Nothing can cure the winter blues like a nice cup of hot chocolate. Thankfully, there’s the 9th annual YYC Hot Chocolate Fest, which lasts an entire month. From February 1 to 29, Calgarians can order special hot chocolate creations at nearly 75 restaurants, cafes and shops around the city. The best part is that some of the proceeds from every drink purchased during the festival will benefit local non-profit Calgary Meals on Wheels.
You can download the YYC Hot Chocolate Fest app to see the full list of participating spots and their drinks, locate them on a map and vote for your favourites. At the end of the month, winners for Calgary’s best hot chocolate, Calgary’s best spirited hot chocolate and the Cup That Runneth Over Award will be announced.
Here are five hot chocolate drinks to try during YYC Hot Chocolate Fest 2020
The Barcelona from Barrow
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Visit Barrow’s cSpace King Edward location to get your hands on a thick, Spanish spiced hot chocolate this month. The vegan drink already sounds pretty tempting thanks to ingredients like oat milk, coconut whip cream, brown sugar and spices, and the addition of vegan churros by Canela certainly doesn’t hurt.
cSpace King Edward, 1721 29 Ave. S.W., barrowespresso.com
Chicken Bones Hot Chocolate from Calgary Heritage Roasting Company
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No, this hot chocolate from Calgary Heritage Roasting Company is not made with actual chicken bones. Rather, it features the pink cinnamon-chocolate candies created by New Brunswick-based chocolate company, Ganong. Swing by the roastery’s Ramsay cafe to try it for yourself.
2020 11 St. S.E., 403-455-2472, calgaryheritageroastingco.com
Tiramisu Hot Chocolate from Cibo
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If you love tiramisu, chances are you’ll also love this hot chocolate from Cibo on 17 Ave. S.W. Featuring mascarpone whipped cream, made-in-house coffee syrup and chocolate sauce, and finished off with a ladyfinger, it’ll be just like you’re taking a bite of the classic Italian dessert.
1012 17 Ave. S.W., 403-984-4755, cibo17th.com
Deconstructed Italian Cioccolato from Cravings Market Restaurant
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Cravings Market Restaurant’s featured hot chocolate is one of the most unique ones this year. The deconstructed drink features each element/ingredient separately on a plate — there’s deep-fried ice cream, thick Italian hot chocolate, orange whipped cream, a chocolate-covered cookie straw and some brandy. Put it all together and you’ve got the makings of one great hot chocolate. The drink is available without alcohol as well.
7207 Fairmount Dr. S.E., 403-252-2083, cravingsmarketrestaurant.com
Wake Me Up Before You Cocoa from Yellow Door Bistro
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A hot chocolate made with local beer? Yes, please. This creation from Yellow Door Bistro features Eighty-Eight Brewing Company‘s Good Morning Vietnamese coffee stout, as well as Vietnamese hot chocolate and Tia Maria coffee liqueur.
119 12 Ave. S.W., 403-206-9585, yellowdoorbistro.ca