All the food magazines have blasted us this past week with articles about chocolate. I must say, as someone loyal to chocolate year round, I am a little annoyed by these yearly Johnny-come-latelies who come out of the woodwork every Valentine’s Day. And white chocolate–puh-leeze! Where are you, “oh great-chocolate-lovers” on January 4th or September 21st or May 13th? I can tell you where I am—on my way to the “chocolate basket” in the pantry, to get my daily fix.
Even loyal chocolate-lovers have a favorite, though, and I will tell you mine. There is a little café across from one of the cathedrals in San Miguel de Allende that serves Spanish hot chocolate and churros. Do not order anything else, do not bring a magazine or book to read, and only go with someone who does not require any of your attention, and who will not chatter needlessly in the background as you tune them out.
The chocolate comes in a cup that is really a bowl with a handle on the side. It is thick, It is dark. It is barely sweet. On the side are 3 sugar and cinnamon crusted churros. Take a sip of chocolate. Bite into a churro. There is alchemy in the combination of bitter, rich dark chocolate, a little salt, sugar, spices, and fried yeast dough. I’m really amazed I didn’t faint. Not then, and not all the other times I’ve been either.
(Note: The hot chocolate and churros at Hugo’s in Houston is a reasonable, although not completely accurate, replication of the above experience.)
