Our PARIS Food & Shopping Recommendations

 


Rating explained:
Liked it, but can skip next time                 ❤
Really liked it, will visit again if has time  ❤❤
Loved it and will definitely visit again       ❤❤❤


LE MARAIS (3rd/4th arrondissement)

My favorite day in Paris involved zero famous sites and plenty of food. We took the metro down to Le Marais near the centre of Paris for a full day of adventure on foot, and it was absolutely blissful. Le Marais was the prettiest neighborhoods I've been to in Paris and the perfect place to wonder. ❤❤❤

L'As du Fallafel

Definitely one of the best shawarmas I've had. Serving size is comparable to a "regular" or "medium" in North America. The chicken fallafel I got was €9 for take-out and €11 for eating in, a €2 premium for getting a seat and the privilege of using their washroom I guess. 

The one thing that's different from the shawarma I'm used to is that here they put egg plants in your shawarma. It was a new taste for us but works really well with the sauces, and became a combination we missed. ❤❤❤

Princess Crepe

Not far from L'As du Fallafel, is a tiny hole-in-the-wall crepe store. Seemed to be run by a Japanese couple, this anime character filled store has THE best crepes I've ever had in my life. If my understanding of Japanese (crispier) crepes vs Parisian (softer) crepes is correct, then this store definitely serves Japanese crepes, and it is packed full of amazing treats that completely puts Harajuku crepes to shame.

The strawberry cheesecake with whip cream crepe I got was €5.3, and it came with an actual piece of cheesecake!! ❤❤❤

Pink Flamingo

Similar to Blaze pizza in Calgary, the pizzas at Pink Flamingo were freshly baked. Very tasty, and the chili olive oil on the table was amazing. Our dante pizza (just bazil, tomatoes, and mozza) was €10.50. We also got their house brand Pink Flamingo beer, which was right up our alley. ❤❤

Breizh Cafe

Though photogenic and pretty delicious, these expensive crepes are a bit over-hyped. We got a duck confit crepe for €14 and a chocolate pear one for €11. ❤

Le BHV Marais

A quaint department store on Rue de Rivoli right outside Hotel de Ville metro station that we ended up hanging out in for half a day. We bought a bunch of kitchen utensils and a few modern looking stationary items from here. There were also lots of sweets, teas, and reasonably priced housewares for homey folks like us. ❤❤❤


Pozzetto VS Berthillon

I'm not a gelato connoisseur, but Berthillon didn't taste much different from Pozzetto. So unless you are super picky with your frozen treats, I wouldn't go out of your way to get it.

Pozzetto on the other hand, is conveniently located by the hustle and bustle near L'As du Fallafel and Princess Crepe, and the multi-flavoured "flower" gelato is equally delicious, much bigger, and way too cute to pass on. ❤❤

OTHER AREAS

E. Dehillerin

A cool kitchenware / cooking tools store with a super friendly owner. If you're a food geek like us then this store will make your day. ❤

Le Grande Epicurie

A high-end supermarket with all kinds of food/ingredients. They have their own brand of food and their panna cotta is unbelievably delicious! ❤❤❤

Du Pain et des Idees

A neighborhood bakery with famous "pistachio escargots". It's good, but there are tons of amazing bakeries in Paris. We happened to live near by so we stopped by it during one of our walks, but if we didn't live close by I probably won't make a trip just to try their pastries. ❤

La Fromagerie Goncourt

A cute little cheese shop with super friendly English speaking staff. They first understood the types of cheeses we might like, then let us try a bunch of cheeses/jerky. There was no pressure to purchase anything, even though we bought a bunch of stuff. I highly recommend this place for all your cheesy needs. ❤❤

Republique

Very cool plaza with a ton of bars / brasseries around. We walked home from Le Marais that day and went through here around the time the sun had just started to set. Couldn't help but stayed and watched as skaters practiced their jumps and bars started filling up. It was quite magical. ❤❤

Arts et Metiers Metro Station (Line 11 platform)

This station was designed in a steampunk style with bronze sides and little submarine windows looking into various artwork. It transports you into a different world and is definitely worth the detour. ❤❤

EATING IN

One of our favorite things is to buy our own groceries and make our own meals. It's so much cheaper and just as delicious (sometimes even better!)

Breakfast!

Baguette

I developed a serious addiction to baguettes after visiting Paris. This is something I never really ate before, but they are readily available at every corner and super cheap, so we ended up getting one at the end of each day and eat them for breakfast, snack, lunches to-go, and almost every other occasion as well.

Cheese

There are so many different cheeses, it would be a shame if you don't try a ton. Funny thing is, I can't touch dairy when I'm in Canada as my intolerance has become quite deadly over the years. But when I was in Paris (as well as when I'm in Japan) I have no problem eating them at all!

Panna Cotta

Speaking of deadly creamy things. These dessert cups are everywhere!! There are panna cottas, creme brulees, chocolate mousses, creme caramel...etc. and a whole fridge section worth of delicious face-stuffing-worthy treats. Our favorite were definitely the various panna cotta cups. We've tried one from every supermarket chain we've been to (Carrefour, Monoprix, Franprix...etc.). But the Le Grande Epicurie stood out among all of them. It was 96% cream and the perfect balance between sinful pleasure and whatever I don't care! Mm...I can still taste it.


We did, of course, visit a bunch of famous tourist sites as well:

• Louvre Museum
• Palace of Versailles
• Montmarte
• Arc de Triomphe
• Luxembourg Garden, and
• Eiffel Tower

Read more about them here!

Our First Time in PARIS

We got into Paris on a Monday afternoon. After settling into our Airbnb, we grabbed some dumplings from around the corner (super delicious Ravioli Chinois Nord Est) and passed out in our new Parisian loft.

Walk Along the Seine

I woke up at 4 am, fully rested and ready to go. Jet lagged, obviously, and although I tried to be as quiet as I can, Keith woke up soon after as well. We both tried to go back to sleep, but hunger kept us up. We spent the early morning at our home planning the days, then went for a walk around our neighborhood, grabbed a chocolat pistashe from Du Pain et des Idees, and some groceries for the next few days. With full intentions to stay awake, we fell asleep again after we got home, until 4 in the afternoon.

Although a good portion of the day had passed, we felt super refreshed and decided to take a spontaneous trip down to the river. We walked around Cathedral Notre Dame, and also checked out Shakespeare & Company. Then when the sun started to go down, we made our way to the Louvre.

The air was brisk, and the roads were quiet. The cobble stones weren't even, but I couldn't stop gazing at the beautifully lit palace. I had never seen anything like this before. As we walked through the Louvre Palace, we could hear someone playing the cello in the corridors. The sound traveled all around as couples stood listening and the Institut de France quietly sitting in the background.

I didn't want to breathe, afraid that this moment would vanish as soon as I did. I didn't want to move, and tried, with max brain power, to remember every detail of this night. I hadn't felt this kind of "wonder" since I was 15. I hadn't even noticed that I had lost my sense of wonder until that night, when I felt it again.

We eventually made our way around the corner, and stepped into the Place de Carrousel following a jogger. Even the walls and gates brought me to a different time. Everything was brand new to me, and despite seeing the Louvre on TV a thousand times, it is simply nothing like the real thing.

The Pyramide stood in front of us, bright. There was a couple taking wedding photos around and some guy trying to sell us Eiffel tower key chains. But other than that, it was fairly quiet. We saw some tour buses that stopped briefly in front of the pyramid, only for a few minutes, and felt grateful that we get to spend as long as we wanted there.

It was true, I thought, Paris is super romantic. This whole night has been nothing but fairy tale scenes, and just as I thought things couldn't get any better, the Eiffel tower in the distance started to sparkle. Time slowed down for me at that moment. I didn't even need to try to remember the details anymore, as I knew I was never going to forget this night.

My recommendation:
Definitely check out the Louvre at night. Go around the Seine on foot. Give yourself ample time to wander around the river, discover amazing architecture, delicious foods, and charming stores.


Musee du Louvre

We went to the Louvre (officially, with tickets) the next day. Not knowing much about art, I had done a little bit of research before hand to identify some of the pieces I was interested in and to make sure we had enough time to see them. But when it came time, we were still super lost.

We entered the main lobby through the carousel metro entrance, which was a tip I read on the internet, to avoid long lines at the pyramid entrance. And although it paid off and we we got in fairly quickly, I couldn't quite figure out which side of the Louvre we needed to start with, and the overwhelming quantity of people were still impossible to navigate around.

In the end, we stayed at the Louvre for about 5 hours, and we went in approximately this order:

• Medieval Louvre
• Statue of Hercules
• Psyche Revived by Cupid's Kiss
• Rebellious Slave
• Napoleon III Apartments
• Winged Victory of Samothrace
• Mona Lisa

The crowd at the Mona Lisa was stupid crazy, and overflowed to the rooms adjacent to it. I couldn't really understand what the fuss was about, and enjoyed the sculptures a lot more. But we did discover a painting that we did like (Scene du Deluge by Anne-Louis Girodet de Roussy-Trioson), and made up a story of what it was about while waiting to get closer to the Mona Lisa.

My recommendation:
Pick a less busy day and pre-purchase your tickets. Identify the artwork you want to see and plan out a route. Be patient, it will most likely still be more crowded than you imagine.


Palais de Versailles

It was a colder day, the day we went to Versailles. I've always thought it was far away, but it was actually only 30 minutes outside the city. The RER double-decker trains were much bigger and comfortable than the metro, and it was nice seeing some nature as we headed out of the city.

The entrance of the palace was a 10 minute walk from the train station. As we made our way to the gates, I noticed that I could hear my footsteps for the first time since we got to Paris. I breathed in some fresh air, and suddenly noticed how I had forgotten how it felt like to have so much space to myself. I didn't even realize I was stressed until the calmness of the country-side soothed my spirit.

We went first thing in the morning, again as per the internet's recommendation, made it past the security check point in front of the gates, and were in line behind about 50 people by the time 9 o'clock rolled around. And it was worth it, because soon after we arrived, the line grew passed the security gates and I estimated what looked like 300 people waiting behind us.

The tour followed a path that went around the rooms in the palace. Guided tour headsets were free and made the tour a lot more meaningful. The predetermined path made it easy to see everything, and there were also no time limits so everyone is free to follow along at their own pace.

After finishing the palace, we went into the enormous garden and had our lunch among the statues. It provided us some long sought after peace and quiet, and was just a superb day all around.

My recommendation:
Bring your driver's license so you can rent a golf cart to go around the garden. It is beautiful and definitely worth exploring. Find a quiet corner and eat those chocolate covered strawberries you brought with you. Trust me, you'll feel like royalty!

Montmartre

Montmartre was the first thing/area that caught my eye when I started planning our trip. In particular, the streets. I had an impression of the Paris I wanted to experience, and Montmartre fit the image I had in my head.

Unfortunately it rained quite a bit the day we visited, so we didn't end up walking around as much as we would've, or visited as many stores as we wanted to. But I made an effort to climb my way up to Sacre-Coeur, swung by Place du Tertre, and still managed to see the beautiful Place Dalida.

My recommendation:
As soon as we got off the metro (at Anvers) we realized that this was the place to buy souvenirs. Shops with cheap bags and scarfs crowded Rue de Steinkerque, with lots of selection. Montmartre is also a great spot to overlook the city as it's one of the highest points in the city.


Tour Eiffel & Arc de Triomphe

Despite what the majority of people we knew (as well as the internet) recommended, we didn't want to go up the Eiffel tower. In fact, we didn't want to go up Arc de Triomphe either, but what we wanted to do what get a good look at them. So we made 2 trips, one to see the Eiffel tower during the day, and another one, to see both of them at night.

The metro right next to where we live goes directly to Arc de Triomphe, we then needed to transfer onto a different train to get to Trocadero. The night we went was the day of the second France election, right after the results were announced. We came out of the metro at Arc de Triomphe and was welcomed by cars honking their horns on the road. Sirens were going, people were cheering, and there were tons of police cars all with their lights turning.

We walked a bit closer to Champs Elysees but there were too many people. All I could see were lights and what seemed like an avenue packed full of people. The atmosphere was positive, but a little tense nonetheless. Then there it was, standing above all the chaos, Arc de Triomphe, with its flags waving as if it stood for the party that won, proud and tall.

It was hard not to get excited. I felt like joining the party and seeing where it gets us, but it was 10 minutes to 10 pm, and we wanted to see the Eiffel tower light show again before we leave. So we ducked back down, ran across the long underpass, and caught our next train to Trocadero.

Trocadero is across from the Eiffel tower, and is a great photo/video spot. Palais de Chaillot itself is very impressive as well, and the second time we went there we saw 2 very entertaining street performers. But that night, the first time we went, the place was packed with tourists. The light show goes on for 5 minutes on the hour every hour between 8 pm and 12 am. We were barely able to take any photos without squeezing our camera in between people's heads/shoulders.

My recommendation:
See both places during the day as well as during the night. Make sure you give yourself enough time to walk down Champs Elysees as well as around Rue Saint-Dominique.


Timeline at a glance
2017-05-01: Arrive in Paris
2017-05-02: Walk along the Seine
2017-05-03: Musee du Louvre
2017-05-04: Chateau Versailles
2017-05-07: Montmartre, Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower (night)
2017-05-09: Jardin du Luxembourg, Eiffel Tower (day)

Getting to Paris

We decided on our first Europe trip when we saw this really great KLM ticket deal ($640 CAD round-trip per person) to Amsterdam. We wanted to see if we could see other cities in Europe as well and entertained the idea of going to 3-4 countries/cities at first (ie. Paris, London, south of France, Rome, and maybe Venice). But since our favorite type of travel involves exploring the city and taking our time, we decided to reduce our original scope, and landed on just Paris.

Plane tickets within Europe were somewhat comparable to last minute train tickets, but neither of us enjoyed waiting in airports, going through security, and being cramped in tiny seats. Given Paris is only 3 hours away by train, we decided that this would be our preferred method.

To help us determine which city to visit first, we looked at flight arrival/departure times. We arrive at Schipol Airport at 8 am in the morning, if we had gone to Amsterdam, we would've had to kill 6 hours before we can check into hotels/hostels. And although there are accommodations that store your luggage before you check in, we would've still had to wonder the streets tired, having just gotten off a long flight, struggling with jet lag.

Since the train ride to Paris is 3 hours (Thalys tickets €54 one way), we could actually make it in perfect time for check in. In addition, our flight back to Canada leaves at 2 pm (from Schipol), which works perfectly if we leave from Amsterdam. Both considerations made for a strong case to go to Paris first, and that's what we did.

Getting to Paris - our actual schedule:

Apr. 30, 2017 Sunday
    15:10 KLM flight 0678 from Calgary Canada to Schipol direct (8hr45)

May 1, 2017 Monday at
    8:05   Arrive at Schipol Airport Netherlands, stretch our legs and catch up on food
    11:34 Thalys train 9340 from Schipol to Gare du Nord Paris
    14:44 Arrive in Paris. Take metro to Belleville Airbnb location for 15:30 check in.

Wedding Photoshoot in TAIWAN

I was never the kind of person who's dreamed of their own wedding. I always wanted to be married for sure, and have a partner to share my life with, but I'm not a big fan of ceremonies or customs, so the symbolic portion of the marriage never interested me much. To me, marriage is about 2 people who want to spend their lives together, and that's it. Sure a lot of other things might come with it, but the foundation of it all, lies in the commitment to live through the mundane with someone; the romance, lies within the choice to stay, day after day.

Of course others have explained that the day of the marriage is a memory worth keeping, and when I think of "the memory" that most people look back on, it's the smiles, the love you see their eyes, and the signature white dress. As someone who does not like social events, and has heard of her fair share of stressful wedding stories, it's hard for me to imagine being able to smile genuinely or to have love in my eyes when I'm stuck answering the same questions over and over all day while wearing the most uncomfortable shoes and clothes. That does not sound like my kind of big day, and luckily, Keith hates being in the spot light, which makes him a poor candidate for his own wedding as well.

So, I started thinking about ways to honor the sanctity of the marriage without having the thought of the process overwhelm me to the point of a panic attack. The solution was clear, chop them up into bite-sized pieces. We decided to get married first, in March. Host a lunch with my side of the family in Taiwan during our trip in May. Do a wedding photo shoot to commemorate "the memory". Then do another brunch with my husband's side of the family when we return. We would get the most important element of all - officiating the marriage - done first, then the rest is just formality. Best part of the entire arrangement, is the professional wedding photography company in Taiwan that we hired. They will take care of creating the best pictures possible, so all we have to focus on that day, is us.

Linwei

I found this company through seeing 2 other friends' wedding photos. The style of the photos were the kinds I was looking for: simple, natural, but really beautiful. I got in contact with them, picked out the service plan we wanted, paid the deposit, then started preparing the list of things they asked for on their check list. Because we planned to do the photo shoot during our trip and we didn't want to carve out too much time for this, we knew we essentially got one shot at this. Being someone who's never done something like this before, it's hard to imagine what you'll all need. So when I saw how thorough the checklist they had prepared for us was, it was a relief. I loved it, and it sure made our lives easier.

The following things were included in the package we chose:

• 5 dresses: 2 white ones, 3 evening ones for the bride
• 2 tuxes: 1 white, 1 black for the groom
• A photography consult, a style and fashion consult, and a personalized plan so everything fits together nicely
• A professional photographer of your choice (I chose mine by going through the sample photos on their web site, they then scheduled me with the photographer that shot the majority of the photos I liked), an assistant, a hair/make up stylist, and a lighting guy who drove us around and helped us with the photo shoot all day (they even took care of lunch!)
• We got to choose up to 5 locations, one for each of the dresses
• Touch up of the photos and editing of the page layouts
• 34 photos printed in a custom-made photo book
• A 24 inch photo with a fancy frame
• A digital slide show
• All original and touched up copies of the photos in their original as well as compressed sizes
• 1 free professional picture per year for the rest of your life!

Extra payable options we purchased were:

• Extra digital photos with no alterations
• 600 book mark sized thank you cards (6 photos on 3 sets of cards)

All of this, and I heard it's still cheaper than hiring a photographer for a day here in Calgary.

I won't bore you with all the details of the back and forth correspondences I had with Linwei, but they were very thorough in assisting us prepare for the perfect photo shoot. From the colour of the socks to reminding us that glasses need to be lens-less; from a recommendation of my hair colour to the recommendation of Keith's shoes to bring. We had perhaps around 10 emails conversations prior to going to Taiwan, then another meeting when we got there to discuss location vs dress/suit pairing.

Pre Photo Shoot

After we arrived in Taiwan and had the initial meeting, it's time for us to get our dresses/suits. Keith had a tailor take his measurements for his black/white tux, even the shirts and white shoes were included. That took around 45 minutes, and then it was my turn. I was determined to get the dress picking done as quickly as possible, and I did go through it as quickly as I could, but the dresses took so long to put on properly, that even with a personal assistant, it still took 4 hours. The second floor of the photo company was covered wall-to-wall with dresses, there must have been over 300 of them. I personally tried on 8 or 9, but even that was already a huge workout.

After the dresses were chosen, they advised on the colour of the shirts Keith could buy if he wanted more variety with his wardrobe.

The next day Keith hurried around looking for shirts and belts he wanted while I went to get my nails done. The style I had picked out was gorgeous, I never knew that pretty nails could increase the enjoyment of my life, but it did. After that, I needed to go back to Linwei to try on the dresses I picked out as they have already altered it according to my size. As the 2 girls help me fit into the dresses properly, they decided that 2 of the 5 dresses needed a couple more tiny corrections, which the alterations department did so right then and there. Another 2 hours have gone by before we were finally able to get some dinner. They reminded us to get a good night sleep as we face a 12 hour photo shoot day ahead of us.

The Photo Shoot

8:00 AM

• We arrived at Linwei and got started on make up right away. Keith was done in 20 minutes, but mine took about 2 hours.
• My make up was sprayed on, including my shoulders and arms. My hair was teased, then curled, then pinned to perfection. I requested for them to make my eyes as big as naturally possible, and that meant having 3 pairs of false lashes put on. Everything was executed with care and they made sure everything was perfect, even if it meant doing it over a few more times.
• Each of the 5 hair styles were pre-negotiated and confirmed again before we left for the shoot. The hair and makeup person got my input on each of the accessories she had picked out for me. As well, Keith's assistant ran his bow ties and ties through us before finalizing things too. (well, he asked Keith and Keith told him to ask me)

10:00 AM

First Set 

@ the cute vintage home decor store Zakka

• Saw this cute store on Linwei's sample pictures and asked them to book it for me. The booking fee was $30 CAD for the hour.

• The lighting assistant patiently taught us how to follow the photographer's posing commands while my assistant made sure I had flats after each location change so I could walk easier.

• We took some photos in the main store as well as the empty rooms next to the store.

1:30 PM

Second Set
@ Sun Moon Lake

• There was a risk of light rain that day, and the overcast weather made it easier for us to look straight at the sky. But even so, we couldn't stop squinting.

• The photographer had hoped to get a few "elegant" pictures of us smiling with our mouths closed, but because both of us were having such a hard time opening up our eyes, she gave up that idea and had us smiling bigger or laugh instead. She told us that at least that way, we would look more natural.

• As Sun Moon Lake is a public area, there were people walking around where we were doing the shoot. It was particularly troublesome when cyclists went by during the shoot on the wooden path way. We had to get up and get back into position each time.

• Half way through the shoot, a suspicious red car parked right beside us. I had the feeling I was being watched, and long a behold, it was my mom and my aunt! Somehow, they had found us despite not knowing exactly where we were and when we were going to be there.

3:00 PM

Third Set
@ Taiwan Adventist College

• This is the campus where my parents taught and where I grew up. I have so many memories here and definitely wanted to capture its beauty while I can.

• We first went into the church for a portion of the shoot. All the pretty lights were turned on and I asked to take photos by the piano.

• We then went to the most famous path in the school where even some car commercials were filmed. The sky had broke just a bit and we were able to get the most beautiful colours in our pictures.

• I'm glad my parents were able to be part of our photo shoot a little bit. I know they really wanted to be there.

6:00 PM

Fourth Set
@ Linwei Studio - decorated wall & secret room

• After the Sun Moon Lake shoot, the photographer suggested we head back to the studio so we can take some photos without our eyes being bothered by the sun. After being in the car all day going from one location to the other, we gladly obliged.

• The first set we did in the studio was with the teal dress. We were brought to an area where the walls were decorated very nicely. Then, with a code the photographer entered onto a key pad, a sliding door opened revealing a secret room filled with what I can only assume were their most expensive dresses. 

• It was nice being back in the studio again, somewhere with air conditioning, away from the elements.

7:30 PM

Fifth Set
@ Linwei Studio - plain backdrop

• The last shoot took place in a room with a plain back drop. I had asked for some "behind the scene" looking photos to be taken, and they were lovely.

• Not sure if it was because that by this time, I could see the light at the end of the tunnel, I loved this last shoot. I was relaxed, happy, and the whole crew had a great time.

• Finally the photographer said her last "ok", and you could hear a silent cheer that rang through the air. We thanked everyone and changed back into our own clothes.

As I settled the day's bills with the front desk, the lighting assistant carefully folded our clothes and packed them into the suitcase we brought with us. The care and professionalism of the entire staff is something I'll never forget. They truly had our best interest in mind and focused on getting us the best pictures possible.

We stepped into the taxi they got for us at 8:20 pm. We contemplated going to the night market but was too beat so headed home instead. Relieved that we're finally out of our suits/dresses and make up, we ended our exhausting but satisfying day by chugging down a bowl of instant noodles and went to bed.

Post Photo Shoot

Two days later, we returned to the studio to pick out the photos we liked. In additional to the 34 that were part of our package, we paid for an extra 47 as all of them turned out amazingly. From the planning to the execution, and from the communication to the delivery of our final products, I couldn't have hoped for a better company to take care of us. This was an amazing experience, and I'd definitely recommend it to anyone who is considering having their wedding photos professionally done.

Our Wedding (updated Mar. 5, 2017)
We haven't told a lot of people about our wedding, and that's because we didn't really have one in the traditional sense. Keith's dad was very sick at the time actually, so we decided to have it at the hospital.

Click here to see our Japan & Taiwan travel video!

Joy's YYC Hot Chocolate Fest Adventures

I really should stop hot chocolate hunting before I develop diabetes (lol). After getting in the game too late, I visited 5 places in 10 days. Honestly, I probably would've gone to more if it wasn't because my hand had started shaking from all the sugar and thatmy heart was going to jump out of my chest!

YYC Hot Chocolate Fest has been going on 6 years strong, with 80 participating partners, Calgarians have over 90 chocolatey goodness to choose from, including 31 spirited drinks.

So, let's get started! Here are some of my favorite hot chocolates.


"The Avalanche" by
Euphoria Cafe
www.euphoriacafe.ca
5403 Crowchild Tr. NW
403-313-0503

The Avalanche @ Euphoria Cafe

Description on yychotchocolate.com:

"Classic hand crafted hot chocolate made with freshly melted semi sweet chocolate, steamed almond milk (for me), topped off with an avalanche of torched marshmallows, salted pretzels, caramel drizzle, and a dash of cinnamon."

My thoughts:
The torched marshmallows were nicely done, and the saltiness of the prestzels complimented the sweetness of the hot chocolate. I wasn't able to taste the caramel or the cinnamon much, but that didn't bug me. It is definitely more of a "classic" hot chocolate, without any other flavours in the mix.



"Will You Accept This Rose?" by
Blenz Coffee
www.blenz.com
702 7 Ave. SW
403-264-8630

Will You Accept This Rose @ Blenz Coffee

Description on yychotchocolate.com:

"Single origin dark chocolate infused with organic chai and a touch of rose finished with cinnamon whipped cream and a light sprinkle of rose petals."

My thoughts:
This hot chocolate was very lovely, the rose flavour was quite prominent and suitable, but not over powering. A bit disappointed that I couldn't taste the chai, and didn't really like having to chew through the rose pedals either. But yes, if just judging on the flavour of the hot chocolate, it's great!


Hazelnut Haven by
Cafe Blanca
www.cafeblanca.ca
240 Riverfront Ave. SW
403-460-2002

Hazelnut Haven @ Cafe Blanca

Description on yychotchocolate.com:

"A creamy thick hazelnut drinking chocolate covered with a fluffy layer of marshmallows and vanilla whipped cream."

My thoughts:
Out of all the ones I've tried, this one was my favorite. The staff scooped an ice cream sized chocolatey ball into the steamed milk making the hot chocolate taste like liquid Nutella! Mmmm...Yum. The blue icing, although non-conventional, had a really nice vanilla taste too. And who could forget the 2 complimentary shortbread cookies we got! Perks of going on Valentine's day I guess.



"Mayan Magic" by
Red Bush Tea and Coffee Company
www.redbushteaandcoffee.com
225 10 St. NW
403-270-7744

Mayan Magic @ Red Bush

Description on yychotchocolate.com:

"Blended combination of natural cocoa, spices, caramel and dulce de leche, topped with whipped cream, a skewered cream puff with caramel sauce and a sprinkling of ground hot pepper."

My thoughts:
I have never quite tasted anything like this before, and was really impressed. The hot chocolate was actually spicy! The huge scoop of caramel melted as I stirred the drink and softened the blend of flavours to a perfect velvety bliss. This is definitely a hot chocolate you want to take your time with, perhaps on a long, comfy afternoon chat, while savouring every sip.


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