With cooler
nights upon us once again, what's more comforting than curling up
with your significant other and a cup of hot chocolate? Here's a look
at two chains, located on Lincoln Road, serving up some winter
delight with whipped cream on top!
Starbucks
Pros: The coffee chain's version (grande - 16 oz. - $3.25) is
made with steamed milk and vanilla and mocha-flavored syrups. It is
topped with sweetened whipped cream and a chocolate-flavored drizzle.
The end result is a creamy taste that isn't too chocolaty.
Cons: It's a bit sweet and ours wasn't
delivered so hot. Total grams of fat: 16 grams. Calories: 370.
Calories from fat: 140. Looks like that New Year's resolution isn't
working out so great.
Ghirardelli
Pros: Start to finish, the sea salt hot
cocoa is a sweet and savory delight. From the bottom up, it's
constructed with Ghirardelli's standard hot cocoa mix and caramel,
topped with whipped cream, a caramel drizzle, and two shakes of a sea
salt and raw sugar blend.
Cons: The nutrition facts weren't
provided online or via the store manager. And $4.25 is a bit much for
a 16 oz. non-alcoholic beverage. Oh well, there could be worse
vices.
The Verdict: Ghirardelli's hot cocoa looks, tastes,
and is made like a hand-crafted malt shop drink, whereas the
Starbucks drink tastes like it came off an assembly line. Spend about
a buck more and treat your honey to a perfect winter beverage.
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