We’re back and still recovering from the Hot Chocolate Festival at The City Bakery. It was a block long hoard of people (18th Street, between 5th and 6th Avenues) doing such things as ice-skating on a plastic “rink,” participating in a “Design Your Own Snowman” competition, roasting marshmallows on a grill, and of course, drinking hot chocolate like we were all chocolate lushes (which is truthfully not far from the mark). Immediately it became apparent that Kelli is dead-on, if you say the word “chocolate,” people will come. And in Maury Rubin’s (the Bakery’s proprietor) case, they will come and pay exorbitant prices for it. Two hot chocolates (with marshmallows) and one chocolate chip cookie: eleven dollars even. But the experience: priceless, I’m sure.
So how was the hot chocolate? Excellent, but a bit too heavy for my tastes (perhaps I should have just gotten one of the two dollar shots that they were selling outside). A co-worker of mine, Jee, suggests that if you really want good hot chocolate and happen to be in Paris, visit Café Angelina on Rue de Rivoli (supposedly, The City Bakery’s hot chocolate is inspired from here). In operation since 1903, their famous pitcher of Hot Chocolate Mont Blanc Africana arrives at your table with a parfait-style glass of heavy whipping crème to sweeten the deal. Allegedly transcendent, I think we will have to visit Paris again sometime soon.
Café Angelina
www.angelina.fr (Site currently down.)
226 rue de Rivoli
75001 Paris 1er
+33-1-4260 8200
Mon-Fri: 9am to 7pm
Sat-Sun: 9am to 7:30pm
Metro Stop: Tuileries
City Bakery
www.hot-chocolate-festival.com
3 West 18th Street
New York City
WHAT DO YOU THINK?