Mar
22
2007
Global Warming: Hot Chocolate
Filed under Beverages, Miscellaneous

Some friends and I meet once a fortnight to talk and linger over cups of hot chocolate - we call this gathering HotChA, our Hot Chocolate Appreciation nights. We’ve had some really wonderful cups of hot chocolate this winter and last winter, and more than a few engaging and energetic conversations. Hot chocolate and warm company have really brightened my winter nights.

As the winter winds to a close (it’s still plenty cold in New York, despite today being the first official day of spring), we’ve started planning a HotChA at home event, with homemade marshmallows, homemade hot chocolate, and special guest appearances from hot chocolates around the world. Here are the current fruit of my Internet research:

  • Valor Chocolate a la Taza — Thick Spanish (from Spain) hot chocolate, suitable for dipping churros. [via 101cookbooks]
  • Mayordomo — Oaxacan hot chocolate. Apparently the best commonly available Mexican hot chocolate tablets. Comes in three flavors: original, cinnamon, and almond. [via Chowhound]
  • Susan Trilling’s Oaxacan Hot Chocolate — A small-batch manufacturer of Oaxacan drinking chocolate. Many egullet and chowhound folk swear by it.
  • dark spanish drinking chocolate from enrico rovira — Found this one just by poking around the Zingerman’s web site. Looks really intriguing, but a little pricey for an unproved quantity.
  • Filipino Tsokolate — Sounds similar to Mexican hot chocolate, even with the wooden aerator and all. I can’t seem to find any stores online that sell Tsokolate tableas, but there are apparently a couple of Filipino grocery stores in Jackson Heights. I will do some on-the-street research!

As a special bonus, I also found antique chocolate truffles on Zingerman’s. Claims to have large crunchy crystals of sugar in the truffles, and I’m always all over the large crunchy crystals. I love the textural difference.

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Jan
26
2007
2007 Bloggies Are Here!
Filed under Miscellaneous

The scandal-plagued Bloggies are back, with nominees for 2007. Nominees for Best Food Blog are:

Good luck to all nominees!

On a side note, I’m a little disappointed that since the inception of the Best Food Blog category, there still haven’t been any Asian food blogs nominated. Well, at least Smitten Kitchen is from NYC. New York City represent!

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Dec
7
2005
Help me decide on cookies
Filed under Miscellaneous, Baked Goods

Since this worked so well last time for the afternoon tea party, I figured I’d do it again. As some of you know, I’ll be taking part in a cookie swap next weekend, and I was looking through my recipes for interesting cookie recipes. Not the usual chocolate chip or oatmeal cookies, and not the only-for-the-sake-of-decorating sugar cookies. Something with a bit more flavor complexity.

Thus, I seek your input! See below some of the options I’m considering. I’ve linked to pictures/recipes where I can, and provided a brief description where no pictures are available.

Take the poll!

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