P&N Daily Scoop, North Narrabeen

Writers are well-known for enjoying a drink while they write. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway were practically alcoholics, apparently. Most writers I know prefer a tea or coffee. As for me, I like a sparkling water, coke zero, or a proper hot chocolate.

There’s something about chocolate. Probably the naturally occurring chemical compounds it contains (alkaloids) that have physiological effects in humans, like cocaine and morphine! There’s more about my love of chocolate over here.

But hot chocolate also has a special place in my heart, if it’s made the right way – with real chocolate!

In fact, I recently went on a hunt for the best hot chocolates on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, which encompasses a total of about 250 square kilometres and a population of about 270,000 residents. It started with a Facebook post. “Hi all,” I asked my local communities, “I’m on the hunt for a proper hot chocolate… made with real chocolate melted by hot milk (no chocolate powder in sight!). Please let me know so I can go rate them!”

I got almost 50 recommendations!

That’s a lot of hot chocolate! And of course I had to go try them all. Just look at the yumminess…!

Aggy’s Corner, Balgowlah Choc et Moi, Dee Why Lindt Chocolate Boutique, Warringah Mall Mary’s Cafe, Dee Why

With each tasting I became more discerning, more of an expert, so started rating them all. After a few months, I had the beginnings of a favourites list.

Lighthouse Specialty, Mona Vale Two Siisters, Fairlight Roseberry Street Cafe, Balgowlah

Some places were a disappointment of course, claiming to use real chocolate, then spooning out powder or using a chocolate-flavoured syrup. Chocolate will naturally solidify if left at room temperature, so what is in those syrup bottles? Not melted chocolate!

One place even had several delicious-looking chocolate fountains on display, yet moments after telling me they used real chocolate in their hot chocolates, the barista reached for a syrup bottle! When I asked what was in it, she admitted she had no idea!

The best places all used hot milk to melt fresh chocolate buttons or chips, or kept warm melted chocolate ready to ladle into a cup. Oh what a delightful fuel for my writing!

Redstone Cafe, Warringah Mall Frankie’s, Terry Hills Showbox Coffee, Manly

There were about 25 of these, but since I wanted to know which were the absolute best I returned to my highest ratings to ask more questions and observe how each drink was made.

Sunrise Cafe, Warriewood Beach

This time I realised that some baristas were leaving it up to their customers to stir in the melted chocolate. But stirring a hot drink invites in cold air, and by the time I’d stirred in mine, my drink was no longer hot! When I asked these baristas to do the stirring while the cup was only half (or less) full, then top it up with hot milk, some happily obliged.

But others insisted that melted chocolate should remain on the rim or glass of the cup for aesthetic purposes. Since I was after a tasty hot beverage, not a cool photograph, I couldn’t keep them on my list. Some hot chocolates were also weaker on subsequent visits, with baristas admitting they’d used less chocolate than before.

Finally, a whole year later, I had a Top 12. And what did I do with that list…?

I wrote about it of course!

I sent my list to a local magazine, The Tawny Frogmouth, so others could enjoy the results of my efforts, and so the local businesses could get more customers. After all, they deserve them – none of the places I visited ever knew I was rating them!

Read the article I wrote over here.

What drink would inspire you to write? Do you have a list of your favourites? Have you checked out all the delightful books I wrote while drinking mine?