L.A. Burdick’s Hot Chocolate Goodness

Yahoo recently ran a feature on the best hot chocolates in the nation, taken from the longer listing by Travel + Leisure.  And while they were wise enough to mention L.A. Burdick Chocolate, they opted for the location in Walpole, New Hampshire and neglected the charming location in Cambridge’s Harvard Square.  Well, we want to right that wrong, as we would agree, it is perhaps one of the best hot chocolates we have ever consumed, and that’s just the beginning.

To begin, this isn’t any old hot cocoa powder you might make yourself at home.  This is the real deal hot chocolate available in milk, dark or white chocolate. To make this stunning concoction, shaved chocolate is whisked into steamed milk, and then topped with foam and a grated spice ball.

If you are a true connoisseur of all things chocolate, as we all should be, up the ante and order a single origin hot chocolate. Choose from Grenadian, Venezuelan, Dominican, Bolivian, Madagascan or Ecuadorian for a virtual hot chocolate hot spot tour. Or venture off the purist’s path for a peppermint hot chocolate or a mocha drink selection.

Every rich drink deserves a pastry companion. Offset the chocolately goodness with a Linzer torte made with hazelnut, almonds and lingonberry or blonde madeleines infused with lime and a raspberry baked inside it’s spongy cake. Or, should you be one who knows no chocolate boundaries, the chocolate treats continue with chocolate mousse cake, chocolate birthday cake layered with raspberry ganache, chocolate cake with coconut and lime, and the Harvard Square – a dense, rich chocolate cake with walnuts and vanilla.

Chances are, if you have not tried L.A. Burdick’s in Cambridge (or there other locations in Walpole, NH or New York City), after doing so you will immediately want to share the experience with others. For those that are too far away to visit the café with you, there are a slew of chocolate treats available for shipping from their website.  Try their New Year’s packages which include champagne truffles, chocolate penguins or chocolate snowmen.

L.A. Burdick is located at 52 Brattle St., Harvard Sq., Cambridge 617.491.4340