Cocoa 4 the Troops

Oh! Late breaking news…I just stumbled upon an announcement about a Cocoa and Card collection for our troops. An organization in northern California is collecting cards and cocoa for our military for the Fourth of July.

The group is collecting items until the middle of June (which is now). If you wish to donate to our troops, send items to:

Cards and Cocoa
c/o Yvette Cook
PO Box 1387
Freedom, CA 95019

Cocoa Clinical Trials

The United Kingdom’s University of East Anglia is starting a clinical trial with post menopausal women with type 2 diabetes for a study on cocoa and heart disease. Cocoa is rich with flavonoids. Unfortunately during the manufacturing process from cacao bean to bar, the benefits of flavonoids and their antioxidant characteristics are lost. Antioxidants may help us protect our cells from free radicals or molecules that are produced when our body breakdowns food or from the environment (such as smoke, radiation etc.).

Volunteers for the study will receive a specially formulated type of chocolate that has more flavonoids than a typical one found in stores today. The goal of the study is to determine the impact of cocoa’s flavonoids on heart disease.

This study, which most likely is currently underway, ties back to another article I read about how cocoa’s flavonoids are lost in Dutched processed cocoa. Dutch processing is when a cocoa is treated with an alkaline salt such as sodium or potassium carbonate to neutralize the bitter taste of the cocoa. Although the Dutch processed cocoa has a milder taste, the good health benefits decrease along the way.

No Chocolate Swan this trip

Due to time constraints, I was not able to make it to the Chocolate Swan at Mandalay Bay. I knew I would not be able to reach the number five recommendation at Mount Charleston Lodge on Old Park Rd when I started my hot chocolate mission. But I thought I could definitely reach all four of the local top Las Vegas hot chocolates. Major disappointment!

I guess another trip to Vegas is required in the near future. Oh well… three out of five of Las Vegas’ “5 to Try: Hot Chocolate” is not too bad.

Next, up…Vosges Haut-Chocolat

After enjoying our Jean-Philippe Patisserie crepes and deep, dark hot chocolate, we were off to Vosges Haut-Chocolat in The Shoppes at Caesar’s Palace.

Vosges Haut is located in the newest part of the Caesar's Palace shopping area. As a youngster, I frequently vacationed in Las Vegas with my parents. It is interesting to see how a one-time rotunda with a long flat escalator that transported you to hotel was transformed into the newest portion of Caesar's Palace.

Along the way, we passed numerous sculpture replicas from the great artists such as Michelangelo. When we finally arrived at Vosges Haut-Chocolat my heart was set on the Aztec Elixir Hot Cocoa which has ancho & chipotle chillies, Ceylon cinnamon, Madagascar vanilla bean, cornmeal and dark chocolate.

The Vosges Haut interior was decorated in a white and purple palette, quite chic and very modern. Once I took at seat at the mini-bar, I changed my mind. I no longer wanted to try the Aztec Elixir, but the Bianca Hot Cocoa. Vosges Haut-Chocolat Bianca contains Australian lemon myrtle, lavender flowers, vanilla and white chocolate. Half & Half was used to create the $5.00 a cup white chocolate mixture. While the Vosges Haut associate worked on my beverage, my mother brought a chocolate bar with bacon to my attention. The Vosges associate offered my mother a sample of this unusual chocolate bar. Mommie took the associate up on the offer. After the associate presented me with a tall ceramic mug of white chocolate, I was in enamored of the flecks of the lemon myrtle visible at the top of the mug. The aroma was amazing and I was ready to sip.

Since I didn’t have any expectations on the hot beverage before me, all I can say was I was utterly surprised by the divine flavors assembled in this couture hot cocoa. A lot of heaven in a cup and I wasn’t going to let anyone rush me out of the shop until I had every last drop. Okay… that is a lie since I had to return to the tradeshow, but I had to come down out of the clouds which I wasn’t ready to do at that point.

I finished a large portion of the hot cocoa and took the rest with me. With great shock, my mother loved the chocolate bar with bacon and purchased it for my father. She too enjoyed the Bianca Hot Cocoa therefore everyone went home with a box of Vosges Haut Bianca Hot Cocoa!

Off to the Bellagio Hotel

Although I am back in Texas, I still have many tales from my hot chocolate mission!

After a surprise arrival of my mother and sister from Cali, I dragged them along on my mission. The two actually looked forward to the adventure. Since I again had to work during the day, I wished to arrive at the Jean-Philippe Patisserie at 9:00 am. We arrived at the monorail ready to start our mission. However, the blasted thing did not work! Exceptionally annoyed that I purchased a 3-day pass and my mom and sister purchased a one-day pass that would not be used. We ended up taking a Taxi to the Bellagio. More wasted money, but I know it is going to be worth it.

We primarily stay at the Venetian when we visit Vegas, so this was going to be our first visit to Bellagio. Once inside, the beautiful blown glass ceiling was absolutely amazing. The Brightly colored flowers in various sizes and designs were spectacular. The glass flower garden in the sky lead to a festive garden.

The garden was travel inspired with miniature travels traveling throughout the shrubbery, bridges or water falls. Since my husband is a locomotive engineer he would have loved to see this. Unfortunately, he wasn’t with me on this trip. Nonetheless, have emerging ourselves in the beauty around us we moved on to finding Jean-Philippe Patisserie.

Wella! Low and beyond the chocolate beauty was upon us. Just a few feet behind the garden was Jean-Philippe’s! It has an amazing chocolate fountain with white and milk chocolate flowing from one clear clamshell shaped bowl to another. It was like chocolate heaving seen the chocolate flow from the ceiling to the floor.

We hopped in line quickly due to the high traffic volume. We all decided on crepes, but since the menu was facing the hallway and not the actual line and menus were no where in site. We winged it. Our family simply loves berry crepes. Therefore, I knew when I peeked the marinated berry crepe on the menu before we got in line that the berry crepe would be our selection. My sister is not adventurous as my mother and I. She selected the simple crepe with sugar and hot chocolate. After placing my order for a crepe and hot chocolate I could not wait to indulge in it. Look how beautiful it is!

The crepe was superior. The crepe was flooded in berry compote of raspberry, black berries, and blueberries. I think it also had rhubarb? The inside of the crepe contained a layer of cream. I am not sure what it was, but it was fabulous. When it came time for a sip of hot chocolate, I couldn’t wait to taste the flavors of Jean-Philippe. While watching the Jean-Philippe employee make the hot chocolate, I noticed they also use half-and-half for their hot chocolate.

Now, it is hot chocolate time. I had to allow my palate to neutralize from the sweetness of the crepe so I could truly experience the hot chocolate. Finally, it was sipping time. You could taste the bittersweet chocolate with a hint of sweetening.

The texture was full, but not too thick. For the average person, this isn’t the hot chocolate they are accustomed to drinking. My sister thought it was “okay” and wanted more sugar. Blah!! I was thinking to myself, “you are going to ruin a wonderful cup of hot chocolate!” My mother tasted my and loved it. Mommie gets it. Big sister…doesn’t.

Plotting my next excursion

After conducting business yesterday in the morning/afternoon and enjoying ethel’s hot chocolate earlier in the day, I was ready to visit the next round of hot chocolate recommendations. I jumped on the web and started checking out the hours and locations of the other recommendations. Upon determining the Las Vegas monorail stopping points I must make to reach my destinations, I was drooling the rest of the night.