Angelina's Hot Chocolate
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What it is: A Paris café serving a decadent cup of hot chocolate – one that tastes like a melted chocolate bar
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Bonnie: For years I’ve been sending friends heading to Paris to Angelina’s for hot chocolate. I’ve only gotten raves back.
Back up to 1992.
There I was in Paris, not with foodies, but with my 8- and 11-year-old sons. We had won the airfare for the trip. First class. But that’s a whole other story. We were economically squeezing in as much as we could afford, which wasn’t much, as I was a single parent freelance writer just getting by.
Paris with young boys is different than with a lover or, for that matter, any adult. We climbed almost every set of stairs in the city, hung out with the gargoyles atop Notre Dame and traversed the miles of subterranean catacomb tunnels lined with six million skeletons. Yes, a different Paris.
Optimistically, I kept a folded list in my pocket of Paris food experiences not to be missed from my friend Babs Chernetz (then food editor of the now defunct McCalls, currently at Redbook). Her list included hot chocolate at Angelina’s, a place not far from the Louvre, where we were headed to see the Mona Lisa and as much else as we could fit in before Eric became antsy. Knowing he never lasted more than an hour in museums, Angelina’s was ready as plan B.
Thirty-five minutes later we were on our way through the Tuileries to Angelina’s. Perfection, I thought, as they seated us in the front room near a window at a white-tablecloth covered table, something reminiscent—only to baby boomers—of Eloise at the Plaza.
I convinced the boys we’d all share one hot chocolate (priced at $8 at today’s prices) and they could each have their own bowl of gelato – something that costs less. The hot chocolate was worth every penny. We lingered all afternoon with the guys dutifully writing in their journals (the result of the deal I made with their forward-thinking principal, Ed Mackniak, who—when asked if I could take them out of school for the trip—replied, “They’ll learn more from the two weeks in Europe than they would in any classroom.”)
The first sip of that rich hot chocolate is still with me. After all, could you forget drinking a melted European candy bar? Neither could I.
Bryan: My life has been filled with great travel and great food (this one I have to thank Bonnie for - as only a mother can drag a young son to a confectionary outside the Louvre). Few experiences stand out as boldly as Angelina’s… It was my first time in Paris (I was only 11) – I can still sense the aroma of that rich, warm flowing cocoa and the recollection of that chocolate continues to elicit fond memories of an awakening to a greater food culture and the simple and amazing things in life one finds when traveling.
Eric: With great travel will always come great food discoveries. Have you ever thought about melting a chocolate bar into a glass, waiting for it to become the perfect temperature, and drinking it, savoring each sip as though it were an ice-cold drink on a scorching hot day? That to me is the definition of Angelina's Hot Chocolate. It is the epitome of a chocoholic's euphoria, and is a taste that would even have Willy Wonka asking for seconds.
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13 Comments on “Angelina's Hot Chocolate”
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What a wonderful piece of life, so beautifully written, I always knew you would find a way to use your greatest asset to it's greatest potential. I experienced the joy of Angelina's chocolate when I was in Paris, and this brought back a flood of sensual memories.
Great Job! By the way, Eric & Bryan have an obviously inherited way with words, as well. Looking forward to future "Bites".
Bonnie,
I am thrilled that you launched this ingenious site with a write up on my favorite town. Your review brings back so many memories from Paris and makes me eager to go to Angelina's. Love the picture and the write up from Bryan and Eric - what an amazing role model you have been to your sons! You are a whirling dervish and this site will be your new masterpiece!
WOW! What a great website. I can't wait for future
products and stories!
Bonnie….you are so right….if you LOVE…chocolate…what a treat…I can hardly wait to try this.
You and your sons….have hit on a winner with this site….can hardly wait to try your receipes and participate in the comments.
I saw you this morning on KOLO TV RENO…talking with Dinita….I only got the last bit of your interview….but you caught my attention….LOVED the idea about taking time at work and making your desk an inviting place to take time to eat….We just don't do that anymore….so sad that everything is ALWAYS…on the run! ! !
Thank you for thinking up this wonderful site along with your sons….It cannot help, but be a wonderful contribution to all of us out there….LEARNING…TO TAKE A LITTLE TIME FOR OURSELVES…
THANK YOU
Marlene
Thank you for recommending Angelina's hot chocolate. I was in Paris earlier this month and made a trip to Angelina's a priority after reading this bite. I can't even begin to describe how divine and memorable this drink is, especially after a long day of sightseeing.
Thank you!
Can any of you help Darlene who emailed me with this quandary??
I did suggest to her that she contact Angelina's directly…
HELLO,
I HAVE A CHOCOLATE AND ICE CREAM SHOP IN, I HAVE BEEN CARRYING ANGELINAS COCOA FOR AROUND 5 YEARS NOW AND MY DISTRIBUTOR IS NOT GOING TO WAREHOUSE THE PRODUCT I AM DESPERATELY IN SEARCH MY CUSTOMERS ADORE IT AND SO DO I , IT WILL NOT BE THE SAME WITHOUT IT
PLEASE…..CAN YOU GIVE ME SOME HELP
GOD BLESS YOU
DARLENE
It was fantastic. I want to go on line and buy some. How do I find it and order it.
J.B., I've yet to find it online. (If anyone knows where to buy Angelina's on the web, please post that!) I'm guessing you might just need another trip to Paris to sip a cupful there.
Hello,
Stumbled onto your site and just had to comment on the bliss that is Angelina's hot chocolate (currently 6,90 in euros- about $10.75 a serving). The good thing is that you can definitely get a few cups worth from each serving. Savor it…
A friend took us to Angelina's toward the end of our stay in Paris three years ago. We berated her for not taking us sooner, as we had so little time to return–and we HAD to have another cup of hot chocolate. It is definitely like a melted chocolate bar, but even better (with the ambiance, after all, wouldn't it be?). We have recommended it to friends, and now we are heading back over. We can hardly wait for a few more trips to Angelina's. It's definitely something special.
I've suggested Angelina's to every friend heading to Paris — the perfect respite after a long day at the Louvre. Expensive? An understatement. But savoring one cup of their melted-chocolate is worth every savoring sip.
How can I get the ingredients for the hot chocolate?
I've finally found it. I've been looking for so long!
Here you go everyone!
http://www.cafesocietystore.com/products/2114.html