With a massive snowstorm brewing, I need to pack on a bit more insulation, so tonight I went to The City Bakery’s annual Hot Chocolate Festival. Without a doubt, I am now a few stone heavier.

As well as being my first Hot Chocolate Festival, it was also the first time I’ve ever bought a mug of hot chocolate, if you can believe it. I’ve always thought it was far too rich – and the espresso chocolate on offer tonight definitely lived up to that expectation.

The staff ladled the melted chocolate into cups before dunking a massive homemade marshmallow in the top. As a veggie, I opted out of the marshmallow, but the chocolate was more than enough sweetness. Oh dear god, was it sweet. And thick. And comforting. And so delicious.

And all I could manage was about four sips.

The festival is held at the cafe (on 18th and 5th Ave) every February, and each day they spotlight a different house-made flavor. My server told me I should try the ginger hot chocolate on another visit and when I flinched in horror, she looked me dead in the eye and said: ‘You need to.’

Either that was a line or it is the most delicious hot chocolate known to humankind. In my limited experience, the espresso kind can’t be that far behind it.

Here are the flavours still on offer. Without the marshmallow I shelled out $5.50 (that’s $1.37 a sip!)