Explore unique chocolatey creations with the 15th annual Hot Chocolate Festival
More than 120 vendors across Greater Vancouver are serving the classic beverage with a twist
Artigiano's hazelnut praline (left) and orange creamsicle (right) hot chocolates. (Sarah Adrian)
As temperatures drop, cafes with cozy atmospheres are packed with people looking to stay warm with a hot beverage. For Greater Vancouver residents, this season signals the arrival of the annual Hot Chocolate Festival.
Until Feb. 14, the Greater Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival is back for its 15th year, highlighting some of the best chocolatiers, pastry shops, bakeries, cafes, gelato, and ice-cream makers in the area.
There are 81 “chocstars,” 180 flavours, and 124 locations participating in this year’s festival, including 16 new vendors and small businesses such as Bak’d Cookies in New Westminster, Killer Ice Cream in Vancouver, and Little Pisces in Burnaby.
Bringing small businesses into the public eye has been the focus of the festival since its start in 2010, the event’s website reads. Its “Chocolate Makes You Happy!” motto is supported by a variety of flavours featured during the festival.
Artigiano Langley is one of 15 locations in the Artigiano family, nestled in one of the city’s many business districts. Each location is locally owned and operated with a commitment to local and organic ingredients for all products, whenever possible.
Artigiano has been operating for more than 20 years and takes pride in every handcrafted drink its baristas make, the business’s website reads. The chain’s blends are produced at its roaster in Burnaby.
Amanda Attrill, a barista at the Langley location, says it is the café’s first time participating in the festival, which has brought in a lot of business, especially on the first day.
“Everyone is getting one of each [of the flavours],” Attrill says, adding that it’s nice to see everyone is enjoying themselves.
Artigiano is offering two types of hot chocolate for people to try: hazelnut praline and orange creamsicle.
Hazelnut praline tastes like a liquid Purdy’s hedgehog chocolate. It’s a classic combination of dark chocolate and roasted hazelnuts, topped with sweet vanilla cream and a crunchy praline crumble. The drink is paired with a fresh beignet doughnut filled with rich chocolate hazelnut cream.
The orange creamsicle tastes like a Terry’s Chocolate Orange and is made with rich, orange-infused hot chocolate and topped with creamsicle chantilly, chocolate shavings, and a freeze-dried orange slice. The drink is paired with a chocolate orange wafer, featuring a signature Artigiano chocolate stamp.
Attrill says Artigiano’s “coffee scientists” at the head office noticed that other cafés were offering extravagant flavours, but were missing out on the classic flavours of hazelnut praline and orange creamsicle.
“They wanted to feature the baked goods that are made at the head office such as the beignets and the cookies that come on the hot chocolates,” Attrill says.
The Langley location hopes to participate in the Hot Chocolate Festival for many more years.
To learn more about the event and other participating vendors, visit www.hotchocolatefest.com.
