It happened early in 2008, about this time of year when winter feels like it should just give up already, but instead it keeps on going with the cold, the wet, and the misery. I must say I blame Suti for the whole conundrum. We had been working up to it for a while, and finally the day came when we stomped our snowy boots into the innocuous storefront on 17th street to sample the much-heralded goods.
And I have to admit – it was all over from there.
I am of course talking about the hot chocolate at City Bakery. It has been described as the “best in the city”, as sickeningly rich; it has been likened to drinking hot dark chocolate brownie batter. It is so. Freaking. Good. I’ve become choco-vangelical about it. I won’t let people rest until they’ve sampled a 3 oz cup, because 3 oz is all you need and you will be flying. I’m not exaggerating: this chocolate literally makes you high. I hear it has been outlawed in Gramercy for fear it might incite chocolate disorder and civil unrest.*
I am torn between my enthusiasm for awesome, dark, thick hot chocolate, though. It is a …ahem…. bittersweet affection for me. For all the joy that coming to know really good hot chocolate — and not just City Bakery but at chocolate specialists all over the city — has brought, it has come at the cost of enjoying a cup of Swiss Miss when that’s what’s available. I have become one of those intolerable food snobs who only drinks gourmet cocoa. But I can’t help it. Swiss Miss just doesn’t do it for me anymore – kind of tastes like hot brown water. I gotta have the real thing, or I guess I’ll just take tea, thanks.
*Complete fabrication.
The General Enthusiast 