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Bel Café, Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival 2025

The annual Vancouver hot chocolate festival is in full swing and running from January 18th to February 14th, 2025. It serves as a way to give patrons a reason to visit cafes during the slower season, as well as helps to keep them warm in the after glow of Christmas,

For many businesses they either offer 2 hot chocolate options or divide the festival into two halves. The latter gives fans the ability to try one unique creation, then return in a couple of weeks or days to have a second.

In the case of Bel Cafe, the switch happens on January 31st to offer a hot chocolate better aligned with the upcoming Valentine’s Day.

For now they have an artisan and bespoke hot chocolate elevated by the Bel Cafe team with Hawkworth’s pastry chef preparing a cookie side that pairs with it.

This is their Campfire S’mores, a cozy blend of rich Valrhona Dulcey chocolate and housemade peanut praline syrup, topped with velvety vanilla whipped cream and served with a housemade marshmallow cookie.

This was unlike any s’mores I have ever had. More peanut buttery to my delight. The praline added crunch and textural interest amongst the clouds of cream, much like the two bite cookie that more closely resembled a traditional s’mores. As a whole the drink was not overly sweet and I was surprised by my ability to finish it all in one sitting.

Then, from February 1st through to the 14th you can spice things up with their Diablo Azteca hot chocolate made with bold Valrhona 85%, Mexican spices, and piloncillo, garnished with raspberry whipped cream and a raspberry & chili truffle.

And seeing as I was already there I had to indulge in a couple of their pastries, stunning behind the front counter glass. These were some of the largest I have ever seen and highly tempting.

Out of preference I lean towards a classic butter croissant. Ham and cheese if I want it savoury and filling. Bel Cafe’s version was dense and a meal unto itself, with thick sheets of ham and plenty of punchy sharp cheese.

I couldn’t choose so also got their Passion Meringue Danish. The base was the same dense flaky croissant, hefty enough to hold up the pool of syrupy passion fruit gel that spilled over upon my first bite. The meringue topping offered additional sweetness and a change of texture with its toasted peaks. A delicious Danish in look and taste.

Overall a great stop to pop into and enjoy a small indulgence at.

Bel Café Downtown
801 W Georgia St, Vancouver, BC V6C 1P7
(604) 673-7000
belcafe.com

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