Greater Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival is back and it’s going to be a month of delicious indulgence of chocolate goodness! This year, 66 vendors have put forth 145 flavours of hot chocolate creations. I have started going around to taste some, how about you?
First up, Motoretta Gelato, part of the Kitchen Table Restaurants, with Salvatore Boccarossa at the helm. You may know Sal from Passione Gelato so you know his flavours are always spot on. They offer two unique pairings of sweet and savory.
Hot Chocolates
Bel Paese: Classic Italian dark chocolate, Calabrian chili, and bergamotto citrus, served with zabaione gelato or a flavour of your choice
You definitely need to get the zabaione gelato! It’s richer than regular gelato because it has eggs in it, but the extra creaminess and flavour was cut through by the slight heat in the hot chocolate. This spicy hot chocolate is not recommended for children (unless they like their food spicy) but adults and kids at heart will thoroughly enjoy it.
il Re: A blend of milk and dark chocolate infused with Parmigiano Reggiano and Castelvetrano olives, served with guava rotolo cake
There’s a hint of a savoury note that is unmistakably parmigiano in this hot chocolate. Castelvetrano olive is Mr.‘s favourite olive so I did get a kick out of it when I read the description. I didn’t really taste the brininess I expect from olives, though, perhaps being overshadowed by the cheese. That being said, I really liked the pairing with the guava rotolo cake, because once again, the cake was burst with sweet, jammy, guava flavour.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the two creations are so very Italian yet they’re so unique that I haven’t seen anything like these. Both hot chocolates were very rich and decadent, so I suggest sharing one between two people. Each drink combo is priced at $8. Presentation may be lacking here, but considering the portion size and uniqueness, it’s definitely worth a visit!
Greater Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival runs from January 14 to February 14, 2023.
Motoretta Gelato
1001 W Cordova St, Vancouver, BC V6C 2G8
604-423-9424
motorettagelato.com
VanFoodies.com 
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