Sumptuous sipping hot chocolate
When your shopping is done and packages are wrapped, sit down and treat yourself to Bellagio Sipping Chocolate, a luxuriously rich dessert hot chocolate from Pasadena, Calif.-based Caffe D'Amore.
Debuting late last year, Bellagio Sipping Chocolate was honored as Best New Food Product in 2005 by the Specialty Coffee Assn. of America, but was only available in foodservice venues. Now, the beverage described by the company as being "to the lover of fine chocolate what espresso is to the lover of fine coffee," is available at specialty food stores, Saks Fifth Avenue, www.caffedamore.com and appropriately at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas.
Imbued with an alluring taste of fine European dark chocolate (along with a hint of vanilla), this creamily delicious new gift to the palate is best enjoyed steamed with whole milk and is blended with only the finest possible ingredients. These include pure cocoa powder, pure cane sugar, chocolate liquor and cocoa butter. Sipping Chocolate contains no trans fats or hydrogenated oils. Just add milk or hot water and you have a cup of hot chocolate, or use it to make chocolate mousse, chocolate frosting or chocolate liqueur dessert.
"We are very proud of our Bellagio brand and heartened to have seen it evolve into our premier line in such a short period of time, says Chris Julias, CEO of Caffe D'Amore. "With Sipping Chocolate more popular than ever among our foodservice clients, the time was clearly right to introduce the line directly to consumers, and we look forward to significantly building the brand over the years ahead."
Suggested retail price for a 9 oz. tin is at $8.75.