HotChA

Hot Chocolate Appreciation

We meet every other Monday at different New York establishments famed for their hot chocolate, and indulge in a hot cuppa.

Week 1: Max Brenner (Union Square)([1])
Week 2: Otto Enoteca Pizzeria - Listed by New York Magazine as a 2006 hot chocolate pick.
Week 3: The Chocolate Room
Week 4: Mariebelle, Byant Park ice skating rink location
Week 5: Michel Cluizel in ABC Home and Carpet
Week 6: Tribeca Treats
Week 7: 'wichcraft
Week 8: Pangea
Week 9: 'Tisserie
Week 10: Mariebelle
Week 11: Homemade Night!

Where might we go this year?

Bespoke Hot Chocolate Service - by Cocoa Locoa Fine Chocolate (Scott has contact details)
Homemade Night - where we make hot chocolates (and possibly experiment)
Payard NYC - worth research
'wichcraft in Tribeca apparently has specialty hot chocolate, including a variety with bay leaf used to good effect. 397 Greenwich St, New York, NY, (866) 942-4272
Intent NY - worth research, possibly a bar
Tribeca Treats - open until 7pm. Offer a Valhrona hot chocolate with steamed milk.
Otto Enoteca Pizzeria - Listed by New York Magazine as a 2006 hot chocolate pick.
@SQC 270 Columbus Ave., New York, NY 10023 between 72nd and 73rd Sts. 212-579-0100
Kitchen/Market for the Mexican Hot Chocolate
Fauchon has a retail place in NYC... they serve hot chocolate in the cafe, but only from 10am to 6pm.
Pangea-- came recommended by a friend of ET. Hot chocolate is on the dessert menu, and we can have it at the bar even during the dinner hour.

Week 1: City Bakery (Union Square)
Week 2: Cocoa Bar (Park Slope)
Week 3: Mariebelle's Cacao Bar (SoHo)
Week 4: Jacques Torres (SoHo)
Week 5: Michel Cluizel Chocolates (at ABC Home and Carpet)
Week 6: Australian Homemade (East Village)
Week 7: Vosges Haut Chocolate (SoHo)
Extra: Rice (Dumbo)
Week 8: La Maison du Chocolat (Rockefeller Center)
Week 9: Chocolate Bar (West Village)
Week 10 - Serendipity III (Upper East Side) (serendipity3.com) - couldn't accomodate us.

We're wrapping up the HotChA tour around the 10th visit, but there are some other chocolate places worth investigating in greater New York:

Chocolate Eateries beyond our list

Almondine Bakery in Fort Greene is co-owned by Jacques Torres; 85 Water St. (Between Dock & Main St.s), 718-797-5027, [www.almondinebakery.com almondinebakery.com]
The Brooklyn Chocolate and Cocoa Company is one home to American Eric Girerd's chocolate. 68 Greenpoint Ave. (between Franklin & West St.s), 718-383-0853, wickedchocolate.net
Li-Lac Chocolates was recommended by a friend. No hot chocolate, but apparently good nonetheless.

Chocolate and Baking Resources

Choc-Oh! Lot Plus in Bay Ridge (77th St. on the R) is a candy and cake-decorating store. The reason to go is the three walls of chocolate molds, but there are lots of other things here for making candy and chocolate.
New York Cake Supplies is on 22nd St. just a few blocks from Union Sq. It's huge and awesome. You can learn about baking just from walking around the store and examining everything from the angled spatulas to the fondant carpet rolls to the wall of wedding-cake figurines. Good deals on Valrhona and Callebaut chocolate in bulk. 56 West 22nd Street New York, NY - 10010, 800 942-2539 nycake.com

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