HoCho Fest Day 21: Winter Citrus

Today(yesterday)'s festival item was truly a blessing in how it soothed my very fragile mind from today (yesterday)! The day had felt overwhelming for no identifiable reason, so a kind offer to accompany me to my location for the day was very welcomed. Location of choice: The Last Crumb Cafe.

According to their website, The Last Crumb was started by two sisters who were/are "obsessed with food" - and it shows! It has an atmosphere that, to me, showed an expression of fun-loving passion for what they do. Evidence to further their food obsession claim is found in the pastry cabinets, full of scones and cookies and cookie sandwiches and pies and cakes that all look homemade. While I did not buy one, I would very much like to at some point.

Take a trip to Seville with this hot chocolate flavoured with orange blossom.
Served with a orange vanilla marshmallow.
($7.91)

 Note: Cost may be increased due to getting it with almond milk!
I was firstly impressed by the wonderful foam on this drink - almond milk is tough to get foamy sometimes! It immediately reminded me of a Christmas chocolate orange (the kind that you "whack and unwrap")! I personally enjoy those flavours together, so it was delicious for me. Not everyone is a fan of fruit and chocolate, though. 

Beyond the foam, the orange-chocolate flavour became more clearly its orange blossom-chocolate flavour - there was an added aroma to the flavour, as the milk was much more heavily infused with it than was the foam of the drink. It took a few sips to get used to, but once I did, it was lovely! A welcomed aftertaste that warmed me up on what was another very chilly day.

It was thicker and creamier than I had expected, perhaps this came from the type of chocolate used to make the drink; regardless, the almond milk turned out to be a nice choice. The nutty, chocolaty, and citrusy flavours all meshed well together for my liking! Personally, I believe it would make a good chocolate bar flavour.

The orange vanilla marshmallow was gigantic and covered in vanilla powder that blew across the table every time we took a breath near the cup, ha ha. It added a slight vanilla sweetness to the drink.

I loved the decorations inside the shop - plates and elegant tea cups all over the walls made it dainty and reminded me of a grandmother's collection, but presented in a younger and more modern way. Definitely inspiring for future decorating ideas!

HoCho Fest Day 19: Hera's Habit

Thursdays are long days, and long days call for a reward. Luckily, I can count on every day holding a reward of some sort during the hot chocolate festival! Today I reaped my day's prize at none other than Cocoa Nymph, who is into their third festival item introduced this week.

"Hera's Habit"
Made from 50% deep milk chocolate with malted milk balls.
Served with vanilla bean cinnamon shortbread.
($6.55)

As is usual, I ordered my beverage with a dairy-free alternative to reduce the effects of existing milk in the drink's components. It was delicious. The "deep milk chocolate" was smooth and added weight to the lighter almond milk's body. The chocolate's flavour was really excellent. 

Malted milk ball.

 The malt ball on its own was grainy - and good! Particularly with the hot chocolate becoming mixed in with it. I learned what malt is so that I would understand what I was consuming before I mixed it into the drink - and I suppose it is basically grain that has been "steeped, germinated, and dried", and reminded me of eating cereal that had been left for quite some time in a bowl of milk - which is DELICIOUS (personal taste). 

Once it was all mixed in, I found the malt added new texture and weight to the drink, and allowed the taste to settle and linger on my tongue for longer and really gave all of my tastebuds the opportunity to experience the drink.

As for the cookie, it was distinctly cinnamony - it was not moist (since it was a sugar cookie), and therefore begged to be dipped into the hot chocolate. This of course led to the blending of vanilla, cinnamon, and chocolate; all of which get along very well.

After a long Thursday, this full-bodied drink with gentle flavours that seemed to give my tongue a hug with every sip was just the ticket to carry me through the rest of the evening's obligations. As well, to celebrate the successful completion of the most tedious part of my academic week.

The shop is warm and cozy-feeling, and I hope to return to try their final item, which sounds amazing! I had actually hoped it had come out today, but I am by no means disappointed by what I had. Come Saturday, I may return. In the meantime, I will look fondly upon my solitary time spent in Cocoa Nymph today as their only customer at the time, as I enjoyed what was a delicious treat.

Hmm, I kind of like this font again...

HoCho Fest Day 18: Banana Split

It should be evident that today's festival item holds great promise to be delicious based solely on its name.
After taking part in an exercise study downtown, I took the opportunity to take a second peek inside Bel Cafe. 
My first visit had been met with the information that I could not order my drink with a dairy alternative, so I decided to try again later.

The cafe has a very modern and "chic" feel to it; dark wood and brown furnishings, very soft blue walls with simple polka dot designs darting across them. This is also the first cafe I've really encountered where a sign tells me to wait to be seated! So I did wait, and I was seated, and I was handed a menu and spotted the hot chocolate festival item, the Banana Split. The description differed from the one on the City Food festival's page, but I was there for a purpose and this alternative sounded equally as delicious! I inquired as to whether it was possible to get this one with a dairy alternative, and the kind waiter recommended almond milk; of course I went with his suggestion.

36% Valrhona Caramelia chocolate, topped with vanilla bean marshmallow,
served with banana bread.
($7.10)

 First sip: WOW! Yum! The caramalia chocolate and vanilla made the drink so very beautifully sweet - I believe the vanilla bean flavour crept purely from the marshmallow (which was melting into the drink), but regardless... My tastebuds were having a sweet and tasty party.

 I believe that soy milk would have made this a more rich drink, and I am very content with having lightened the sweetness and thickness of flavour by choosing almond milk - I really do love that milk so much! It complemented the caramel and vanilla flavours very well. 

The drink was not the only item presented in the lovely display of the festival combo, however! Beside the hot chocolate (in what I thought was a beautifully simple and elegant glass), was a slice of banana bread. The bread was nutty and moist and full of texture from all of the extras that were baked into it. I made good use of the spoon that was supplied by dropping chunks of bread into the drink, only to scoop them up covered in sweet chocolate, caramel, and vanilla flavours; each of which took its turn in making its presence strong throughout my drinking experience (caramel, almond, vanilla, rotate).

 Aside from the lovely experience I had with the Banana Split, the menu had a multitude of other items that looked like they would be great for a midday snack or light lunch. I tried not to stare too much at those around me, but the friends sitting to my left had lattes with intricate latte art atop them and the cutest of cakes to go with their drinks - about the size of a small fist! In my opinion, the perfect size for enjoying a dessert.

I hope this will be a spot I return to soon - I would recommend going as a duo if you wish to go with company - I did not get to explore any more of the space (if there was any beyond the glass door in the back), but what space I had was very limited and filled up quickly! Perfect for one-on-one conversation, but three would require finding enough seats in the center table which allowed for larger groups (but was full of singles and duos anyways).