Hot Chocolate Trips in Manhattan

....I wrote this last February. Since the weather is starting to get colder I've been craving hot chocolate and thinking about new places I'd like to visit...

New York Magazine declared February as “Chocolate Month”. Valentine’s Day probably played a part, but after I read the magazine’s blurb detailing the best hot chocolates in Manhattan, I was inspired to make regular chocolate outings as a way to satisfy my coco cravings and to explore my new home.

My chocolate mission started at Jacque Torres’ Chocolate Haven for a Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate. The ingredients—two of my all time favorites—made his version incredibly rich. Downing the decadent treat in his whimsical shop reminded me of the pastry chef himself who ends each of his Food Network shows—another favorite—with some pretty solid advice: “life is sweeter with chocolate”.

The deceptively simple-sounding Hot Chocolate at City Bakery in Chelsea is actually a sophisticated version, matching the sleek, loft-like setting. Accessorized with homemade marshmallows and prepared behind a bar in the middle of the café a la assembly line, this cup-of-goodness was all about attention to detail.

Michel Cluizel makes the chocolate that I keep at home. I love his 64-66% Venezuelan bar, and when I found out that the namesake was also a hip chocolate lounge equipped with cocktails, I was sold. A friend and I started our Saturday evening with a pot of hot chocolate that was classic, simple, and rich, and it alone kept us going into the wee hours.

Each spot put a smile on my face not just because I love chocolate, but because every trip brought me to a new nook of Manhattan. With the weather turning nice, I’ll have to start a new city tour… I heard about these truffles in Soho…