Something Greater than Sliced Bread - Bread Hot Chocolate

It is the curse of artistic geniuses to find little pleasure in art. How could a fastidious grandmaster truly derive any amazement from the apprentice's inferior craftmanship, unless it be from the joy of the apprentice? Worse is the fate where the apprentice hates the trade.

I hope this metaphor provides a glimpse of my suffering as Lady of this great House. Too often am I forced to drink the most unlikeable concoctions of milk and chocolate syrup. Too often does the barista not even care about hot chocolate.

Thankfully, the Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival highlights those establishments that truly love the craft. There is joy in that. The terror lies in their frantic pursuit of novelty, which often ends in disaster, just as we have seen in the House of Dior as of late. Thus, I had my apprehensions when I heard about The Good Chocolatier's sourdough hot chocolate festival entry. What strange, ambitious drink was this?

The "Fancy Sourdough Browned Butter Hot Chocolate" is described, verbatim, as the grown-up take on Nutella and butter on bread. Certainly I had never tried something of the sort. The drink is made by blending chocolate, milk, and sourdough browned in butter, and topped with a bread-like crunch. You'd think, dear reader, that such a melange could end only in the most granular and upsetting texture. I am happy to report the opposite. It was smooth and consistent, and, on top of that feat, tasted impeccable. There was a slight tinge of tangy fermentation that paired well with the earthy tones of the chocolate. 

While this drink was far from the classic chocolates of Italy and France, I can honestly say that I enjoyed it thoroughly. In fact, I have little to critique. It was a realization of sublime creativity and genius execution, and the 2025 Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival was better for it. The name of the cafe, evidently, is quite honest.

In this drink lies proof that not all ambitions are a fool's pursuit. Indeed, great hot chocolates can be made from the most unexpected ingredients. Such well-executed creativity naturally leads to the Heavenly ranks and brings this city one step closer to the divine.