Cups of cocoa with a creative twist.
The Greater Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival begins this Saturday, Jan. 13, running for the next month until Valentine's Day, Feb. 14.
A total of seven Burnaby cafés and businesses are mixing unique warm sips for the 14th annual event — and just in time for when temperatures are expected to drop to -15°C by Friday night, Jan. 12.
The local participants are among 105 across Metro Vancouver, to which proceeds from the 162 flavours available will be earmarked for several charities.
"Larger and more creative than ever, The GVR Hot Chocolate Festival features our region's best chocolatiers, pastry shops, bakeries, cafes and ice cream makers -- all joining forces to make the humble hot chocolate hotter than it has ever been before," reads a statement on the event's website.
Interested taste-testers are encouraged to take to social media — with the hashtag or handle "hotchocolatefest" — throughout the month-long celebration for a chance to win prizes
A map of the participating businesses across Metro Vancouver can be found at the bottom of this article. You can also visit the campaign's website for more information.
Here are the Burnaby cafés, and their operating hours, featuring and creative concoctions in this year's Hot Chocolate Festival:
Bella Gelateria Brentwood
- #016-09 4567 Lougheed Hwy.
- next to Adidas and Scotiabank
- Hours....
- 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday to Friday
- 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday
- 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday
Amore Bello: A taste of Piemonte
- Sip your way to Northwest Italy's hazelnut heartland with our "Amore Bello" hot chocolate. It's a delightful journey to the Langhe region of Piedmont, where the world's most coveted Tonda Gentile hazelnuts thrive. Rich and velvety Gianduja (chocolate/hazelnut) hot chocolate is crowned with a cloud-like whipped cream topping. A sprinkle of chopped Piemonte roasted hazelnuts adds that perfect crunch.
- To accompany the drink, a mini cannoli with our Flower of Milk ‘Fior di Latte’ gelato piped inside. Taste the love of Italy’s Piemonte Region in every sip.
Amalfi with Love: A citrus symphony
- Escape to the enchanting Amalfi Coast in Southern Italy, with our "Amalfi with Love" hot chocolate. Crafted with Michel Cluizel's Mangaro Plantation 71 per cent dark chocolate with its mango and citrus notes, this velvety elixir is a journey to remember. It's crowned with a cloud of whipped cream, elegantly garnished with candied citrus fruit — all paying homage to the vibrant orchards of the Almafi Coast. A delicate spray of "Italian blood orange mist" dances on top of the whipped cream, a sensory experience that will transport you to this coastal paradise.
- On the side: to capture the essence of the Amalfi sun, we've added a lemon tart for that perfect tang. Drink in the love of the Amalfi Coast with every delightful sip.
Bubble-Lato: Where east meets west
- "Bubble-lato" invites you to savour a harmonious blend of cultures. We've taken the silky richness of Taiwanese tea and melded it with a medley of Michel Cluizel dark chocolates. The result? An extraordinary hot chocolate that transcends borders. Crowned with a velvety whipped cream topping and adorned with boba garnish, every sip is an adventure.
- On the side, we've prepared a Italian pastry shell that cradles our exclusive and made in house boba-infused Taiwanese tea gelato. It's a delightful nod to everyone who holds bubble tea close to their hearts.
- Taste the love and passion that went into this cross-cultural creation. With every indulgent sip, we celebrate the unity of diverse flavours and the joy they bring.
Caffe Artigiano
- 4359 Hastings St.
- Hours....
- 7 a.m to 6 p.m., Monday to Thursday
- 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday and Saturday
- 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sun
S'morelicious Hot Chocolate
- An exquisite blend of rich chocolate, signature rosemary vanilla syrup, served with torched marshmallow whip, rosemary sprig, and a bite sized s’more cookie.
Chocolate caliente
- A blend of decadent dark chocolate syrup and spices, torched marshmallow whipped rim and fresh whipped cream, dusted with cinnamon, drizzle of salted caramel. Served with a cinnamon sugared churro.
Chez Christophe
- 4717 Hastings St.
- Hours....
- 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday to Saturday
Cereal-ously awesome cinnamon toast crunch
- A 41 per cent milk chocolate infused with cinnamon and topped with house-made cereal whipped cream. Paired with a large house-made French toast dragée.
- Available Jan. 13 to 27
Dragon Ball Z
- A 70 per cent dark chocolate combined with Fleur de Sel topped with house made whipped cream. Paired with a chocolate Dragon Ball filled with Nanaimo bar filling.
- Available Jan. 30 to Feb. 10
Glenburn Soda Fountain & Confectionery
- 4090 Hastings St.
- Hours....
- 6 to 9 p.m., Tuesday to Thursday
- 3 to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday
- 3 to 9 p.m., Sunday
The Junior Mint
- Dark chocolate hot chocolate with cool mint flavour. Served with a peppermint slice triangle.
- Available Jan. 13 to 26
They should call it "Roundtine"
- Creamy malted milk hot chocolate infused with whisky flavour (no alcohol). Served with a crispy salted malted chocolate chip cookie.\
- Available Jan. 13 to 26
Drake's coffee cake
- Cinnamon butter coffee-infused white chocolate hot chocolate made with Callebaut 28 per cent white chocolate.Served with a mini butter crumb cake.
- Available Jan. 27 to Feb. 11
These pretzels are making me thirsty
- 33.6 per cent Callebaut milk chocolate hot chocolate infused with salted pretzels. Served with a key-shaped brown sugar cookie.
- Available Jan. 27 to Feb. 11
Mon Paris Patisserie
- 4396 Beresford St.
- Hours....
- 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday to Sunday
La Provence
- A 72 per cent dark chocolate with lavender. Served with a lavender macaron and lemon cookie.
- Available Jan. 13 to Feb. 11
La Normandie
- Milk chocolate flavoured with caramel and apple. Served with a caramel macaron and sable breton cookie.
- Available Jan. 13 to Feb. 11
Peaked Pies
- 4114 Hastings St.
- Hours....
- 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily
A hot chocolate named Priscilla, Queen of the Dessert
- Inspired by an iconic Australian movie This drink is a hot chocolate dressed in drag. Blue marshmallow white hot chocolate. A darling pavlova topped with blue cotton candy.
Don't forget my cherry ripe
- Based on the Aussie Cherry Ripe chocolate bar, milk chocolate with hints of coconut and cherry. Paired with a house made Cherry Ripe Slice.
The Pie Hole
- 7832 6th St.
- Hours....
- Noon to 6 p.m. daily
Barrel of chunky monkeys
- A whole lot of monkey business with this hot chocolate inspired by our Chunk Monkey Pie.
- A 65 per cent Inaya dark chocolate with house made banana caramel syrup, topped with whipped cream, chocolate drizzle and candied banana chip streusel.
- Served with a mini Chunky Monkey Pie: double butter crust, dark chocolate ganache, banana cream, whipped cream, and chocolate drizzle.
Apple pie hot chocolate
- Sweet and creamy hot chocolate with house made brown sugar apple butter syrup and cinnamon spiced white chocolate Callebaut.
- Topped with whipped cream, caramel drizzle and buttery baked brown sugar pie crumbles.
- Served with a mini Apple Caramel Crumble Pie: double butter crust, mix of granny and gala apples, house-made caramel and brown sugar crumble.
