this hintonburg hot chocolate feels like a sweet, creamy hug
amandine pâtisserie's thick, ambrosial drink puts hot chocolate from the gas station and cocoa powder packets to shame.
2 minute read
amandine patisserie owner and pastry chef amandine pajor.
tony caldwell
/
postmedia
amandine pâtisserie
1175 wellington st. w. 343-998-3708, amandinepatisserie.com
hot chocolate and a croissant at amandine pâtisserie on wellington street in ottawa.
tony caldwell
/
postmedia
open: daily from 8 p.m. to 6 p.m.
prices: hot chocolates from $4 to $7
fortunately, i was forgiven for my silly question.
after enjoying an incredible cup of hot chocolate at amandine pâtisserie on wellington street west, i asked a staffer what the brand was for that amazing beverage — basically a chocolate fan’s thickened, flavour-packed, liquid ambrosia.
let’s just say that if you are ok with gas-station hot chocolate, or the just-add-water stuff made from packets of powder, amandine patisserie’s hot chocolate will rock your world.
it turned out that at the french pastry shop in hintonburg, the hot chocolate was house-made, and has been since the store’s day one, a little more than two years ago. i wonder: if i had made a similar gaffe in paris, would i have been met with an icy stare and a derisive remark?
they were much kinder to me at amandine pâtisserie. the hot chocolate is made every two days from just whipping cream, “really good” european chocolate, cocoa, and sugar, said owner and pastry chef amandine pajor.
amandine patisserie owner and pastry chef amandine pajor.
tony caldwell
/
postmedia
“we like to make it in the european way,” said pajor, 31. “not too sweet, not too bitter.” the hot chocolate is kept warm during service, rather than reheated for each order. otherwise, it would then become too thick, pajor said.
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how many calories are in each cup of hot chocolate? “you don’t want to know,” said pajor, who learned her skills in grenoble, france, before she moved to canada not quite six years ago, first to montreal and then ottawa.
“i prefer ottawa,” pajor added. “it’s greener outside, it feels like a small town.” lucky us.
hot chocolate at amandine patisserie.
tony caldwell
/
postmedia
at amandine pâtisserie, the hot chocolates come in four sizes — kid’s, small, medium, and large. to me, a small serving, which cost $5, felt like a massive indulgence. i could not imagine drinking a large cup. a kid’s serving might even do the trick for you, if you can overcome the embarrassment.
the drinks come with a mini-madeleine because hot chocolates and coffees never arrive without a little something in france. pajor suggested that if you’re hungrier, a simple croissant, chosen from the pastry shop’s impressive showcase, would go very nicely with her hot chocolate.
“you can even dip your croissant in the hot chocolate for the ultimate treat,” she said.
do you have a favourite place to get a little treat in ottawa? send peter hum an e-mail to share your picks.
other treats of the week:
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