Hot Chocolate, Part 1
I've been experimenting lately with how to make the best possible cup of hot chocolate. When I was in Paris, I was blown away by a few cups I had of wonderfully rich, creamy (almost alcoholic) chocolate. I haven't yet been able to match those cups, but I've had a few interesting results.
The most important thing is the chocolate or cocoa powder. I've been making it from regular baker's chocolate (when I get a good method I plan to use real good chocolate), but cocoa powder can be quite good. I would recommend Valrhona brand above all else, but Green and Black's organic cocoa is good too. Hershey's will do, but it doesn't compare.
I would recommend the basic hot chocolate recipe to anyone:
(for one person)
8oz milk
1.5 tablespoons cocoa powder
1-2 tablespoons sugar (depending on taste, I usually go for more chocolate and less sugar)
a splash of vanilla.
Warm the milk in a saucepan with the sugar. Put the cocoa pwder in a cup and drizzle a bit of milk into it. Stir to make a paste. When the milk is about to boil, pour it in slowly, stirring all the while. You can add vailla at any point.
And for my next entry, I'll go into some more complicated methods (i.e. things to do to impress a loved one) such as flavoring the milk and using bar chocolate.
If anyone goes to Paris, I would recommend La Charlotte d'Isle (or La Charlotte de l'Isle) on the Ile St. Louis. In London, Harrod's has a fine chocolate bar. Also, Konditor and Cook has good hot chocolate.
I've been experimenting lately with how to make the best possible cup of hot chocolate. When I was in Paris, I was blown away by a few cups I had of wonderfully rich, creamy (almost alcoholic) chocolate. I haven't yet been able to match those cups, but I've had a few interesting results.
The most important thing is the chocolate or cocoa powder. I've been making it from regular baker's chocolate (when I get a good method I plan to use real good chocolate), but cocoa powder can be quite good. I would recommend Valrhona brand above all else, but Green and Black's organic cocoa is good too. Hershey's will do, but it doesn't compare.
I would recommend the basic hot chocolate recipe to anyone:
(for one person)
8oz milk
1.5 tablespoons cocoa powder
1-2 tablespoons sugar (depending on taste, I usually go for more chocolate and less sugar)
a splash of vanilla.
Warm the milk in a saucepan with the sugar. Put the cocoa pwder in a cup and drizzle a bit of milk into it. Stir to make a paste. When the milk is about to boil, pour it in slowly, stirring all the while. You can add vailla at any point.
And for my next entry, I'll go into some more complicated methods (i.e. things to do to impress a loved one) such as flavoring the milk and using bar chocolate.
If anyone goes to Paris, I would recommend La Charlotte d'Isle (or La Charlotte de l'Isle) on the Ile St. Louis. In London, Harrod's has a fine chocolate bar. Also, Konditor and Cook has good hot chocolate.
VIEW 3 of 3 COMMENTS
Usually I put a dash of cinnamon in my cocoa, on the rare occasions that I make my own.
As for train delays in the UK... thanks but no thanks. I've heard enough to be traumatized away from experiencing those firsthand.