You know what? It’s cold here in Ottawa. That means it’s hot chocolate season for much longer than lands to the south. I’ve tried hot chocolate all around the town, but it was at a book fair mysteriously held inside a giant greenhouse that is a working nursery that I found heaven on earth. Two women at a tiny little booth wedged into a gap between lush jungle-like plants were advertising their catering business and selling hot chocolate. Everyone was talking it up so I ventured over and asked if their hot chocolate contained any artificial color – because I’m allergic to it.

These women assured me that this was home made hot chocolate made from nothing but real chocolate and home made marshmallow. Well I wasn’t going to pass that up, so I watched them pour the hot chocolate out of an insulated container and then gently lade soft gooey marshmallow on top – not solid that needed to be melted by the chocolate. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it but no – then they pulled out a tiny blowtorch and toasted the marshmallow! It was simply the best hot chocolate of all time. And look how pretty!

If you see these women and this sign at a fair do yourself a big favour and buy yourself the best hot chocolate in all of Ottawa.