Is there a better remedy for a gray and dripping day than hot chocolate? Perhaps, but few others could be so cozy. And if you ask for a large version at Sweet Elena’s in Sand City, you get a load of comfort in return.
While smaller orders come in mugs, the large is frothed and then poured into a bowl – actual two-fisted drinking, because it is nearly impossible to manage with one hand.
The chocolate is rich and soothing, with just a touch of sweetness and an elusive haze of spice. Marshmallows would tip the balance of chocolate and sugar. So here you can get a dollop of whipped cream, like a pillow of cashmere.
It’s nothing fancy – just warmth and a sense of reassurance in a bowl. If there is a secret, it’s that the crew at Sweet Elena’s make their own drinking chocolate, taking the small extra step.
In the long history of chocolate drinks, dating back to the Olmec, Mayan and Aztec civilizations, hot chocolate as we know it is a relatively recent creation. It is said that Cortez brought the mixture of cocoa and water to Spain. But it wasn’t until the 1700s that chocolate met steaming milk. Unfortunately, the drink devolved into indifferent powder shaken from a pouch.
This, however, is not a sappy coating of sugar. Instead, the sensation of chocolate is genteel. You want to sit with a Sweet Elena’s hot chocolate and allow it to console your mind on a dreary morning. It’s hard to top that.
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