Melting Marshmallow Hot Chocolate at Max Brenner

Melting Marshmallow Hot Chocolate
(Php158)

America's Best Hot Chocolate

Forget Swiss Miss; the best hot chocolate has become a gourmet affair.

By Nina Fedrizzi

We’ve all had powdery hot cocoa—watery, only vaguely chocolaty, and occasionally crunchy with undissolved marshmallow clumps. Still, cocoa was—and is—the best thing to stir into a mug on a winter afternoon.

Today’s hot chocolate has come a long way from little packages with gritty marshmallows. From sipping chocolate flavored with secret Caribbean spices to house-roasted cocoa beans and celebrity truffle shops, America’s best hot chocolate has gone gourmet.

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Max Brenner Chocolate by the Bald Man, Las Vegas

The Brenner outpost offers more than 10 varieties of hot chocolate drinks; don’t miss the decadently rich Suckao—a shot of chocolate that’s the espresso of the cocoa world.

maxbrenner.com; from $5.25.

(Read the other hot chocolate that made it to the list, here.)

Max Brenner Chocolate Bar
Chocolate by the Bald Man
Greenbelt 5, Makati City

That article sent me into a veritable frenzy and feverish longing for hot chocolate. Not just any hot chocolate, of course, but one by Max Brenner Chocolate Bar (located at Greenbelt 5 in Makati City). And that is just where I found myself last Saturday night.

Kangaroo
(Php158)

I practically dragged my friends to the store, I think, and I ended up breaking our weekend ritual of having coffee together after dinner. I didn't really mean to. I, in fact, volunteered to just follow them to our usual haunt after I've had my hot chocolate. But they went along for the ride. (Perhaps out of idle curiosity or maybe because of genuine intrigue, I really couldn't tell.)

After marveling at the giant vat of whirling melted chocolate found inside the store (which I think sealed the deal for my hapless companions), and wondering how an Oompa Loompa must feel like staring down a river of flowing chocolate every single day of his life, I ordered my Melting Marshmallow Hot Chocolate. This, instead of Suckao, the variety actually mentioned in the article which was dubbed "the espresso of the cocao world". It seemed too rich a drink for me that night, the Suckao, having just had a very filling shabu-shabu dinner.

White Chocolate Mocha
(Php158)

Next time, Suckao, I promise.

I've been to Greenbelt a number of times since the article was released, but not once did I get around to visiting the shop. It was only last Saturday night did I finally get my chance. It was a good evening as any. A rainy night, in the company of good friends-- I'd say it was a perfect time to have a piping hot hug mug of gourmet hot chocolate.