Come on....You know you want it. Even if you haven't spent the last hour shoveling the driveway. Even if you hid the leftover pumpkin pie and ate it secretly over the Thanksgiving holiday. Because this isn't just any hot chocolate. This is Angelina's chocolat l'Africain.
This is why they line up in Paris across the Louvre at the eponymous cafe on the rue di Rivoli.
The chocolate comes in its own pitcher with a generous helping of whipped cream.
The room is elegant, but it's not a stuffy atmosphere. Lots of folks - from ladies who lunch, to guys wearing hoodies and baseball caps - come in for the vast selection of goodies.
The big draw, of course, is the hot chocolate - and the chocolat africain is the signature drink.
But fear not, there are pastries galore too.
Including the Mont Blanc, made with puréed chestnuts - in both the traditional and the chocolate version.
I have a weakness for Gateau St. Honoré however, named for the French patron saint of bakers and pastry chefs. Can you see why? A circle of puff pastry provides the base for a generous serving of pastry cream. Small cream puffs covered in a crackly caramel sauce are affixed to the base and the whole concoction is decorated with whipped cream. Who could resist this?
Making gateau St. Honoré is a little advanced, but anyone can make the hot chocolate served at Angelina's - including you.
Angelina's Chocolat L'Africain.
From the cookbook "Hot Chocolate" by Michael Turback.
printable recipe here
Combine 3/4 cup whole milk, 1/4 cup heavy cream and 1 t. confectioners'
sugar and heat over med-high till bubbles appear around edges. Remove
from heat and add 4 oz Omanhene (or any other good brand) bittersweet chocolate (72%) that's been
chopped. Stir till melted (you may need to return it to low heat). Serve
with whipped cream.
Those pastries look to-die-for! I'm not a big fan of hot chocolate, but I must say that this one seems to be divine.
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Rosa
Lovely!! I was just there! The line was very long....sadly, we were tired and didn't wait. I must return to enjoy the pastries and Angelina's Chocolat Africain!
ReplyDeleteQuelle deliziose patine con una cioccolata calda sarebbe proprio quello che ci vuole per un freddo e piovoso pomeriggio come quello odierno. Un abbraccio Daniela.
ReplyDeleteI just gained weight looking at all these special treats, Linda! I have a weakness for whip cream and would not be able to resist the hot chocolate or the Gateau St. Honoré.
ReplyDeleteI have never been to Angelina's because of the long lines, and I also go in the warm weather so don't crave hot chocolate....however, I AM CRAVING IT NOW! (and Paris too!).
ReplyDeleteWe're having a chilly day here, and a cup of hot chocolate sounds perfect. Especially with the whipped cream!
ReplyDeleteYummy! And look at those delicious Mont blancs! Angelina is the place to be!
ReplyDeleteSinfully rich! I've always had a soft spot for Angelina's. I guess it's obvious why that might be...
ReplyDeleteOh my! I'll have to make some of this as my son is a hot chocolate fanatic. And now I want to go to Paris to get some of the pastries!
ReplyDeleteOMGoodness, I could never resist any of this, who would?
ReplyDeleteDecadent and divine!
Oh my, but you know ho to hurt a ggirl. First the Chocolate and then Gateau St. Honore, a tour de force of the pastry chef if ever there was one.
ReplyDeleteThere is something so very special about those palaces of pastry, and you have captured it in this post. I absolutely love the shot of the Chocolate being poured. That is one VERY fine photo. Well done, and kudos to you, my friend.
What an absolutely grand post. Oh, how I wish I could have been there, but this post was the next best thing. And this way, my jeans still fit!
Thank goodness this was the low fat tour. Fabulous fabulous photos!!!
ReplyDeleteThis looks like a perfect place to take a little break from sightseeing and have a treat. I'm adding this to my list of places we must visit on our next trip.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful post, Linda! I felt as if I was right there in Paris . . . pooh la la! The chocolate looks divine and rich! When I visited the Louvre I was dirt poor and would have sold my coat to have a treat there if I had known about this little Parisian cafe'!
ReplyDeleteooops, that was supposed to say 'oooh la la' . . . auto spell check changed it to 'pooh'. ARGH!
ReplyDeleteI could not refrain from commenting. Very well written!
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Oh Linda, charming post. I'm not so sure I want the hot chocolate but I am positive I want to be there in that gorgeous restaurant in Paris.
ReplyDeleteLL
la prossima volta che ritorno a Parigi devo proprio andare da Angelina, le tue foto mi hanno messo una Voglia Matta, bellissime e molto golose le torte! Buona domenica!
ReplyDeleteThis cafe looks amazing! I love the cakes and the hot chocolate is very tempting!!!
ReplyDeleteI know I want it. Now. No whole milk in the house but will remedy that tomorrow before the snow hits on Saturday. I will make my family very happy!
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