Sweet! Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival, Now ? February 14 ...

Photo credit: Chocolate Arts

The Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival believes that chocolate makes people happy. We can all agree with them on that. The annual celebration of hot chocolate is going on now through February 14.

While you may think you know a thing or two about hot chocolate, there?s always room for an artisan marshmallow? I mean? to be surprised. The 2013 Hot Chocolate Festival involves 23 local ?Choc Stars? and 60 new hot chocolate flavours. Vancouver?s finest patisseries, chocolati?res, cafes and even food trucks have put their hearts and culinary talents into inventing new versions of the drink.

The hot chocolate menu options vary by day. Today, for example, Chocolate Arts, in Vancouver?s budding Armoury district will serve When Pigs Fly, featuring Alto El Sol, an exquisitely rich single origin chocolate, topped with a maple bacon marshmallow and served with a peanut butter cookie. Feel free to faint.

Meanwhile, Bel Cafe in the downtown Rosewood Hotel Georgia, is offering Pretty in Pink, a white chocolate drink with notes of rose and raspberry, served with the cafe?s rich vanilla bean shortbread. The Juice Truck, in cahoots with East Van chocolate experts Beta 5, is serving A Snowball?s Chance in Tokyo ? white choc matcha with a yuzu marshmallow.

I could go on forever. But I?ll let you browse the menus yourself. You can search by flavour or by date. That should kill an hour or two of your workday.

Here?s a full list of venues participating in the 3rd annual Hot Chocolate Festival, linking to menus.

Beaucoup Bakery
Bel Cafe
Bella Gelateria + To Die For Banana Bread
Beta 5 Chocolates + The Juice Truck
Blenz Alma + Cocolico Chocolates
Blenz Thurlow + Kale & Nori Culinary Arts
Chocolate Arts
Chocolaterie de la Nouvelle France
Cocoa Nymph
French Made Baking
Gem Chocolates
Leonidas Chocolates
Rubens Chocolate
Secret Location
Schokolade
Soirette Macarons & Tea
Terra Breads
Thierry Chocolaterie Patisserie Cafe
Thomas Haas

The Hot Chocolate Festival Runs now through February 14. Funds raised from the 2013 Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival will be donated to Vancouver?s A Better Life Foundation.

Want more updates on Vancouver fun? Follow me on Twitter @TJerven

Source: http://www.insidevancouver.ca/2013/01/22/sweet-vancouver-hot-chocolate-festival-now-february-14/

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