Too good to be true?

Excerpted from the NYT and invented by the Double Seven, a meatpacking-district cocktail bar:

This drink is made by melting chocolate in hot milk, then mixing it with shots of Brugal rum (from the Dominican Republic) and Caffé Lolita coffee liqueur. The mixture is warmed with steam from a cappuccino machine and topped with heavy cream shaken to the consistency of yogurt.

According to the NYT, the sweetness of the rum and liqueur rounds out the bitterness of the dark chocolate (and of course I'll use at least 80%) and sipping this concoction through a layer of cream only intensifies the experience. YUM. I can't imagine that this would be better than the famed Cocao Africane from Angelina's Tea Room in Paris... it gives one a buzz without the spirits and I do not exagerate! Still, its worth a try since it isn't likely I'll be tasting Angelina's chocolate chaud this holiday season. If I get the chance I'll make a point of stopping by the Double Seven this winter for the Hot Domincana.

Hot Dominicana
Adapted From the Double Seven
serves 4

Ingredients:

2 cups milk

10 ounces Debauve & Gallais or any good 60 percent cocoa chocolate disks
(62 1/2 disks, to be precise)

3 ounces Brugal rum

3 ounces Caffé Lolita coffee liqueur

3/4 cup heavy cream.

1. Scald milk in a saucepan over a medium-low flame and pour into a saucepan containing chocolate. Stir with a whisk over medium-low heat until chocolate has melted.

2. Add rum and coffee liqueur to a metal cocktail shaker and heat quickly with the steam nozzle of a cappuccino machine. (Or scald rum and coffee liqueur in a saucepan over a medium-high flame.)

3. Stir hot liquors into hot-chocolate mixture, then divide among four glasses. Shake cream in a squeeze bottle vigorously for 45 seconds (or beat in a bowl with a whisk for the same length of time), and gently pour into glasses so it sits on top. Optional: garnish with chocolate shavings.

Does anyone know a good substitute for milk? I wonder if goat's milk would work? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Neiman Marcus Cookies for the Holidays

A friend gave me this recipe. Lots of treats for a little bit of effort!

NEIMAN-MARCUS COOKIES

2 cups butter
24 oz. chocolate chips
4 cups flour
2 cups brown sugar
2 tsp. soda
1 tsp. salt
2 cups sugar
1 8 oz. Hershey Bar (grated)
5 cups blended oatmeal
4 eggs
2 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. vanilla
3 cups chopped nuts (your choice)

Measure oatmeal, and blend in a blender to a fine powder. Cream the
butter and both sugars. Add eggs and vanilla, mix together with flour,
oatmeal, salt, baking powder, and soda. Add chocolate chips, Hershey Bar,
and nuts. Roll into balls, and place two inches apart on a cookie sheet.

Bake for 10 minutes at 375 degrees. Makes 112 cookies

Night and Day

Angelina's is the best tea room to stop in after a long afternoon at the Grand Palais. The Chocolate African is the closest thing you'll find to whoop juice in Paris. The chocolate is so rich it will give you a buzz. The interior is so timeless you may mistake a local for Anais Nin. Some people think its too much. That's why I go there after I've worn myself out and need a crank to get me going. Time stands still so I have a chance to catch up.