Blog Entry: Chocolate ecstasy
Here's the problem with not having enough time to blog regularly this week: I have SO MANY things I want to talk about, and not nearly enough space in one entry for all of them! Luckily, after this morning's trip into town, my top priority is obvious:
I have discovered a whole new reason to love life, and it is the Hot Chocolate Milano served at Caffé Nero.
As you guys know, I am a hot chocolate addict, and since our Caffé Nero is amazingly child-friendly (they offer special free drinks - "babaccinos" - for toddlers and even keep a collection of toys for them to play with in-store), I've been drinking my hot chocolates at Caffé Nero at least once a week for the last couple of months. This time, though, for the first time, I noticed a second kind of hot chocolate on the menu, one that was described as "extra-rich".
Ooh. Extra rich. Of course, I ordered it.
The baristo (is the job title baristo when it's a man serving the drinks? or is it still barista?) said, "Ah. Ahem. So have you ordered the Milano before?"
"No," I said.
"Ah," he said. "Well, it's a...well, it's very intense. A lot of people don't like it. It's basically melted Belgian chocolate, you know."
"Ooh," I said. "Sounds good."
He sighed, looking worried. "How about this," he said. "I'll make it for you, but if you don't like it, just tell me, okay? And I'll make you an ordinary hot chocolate for free. Because a lot of people...well, I like it, personally, every once in a while, but it is very intense."
"Okay," I said. As Patrick pointed out later, when I told him this story, the barista/o had NO IDEA what effect he was having on me with this description. He thought he was warning me off. Little did he know...
It looked incredible, served in a tall glass with whipped cream on top. Pure chocolate bliss. I told myself not to have too-high expectations, though, even as I lifted it up to my lips. It couldn't really be that intense, that chocolatey...
OMG. It really was. It was incredible.
I drank every drop. I would have licked the dregs if I could have reached them at the bottom of the glass.
Hot Chocolate Milano. Hot Chocolate Milano. Hot Chocolate Milano...
I can't wait to order another one. I wonder if they would think I was too weird if I got it again tomorrow...
What about you guys? What are your favorite, most decadent café treats?