Luxury drinking chocolate, harkening back to 17th-century European salons and chocolate houses, now is available. Premium cocoa, which boasts chocolate as the primary ingredient, and cocoa drinks flavored with hazelnut, mint and raspberry vie for space in groceries and gourmet shops. In Europe, the glory days of the socially elite chocolate houses are long gone. But you still can find luxury chocolate at a few cafes. The Angelina Cafe in Paris is famous for its rich chocolate made in big copper pots.
Hot chocolate is a simple yet indulgent after-dinner drink.
A thick version is served in demitasse cups with a tiny dollop of mascarpone and whipped cream. It is incredibly easy to prepare by mixing chocolate shavings with hot water. You can serve it in small cups or in 17th-century style chocolate pots and demitasse cups such as those sold in gourmet shops. Having a layer of foam on hot chocolate is as important today in Mexico as it was in ancient times. Mexican hot chocolate usually is imbibed with sweet breads such as those sold at Mexican bakeries.