I was 20 minutes early (me! early!) meeting the Hubs in Park Slope recently, so I took that opportunity to stop into The Chocolate Room, which I had longingly passed so many times before without stopping in.
I knew I just wanted a hot chocolate, but I happy to see a selection of different types. I could choose between milk chocolate, dark chocolate, or spicy-chile dark chocolate. I must admit that I prefer milk chocolate. I think it tastes better; I just enjoy it more. I once read an interview with the head pastry chef at Momofoku Milk Bar, which is on the cutting edge of dessert fare (which is a ridiculous statement), and she said she preferred milk chocolate too, which perhaps why I feel emboldened enough to admit my preference here, subjecting myself to the ire of people who are “serious” about chocolate. In any case, I digress. After some waiter-annoyingly lengthy deliberation, I ended up choosing the spicy dark chocolate, because I decided my love of chile overrides my preference for milk chocolate. Whipped cream, marshmallow? Why, yes please! Oh. I have to choose one. Whipped cream.
An adorable little amuse bouche arrived on my table before my chocolate did. It was a perfect little cube of cake. It didn’t taste very good. It wasn’t bad, just sort of nondescript. So much so that I have no recollection of what it was except that it wasn’t chocolate. I am not going to complain about a freebie, but I always question the wisdom of giving free samples of something totally mediocre. Like those poor kids they make stand outside the chain cafes, handing out little samples of really sad muffins. A silver tray doesn’t make it taste good, and it certainly doesn’t make me want to pay actual money for a full sized version of the snack. I digress again.
Luckily, the chocolate arrived quickly, taking the heavy load of the widespread lack of good business planning off my mind. I was surprised to see how small the cup of chocolate was. I was expecting a big, steaming mug to wrap my hands around, and this was a dainty little cup of the type one must grasp using only the index finger and thumb–pinky up! (It was bigger than an espresso cup, smaller than a coffee cup. I suppose it was a true chocolate cup.) But it turns out I probably wouldn’t have been able to finish a larger mug anyway as it was so rich, not that I wouldn’t have wanted to! It was really delicious. Luscious, thick, sweet, and with just the precisely right kick of spice at the end of each sip. The whipped cream cut the sweetness the perfect amount and added a softer creamy component to complement the sharpness of the rest of the flavors. (It was a little overwhipped, but I assume that was on purpose, so it would hold up to chocolate better?)
I would definitely return for hot chocolate again, and wouldn’t balk a ordering a cake or other confection either, though I might stick to the chocolate options.
Chocolate Room
86 5th Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11217
718-783-2900
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