The Clever North Wind Reaches Vancouver
Chocolaterie Maya
One of my favourite movies is Chocolat, with Juliette Binoche and Johnny Depp. One of the confections in the movie that I was fixated on was the hot chocolate. Ever since I’ve seen that movie, seeing drinking chocolate on any menu makes me ‘ooh’ and ‘aahh’.
Drinking chocolate, as they call it, is actually fairly simple to make and I have had it on a few occasions. It’s so rich that I can only handle it in small doses, and I think of it as something to be enjoyed only once in a while. In the movie, Armande (played by Judi Dench) is a regular at the chocolaterie, and sits at the counter day after day, drinking cup after cup of Mayan hot chocolate, which looked more like fondue.
Vianne (Juliette Binoche) and Armande (Judi Dench)
Nouvelle France Chocolaterie
One day, walking down Main St., I stumbled upon a chocolaterie, Chocolaterie de la Nouvelle France, which reminded me of Vianne’s. In the movie, Vianne is a bit of a nomad, and sets up shop to dispense her confections wherever “the clever North wind” takes her. Although interior didn’t resemble the shoppe from the movie quite as much, I felt like I was almost there. The ladies behind the counter were speaking in French to one another, intensifying my fantasy.
Chocolate Truffles
In the shoppe were apothecary jars lined on the counter filled with truffles, looking ever so precious. Within the counter display were chocolate squares, each plateful a different flavour. An antique looking shelf held tiny boxes, each ornately wrapped and filled with confections.
Inside Chocolaterie Maya
Oddly enough, while I was in the chocolaterie, there were heavenly bacon aromas singing from the kitchen. I presumed that they were cooking lunch, and I was tempted to ask what it was they were cooking. I refrained from my curiosity and settled on an Aztec hot chocolate for my sister and I to share.
Aztec Hot Chocolate
The hot chocolate was topped with pepper flakes and had a glossy sheen to it. There were aromatics in drink which were warming like glowing embers in the velvety chocolate. Even though I only had a small portion, it took a long time to finish.
I guess it’s been a long time since I took a walk down Main, because a lady at Nouvelle France told me that they had been open for a number of years. Since the holidays are coming up, I will have to keep them in mind for gift shopping. Maybe, just maybe, I will have to treat myself to something too.
It was good! Coats your teeth as you drink it so remember to check a mirror to make sure you don’t greet people with chocolate-stained chompers.
I agree!