Chocolat Chaud

As I was getting ready to leave for my UK trip I was asking everyone who had ever been to Oxford/Paris/London to give me tips. A few different people mentioned the need to drink hot chocolate in Paris. Apparently chocolat chaud is to Paris what afternoon tea is to England and coffee breaks are to the US.

This was confirmed my first day in Paris as I sat down with two woman who lived in Paris and they both ordered hot chocolate for the mid-afternoon drink. I was thrilled to incorporate this fun little treat into my daily consumption. I ordered it everywhere that offered it. I did discover that you can easily get bad chocolat chaud as easily as you can order terrible coffee in the US, but I also drank two of the best cups of hot chocolate I have ever (and I mean EVER) had in my life.

Angelina's chocolate was fabulous! Plus the waitress knew of a gluten free dessert I could have! It was a bit too rich to attempt to consume both, but I put a valiant effort forth. We stopped in here during a break from a fabulously long day exploring the Louve, it was the perfect place to sit for a minute.

Cafe De Flore hot chocolate was a close runner up, not nearly as amazing, but still so so good! Add to that the amazing people watching, and the delicious omelet I ate just before my sipping chocolate arrived and it was by far one of my favorite places in Paris.

I am pretty determined to find the perfect recipe to bring the flavor of Paris to my sitting room.

I found this recipe that claims to be Angelina's and I am hopeful it is (it seems too simple, but most of the best recipes are):

Angelina's Hot Chocolate

6 ounces fine-quality semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, chopped
1/4 cup water, room temperature
3 tablespoons hot water
3 cups hot milk, divided
Sugar to taste
Whipped cream, if desired

In a double boiler over low heat, combine chocolate and 1/4 cup water until melted, stirring occasionally; stir until smooth.

Remove top of double boiler pan from. Whisk in 3 tablespoons hot water. Pour into pitcher or divide among individual 4 mugs. Either stir 3/4 cup hot milk into each mug or serve milk in a separate pitcher. Pass sugar and whipped cream in separate bowls; add to taste.

Makes 4 servings.

I also found this recipe and will be trying it out soon.

In my random searching I also found this list of places to go for hot chocolate in Paris. I will be keeping it in mind for my next trip (whenever that is.)

And as we all know I am a nerd and I want to know the history of the drink in Paris so I stumbled across a few fun blogs in the process of my web-searching. Paris Breakfasts has been a fun read, but not nerdy enough. This article has more actual facts and states that it was a royal wedding that made hot chocolate a star in Paris.

In any event I am excited that I was able to bring some fair trade drinking chocolate home with me, it might not be as good as the melted chocolate version I will attempt to make soon, but I am excited that I will be drinking some tonight.

Bon Appetit!!!