Hot chocolate is hot chocolate, right?
Wrong. Instant powders are overflowing with unpronounceable ingredients. And the standard restaurant fare can be unpredictable.
But what if there was an alternative? An alternative that'll knock your fuzzy socks off? An alternative that borders on art?
Luckily, we have just that right here in Penticton.
We've tracked down three local eateries that serve what we like to call "elite" hot chocolate. Really amazing stuff that you'll remember fondly when you head back out into the cold winter weather.
The first is courtesy of Michael Gjurisic at the Prague Cafe. It's called the "Mrs. Claus," and it's actually one of four brand new hot seasonal drinks from the little restaurant on the waterfront.
The Mrs. Claus is far from a standard winter warm-up, featuring espresso, steamed eggnog, steamed milk, and dark chocolate, with fresh whipped cream and sprinkles to top it off. It's served in a wide, oversized mug that looks, not coincidentally, like Santa's wife, and it's accompanied by a slice of homemade European gingerbread cake.
It's creamy, it's sweet, and it's chocolaty. It's also huge and with the cake it's practically a meal in itself.
Gjurisic also served us a "Christmas Tree," which comes in a Christmas Tree mug and combines espresso, steamed milk, caramel, vanilla, pumpkin spice, fresh whipped cream, sprinkles and marshmallows. Though technically not a hot chocolate, it was equally stunning.
Gjurisic explained that the recipes are a family affair - concocted jointly by his daughter, his wife, and himself. As for those giant mugs, he says he spotted them in a local store, loved that they were so big and Christmassy, and bought them right away. He also plans to use them for other drinks such as hot wine and "special Czech baked tea."
You'll find the Prague Cafe at 102 - 250 Marina Way. It's open 9:15 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 8 a.m.to 4 p.m. Friday through Sunday. Note that the cafe will be closed from Dec. 22 to Jan. 2.
We next journeyed to another Penticton favourite, Craft Corner Kitchen, where owner John Cote went to work on something he calls "Orange is the New Chocolate."
Almost as impressive as finally tasting it was watching Cote put it together. He set up shop at the bar right in front of us so we could witness every moment, and it was downright exhilarating - particularly when he whipped out a torch and a spray bottle.
"It's a little play on an orange chocolate," he explained. "It's 3% milk which is infused with orange zest. And then we made an orange meringue to go on top. And shaved chocolate from (neighbouring) Accent Chocolate."
"Then we use a star anise infusion. Basically, we take (a spice called) star anise and infuse it in overproof rum for a week or two to really get that smell and flavour of star anise into the rum. Then it's into a spray bottle and torched on top of the meringue."
Though Orange is the New Chocolate is not officially on the current menu, Cote says "We'll continue making it as requested when customers can give us a five-minute window."
That's something more customers should do. Unlike some hot chocolate, Cote's drink is a subtle creation with overtones of orange and other amazing flavours. And that torched meringue on top is a tasty alternative to traditional whipped cream - nor does it melt as fast. And yes, it's delicious.
Craft Corner Kitchen is at 557 Main Street. It's closed Sunday, but it's open every other day of the week from 12 p.m. to "late."
Our final stop was Smuggler's Smokehouse, where Chef DaMo had just put the finishing touches on several new wintry drinks.
One of those drinks is the "Peppermint Presley Hot Chocolate," a title DaMo says is "inspired by the Peppermint Patty cocktail, and named in honour of the King."
"We make a simple chocolate syrup with cocoa, water, a little bit of vanilla, and sugar, and then we give it a shot of mint syrup so it's reminiscent of a Peppermint Patty. And the mint on top we also use in some of our Southern cocktails."
There's mini marshmallows on top too, but that doesn't mean it's a kids-only deal. In fact, the Peppermint Presley Hot Chocolate is a sophisticated offering that leans toward dark rather than milk chocolate and isn't overly sweet. It's a great taste.
Says DaMo, "We wanted to do a nice hot chocolate for the winter, so we had something for anyone who wants a nice warm drink to warm up with either before the meal or after, or just by itself."
He added that Smugglers can add a shot of vodka or bourbon (or anything else, for that matter) to "stiffen it up a bit."
"We'll have other hot drinks available through the winter as well," he said. "We do a Cowboy Coffee, which is our Oso Negro Coffee with a shot of Old Order vodka, chocolate syrup, cream, and sugar."
Smuggler's Smokehouse is located at 215 Winnipeg Street, right across from Landmark Cinemas. It's open Tuesday to Friday from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and they're closed on Sundays and Monday.
Happy sipping!
