The Olmec, one of Latin America’s earliest civilizations first used chocolate as a medicine.
Today, the Greater Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival is the perfect therapy for escaping the dreary rainy days of winter.
Started in 2012, the Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival is a four-week celebration running until February 14th with more than 40 vendors with 65+ locations across the lower mainland.
It features some of our best regional chocolatier’s, pastry chops, bakeries, cafes and ice cream makers and even more importantly, it’s an opportunity for us to support small, local businesses.
Here in my neighbour of Kerrisdale Village, I visited Artigiano Café which is offering two custom hot chocolate drinks during the festival.
I savored the Fluffernutter Hot Chocolate with chocolate peanut syrup, whipped marshmallow with shaved chocolate and served with a flutternutter cookie. My cookie quickly submerged below the wiped cream, so I need to rescue it faster next time.
Overall, my Fluffernutter Hot Chocolate was light and delicate, but not a hot as I would have preferred. The second option is the Salted Caramel Miso Hot Chocolate which I look forward to tasting next week.
Also, in the Kerrisdale Village I discovered that Honolulu Coffee and Gem Chocolates are also participating in the festival. More hot chocolate to taste and experience in the weeks ahead.
So, head to Kerrisdale Village to visit one of our fine Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival vendors for the best medicine to shake off those grey winter days.
