and roasting them himself before creating his chocolate; reinventing iconic American deserts with creations such as the Cronut, the wonut (waffle/donut) or the whoopie (macaroon/cookie) and Asian flavours such as Laotian coriander or Sencha.

"Belgian chocolate is an historic savoir-faire and Brussels is the chocolate city," says Sophie Douce, co-creator of the Salon du Chocolat worldwide, which also visits cities including Paris, New York, Tokyo, Moscow and Shanghai. Olivier Ghenne of Leonidas agrees: "Chocolate is a tradition embedded in Belgian DNA."

New chocolatier Didier Smeets (pictured) is the youngest chocolatier at the salon. He says: "This is a great showcase where I can present new products, for instance with Saint Valentine's Day coming up I am presenting a collection of chocolates for singles. Why should they be left out?"

The salon will be putting on its iconic chocolate fashion Show with a twist this year: all 15 outfits to grace the runway are collaborations between Belgian chocolatiers and Belgian fashion designers.

Other events include the "Young Generation In The Spotlight" - young talents of the Brussels region - pastry chef demonstrations, conferences in the Chocosphere on a variety of topics, book signings with authors, workshops for children, the best pieces from Neuhaus's extensive chocolate moulds collection, and the annual Leonidas sculpture: this year a 500kg block of chocolate knife-sculpted into a 4.2m-high figure of a woman topped by a 2m-high chocolate chandelier.

The Salon du Chocolat, 5-7 February, Brussels Expo Palais 1. Open 10.00-19.00 Friday and Saturday, 10.00-18.00 Sunday.

Adults €8.50 Friday, €10 Saturday and Sunday. Children three to 12: €5, free under three years old. Seniors (60+) and students €8.50.