Back to Soirette & in line for Thomas Hass !

Our first stop this year for the festival, we had already tried Soirette's 9 O`Clock Gun, which was a really good cedar flavored hot chocolate inspired by Stanley Park. Our last time there, it was too packed to really sit down and get some photos or enjoy our hot chocolate. But this time, it emptied as we ordered!

We went back on Saturday for their Hot Toddy Float inspired by Grouse Mountain, not offered on the same day as the 9 O`Clock Gun. The description for the Hot Toddy Float was this: "You`d stay warm and cozy even in the peaks of Grouse Mountain with this buttered rum hot chocolate blended with wild mountain honey ice cream." We could definitely taste the liquor in this drink, but like any other hotcho that has had honey in it, the honey was sadly lost amongst the other flavors.

Hot Toddy Float served with a "Grouse Grind Reward Cluster" at Soirette Macarons & Tea.

I surprised K with this heart shaped strawberry butter macaron ($2) when he went to fill up our parking meter :)

Naturally, there was only meter parking available in the Coal Harbour area so we did not fill our meter all the way, just in case it ended up being packed again and we were forced to get our drinks to go again. So while K went to fill the meter some more when we discovered seats, I ordered our hot chocolate and this heart shaped macaron to surprise him. I am no fan of strawberry myself, but he seemed to enjoy it :)

Google maps estimated a 10-12 minute drive from Soirette to Thomas Haas Chocolates & Patisserie, yet another beloved macaron stop for me. Here the aromas were amazing, and the line was out the door of the little cafe. Once I reached that door in line, I was once again fascinated by their amazing ceiling as I was last year. I took another photo of that ceiling and I am sure I will get another next year when I return... Please note that there is underground parking (we paid for meter parking again without knowing they offer parking!)

I love the Thomas Haas saucers!

Another photo of their amazing ceiling a year later (see previous year Thomas Haas blog post).

A colorful assortment of macarons offered that day ($10 for 6).

I wanted to get a shot of this crazy line up that only got longer after we got in line!

Too packed to get our drinks in one of their nice mugs, but I love these!

The Passionista (left) and the Campfire (right) at $5.95 each.

And I really loved the cocoa flower that`s on their to-go cups!

The line and lack of seating forced us to grab our drinks to-go, instead of being seated to enjoy them... But you still get that heart and the decoration of the drinks even in to-go cups, how nice! K had the Passionista, a "fresh passion fruit-infused hot chocolate with Grand Marnier chantilly" and it was served with a passion fruit pate de fruit. A Google search revealed that this was a chewy candy with an intense fruit flavor made from the purees of fresh fruit. I had the Campfire, "a classic hot chocolate, only with smoky caramel, smoked Hawaiian sea salt" and this was served with marshmallows and another little pastry that I haven`t any clue the name of. I am a huge fan of sea salt caramel flavored things, and was pleased to say that this tasted like the 9 O`Clock Gun with the addition of that sea salty, caramel flavor. It definitely had many layers to the taste and I really liked it! Both of these drinks are offered everyday through until Valentine`s Day, and I really recommend Thomas Haas` macarons :)

Soirette Macarons & Tea
1433 West Pender Street, Vancouver
Monday - Wednesday : 10a to 6p
Thursday - Friday : 10a to 7p
Saturday - Sunday : 11a to 6p

Thomas Haas (Kitsilano)
2539 West Broadway, Vancouver
Tuesday - Saturday : 8a to 530p
Sunday & Monday : closed

Hot Chocolate Festival 2013 : Thomas Haas Chocolates & Patisserie

Chocolate, chocolate, chocolate... *drools*

Thomas Haas Patisserie
2539 W Broadway Street
Tuesday - Saturday 8a - 530p

#59 - "THE LUMBERJACK" Bourbon barrel-aged maple syrup hot chocolate, served with a Douglas fir-infused chantilly, maple & vanilla shortbread.

#60 - "MALTEASER" Barley malt-infused hot chocolate, served with salt caramel malt truffles.

The shop gives a hustling and bustling cozy feel because the patisserie is decorated with really warm tones, which includes this amazing honeycomb fixture on the ceiling  and the use of wood furnishings. Thomas Haas (Speaking of the man himself, Thomas Haas was really friendly!) was probably the busiest location (Thierry might have been just as busy, but Thierry has more of a classy feel than a homey feel), filled with all sorts of people who wanted to try hot chocolate, have a cup of coffee or pick up some desserts for Valentine`s day. It is not hard to get to via either the 9 Broadway bus or the 99 B-line bus. I have heard of Thomas Haas before so on one of the final days of the festival, I really wanted to try it. 阿哥 and I went to the store on West Broadway, but they also have a location in North Vancouver. Check out their website (linked below) for an address.

Look at this ceiling!

The Malteaser hot chocolate at $5.95 as well as a vanilla and chocolate macaron at $1.80 ea.

The "fleur de sel truffle" surprised me by not being solid on the inside. It had an interesting taste on the inside, but perhaps I have merely overdone the sea salt caramel obsession and expected it to be like a cake pop. This malt hot chocolate reminded me of chocolate flavoured Ovaltine (one of my favourite drinks), or the inside of a Malteser chocolate if you haven`t heard of that. Suffice to say, since it resembles one of my favorite drinks, I really enjoyed this drink. We also tried a vanilla and chocolate macaron. For a chocolate lover like me, I even preferred the vanilla over the chocolate. The macarons that we had were moist, the shells were not hollow and they were surprisingly not too sweet compared to Thierry or French Made Baking for example. Thomas Haas was one of my last stops for the festival, but I will be back!

*Thomas Haas main website: click.