Giselle W, Author at Ultimate Hot Chocolate

A Hot Chocolate at Dex2Rose, Melbourne, Australia

Dark and dingy laneways are usually a pretty strong signal to stay away. But take a second look, especially if you are in Melbourne. Some of the best nightclubs, jazz bars, even restaurants I have been to are hidden at the end of so called dingy laneways (places you would like too, nothing scary I assure you!). And I found a new gem at the end of a new dark lane, and this one doesn’t sell alcohol or play loud music but they are open just as late. So turn at the laneway with the graffiti piece that has two [...]

Giselle W 2017-09-18T14:09:09+00:00 September 18th, 2017|AUSTRALASIA, Australia, Melbourne, Victoria|

Union Square and a Hot Chocolate at Kreuther Handcrafted Chocolate, New York, USA

I love wandering around Union Square. Just a stone’s throw away from the craziness of Times Square, Union Square is the opposite. On one side the New York Public Library stands majestically and silently. On the other side is a beautiful green space with a large area of grass to set yourself down on, or many chairs around the site where you can set up and spend the day. There are ping pong tables, an outdoor library with books and newspapers you can read for free, concerts in the summer, stands to buy coffee. It is a little pocket of [...]

Giselle W 2017-09-12T05:57:15+00:00 September 12th, 2017|New York, New York City, USA|

Hot Chocolate and lots of Alpacas at Bibble and Sip, New York, USA

In the heart of the theatre district, nestled between The Gershwin theatre where the musical Wicked is showing and an Irish pub, is small but mighty Bibble and Sip. If you didn’t know it was here you would likely not find it (I guess that applies to almost everything in busy Manhattan). But I knew it was here and I knew that they had a hot chocolate I wanted to try. What I didn’t realize what that they also gave me my yearly dose of Alpacas which, to be honest, I never realized I needed until I was immersed in [...]

Giselle W 2017-09-05T06:13:51+00:00 September 5th, 2017|New York, New York City, NORTH AMERICA, USA|

Hot Chocolate at Cocoa & Cardamon, Houston, USA

Note: I very recently moved out of Houston and had been waiting until winter to post this, my favourite Houston hot chocolate. But given what has been happening in the city, I wanted to share this today with the hopes that, as soon as things dry up a bit and get back to normal (hopefully very soon), you will go and visit Cocoa and Cardamon. Houston is a strong city and I know, even given how terrible the situation is, it will come out stronger and better than before. I wouldn’t call Houston the ultimate hot chocolate destination…or even [...]

Giselle W 2017-08-30T01:20:17+00:00 August 30th, 2017|Houston, NORTH AMERICA, Texas, USA|

A Hot Chocolate at Guylian Belgian Chocolate Cafe, Perth, Australia

When you eat, and drink, as much good chocolate as I am lucky enough to eat, and drink, you lose patience very quickly for bad chocolate. I drink many, many more hot chocolates than I review here. The sad truth is that most are really not great (and the café owners then seem surprised that no one ever orders them, and then they make no effort because no one orders them and you have a chicken and egg scenario….). When a Guylian Belgian Chocolate Café opened up on St. Georges Terrace the chocolate snob in me kicked in and I [...]

Giselle W 2017-08-23T01:07:04+00:00 August 23rd, 2017|AUSTRALASIA, Australia, Perth, Western Australia|

Hot Chocolate at Cafe Brazil, Houston, USA

Cafe Brazil is one of those places I love, over do it a bit and get tired of and don’t go for a long time, before finding myself there again and loving it all over again, wondering why I stayed away. Every time I go through this cycle (and this happens several times a year), I order their hot chocolate, very specifically their Mexican hot chocolate which comes with a hint of cinnamon and a tiny bit of kick. I'm not even sure if it is on their menu as I've just asked for it by name for years. It [...]

Giselle W 2017-07-31T07:00:27+00:00 August 14th, 2017|Houston, NORTH AMERICA, Texas, USA|

Sculptures by the Sea and the Hot Chocolate at Il Lido, Perth, Australia

I have never seen anything quite like Sculptures by the Sea anywhere. Sculptures by the Sea is an annual event that goes on for several weeks. For that period, the beach and area around the beach is transformed into a large, open air, and free art gallery. The sculptures are from a variety of artists, both homegrown and foreign, sharing pieces that range from breathtaking and serene to powerful and thought provoking. A large glass marble reflects the world upside down, dolphins swim across the sand, a surfer appears and disappears depending on where you stand. We visited many many times and each time discovered [...]