About May Globus
Vancouver City Editor May Globus is obsessed with the sartorial and all that surrounds it: art, design, culture, music and film. Oh, and she really likes writing about it, too. A left coast girl at heart, her Sweetspot finds just might show why the westside really is the best side.
Chocolate Daze
the view from vancity: vancouver hot chocolate fes canada, Vancouver
(Feb.01.12)
It was by happy accident that I stumbled upon the Vancouver's 2nd Annual Hot Chocolate Festival.
Early last week, a friend and I decided to have an impromptu catch-up session at Bel Cafe in the Hotel Georgia, where a smiley server promptly informed us it was the last day for their orange oil-infused hot chocolate. A few more questions later (on my part), we learned that it was being replaced by an equally decadent-sounding white chocolate concoction for the festival, a piece of information that music to my ears and to my sweet tooth.
Bel Cafe's orange-infused offering.
Naturally, I supported the fest that evening by ordering the chocolate-and-orange beverage and, as if the drink wasn't enough on its own, it came with a soft chocolate cookie (bonus!).
This month-long annual event has 15 participants for 2012, including The Juice Truck, which has paired with Beta5 Chocolates. Other cafes involved include Leonidaas, COCOANYMPH, Mink Chocolates, Schokolade, Terra Breads, Thierry and Thomas Haas. I stopped by the latter on Sunday for the classic hot chocolate creation, blended with caramel and accompanied by one of Haas' famous Sparkle cookies; other options included dark chocolate and hazelnut versions, but sometimes nothing beats a classic.
Classic and hazelnut options at Thomas Haas.
Beside satisfying any level of sweet tooth, proceeds from the festival benefit the Downtown Eastside Women's Centre, proving that ingesting copious amounts of chocolate in one month is also a charitable activity.
Sweet tooth satisfied.
* Be sure to pick up a Hot Chocolate Passport, too, for stamping at each participating location visited for a chance to win a gift basket on February 14