Vincent Guerlais

Nantes' self-proclaimed 'agitateur de papilles' (taste-bud agitator) lures locals into his flamboyant violet-coloured boutique with silky-smooth chocolate squares, pralines, exquisite cakes too beautiful to eat and – drum roll – shimmering gold, chocolate versions of Nantes' signature Petit Beurre biscuits that every French person knows.