I was busy with Football Sunday festivities yesterday and, as result, missed a day in my ongoing quest to sample every hot chocolate being offered at this year’s Hot Chocolate Festival. To make up for lost time, we actually tripled our output today, sampling six different flavors. I know, I know. This is a marathon, not a race. I should be pacing myself. True but, if you’re two people, it’s so much easier to order to different hot chocolates each seating rather than a single one for sharing.
So, in contrast to Saturday’s head to head battles, today’s was a head to head to head contest pitting hot chocolates from Bella Gelateria, Chocolate Arts, and Terra Breads.
Dingding! Round #2…
Aloha Sweetie: Barry Callebaut White Hot Chocolate with hibiscus flower. Served with mountain berry marshmallow and lemon sugar cookie.
Available at: Terra Breads 2380 West 4th Avenue (@ Balsam)
I’m guessing the tartness of the dried hibiscus was intended as a counterpoint to the sweet richness of the white chocolate, but I found the sweetness muted by a thinness in consistency that just brought the sour accents front and centre. The mountain berry marshmallow and lemon sugar cookie were, however, terrific.
Put De Lime in De Coconut: Single origin Venezuela chocolate with organic coconut and kalamansi lime. Accompanied by a toasted coconut shortbread.
Available at: Chocolate Arts 1620 West 3rd Ave., Vancouver (Kitsilano).
This was Akemi’s favorite and, while I wasn’t quite as enthusiastic, I did enjoy the coconut kalamansi combination. Akemi appreciated the fact that both of aforementioned flavors didn’t upstage the chocolate but, for my part, I thought they got a little lost. Great coconut shortbread cookie!
Monkey’s Lunch: gBAR made from banana liquer and swirls of “To Die For” Banana Bread crumb. Served with a slice of Erin Ireland’s “To Die For” Banana Bread alongside.
Available at: Bella Gelateria, 1001 West Cordova Street.
Ah, a variation of one of last year’s Bella Gelateria entries, improved by the replacement of banana bits (I wasn’t a fan) with a banana liquor gelato bar. Fear not, tea-toddlers. It wasn’t at all boozy but packed with an intense banana flavor that married wonderfully with the silky hot chocolate.
The Verdict: There were no bad entries here, but it ultimately came down to equally inspired preparations: Put De Lime in De Coconut vs. Monkey’s Lunch.
Winner: Monkey’s Lunch (Bella Gelateria).
Round #3…
Call Me a Cab: Cacao Barry Extra Brute Hot Chocolate with Cabernet, cinnamon and pear. Served with a pear crisp and a cocoa sugar cookie..
Available at: Terra Breads 2380 West 4th Avenue (@ Balsam)
I appreciated the intensity in flavor here, big and bold and spicy. If the chocolate had been a little, I’d have rated this one higher.
A Snowball’s Chance in Hell: Single origin Mexican chocolate with Mexican chili poured over house made chocolate ice cream. Accompanied by a flourless chocolate cookie.
Available at: Chocolate Arts 1620 West 3rd Ave., Vancouver (Kitsilano).
I’m a sucker for showmanship and a hands-on dining experience, so this one was right up my alley. Some assembly required. In this case, the pitcher of hot chocolate is poured into the bowl of chocolate and both are simultaneously enjoyed. I loved it. The ice cream cooled the hot chocolate down enough to what was my ideal sipping temperature while the heat of the hot chocolate lent the ice cream that partially-melted consistency I adored. I was a little leery about the Mexican chocolate but it was surprisingly good, packing a nice spicy, lingering throat punch.
London Foggy: gBAR flavoured with vanilla and Earl Grey tea. Served with Erin Ireland’s “To Die For” Banana Bread.
Available at: Bella Gelateria, 1001 West Cordova Street.
Another creative entry from Bella Gelateria. This time, the chocolate is complimented by a vanilla and Earl Grey gelato bear. Very good but, alas, paled in flavor comparison to its banana-flavored partner on this night.
Verdict: Again, not a bad drink in the bunch. A little easier deciding this round though…
Winner: A Snowball’s Chance in Hell (Chocolate Arts)
Great! 8 down, 50 to go – although I appear to have lost my wing-woman as Akemi has informed me she is tapping out. I’ll be holding interviews for her replacement in the coming days. Do YOU think you have what it takes?
Tomorrow = You have questions, I have answers! The A.K.A. project, secret episode titles, why petitioning NetFlix won’t bring back your favorite Stargate.
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