Hot Stuff

By Mark Loehrke
February 2024 View more Discover

From hot chocolate to hot toddies, enjoy some liquid comfort during winter’s most unforgiving stretch

COCOA-LICIOUS

Chocolaterie Stam

Wheaton

There should be little surprise that a dedicated Old World chocolate shop knows its way around a good cup of hot chocolate (let alone one run by a family that has been in the chocolate business for more than 110 years). Chocolaterie Stam’s take is infused with obvious craft and passion—not to mention a brick of Dutch chocolate. “We start with Stam chocolate base, then add a customer’s preferred milk choice [from whole to oat] and steam the milk to a perfect 140 to 160 degrees,” explains owner Elizabeth Mager. “Then we top it with a dollop of homemade whipped cream and some chocolate sprinkles for a magical cup.”
Good to know: For those in search of a caffeine kick to accompany their sweet indulgence, Chocolaterie Stam’s mocha is made with the same process as its hot chocolate but with an added shot of espresso. 530 Pennsylvania Ave.

Altiro Coffee Shop

Wheaton

An offshoot of the Altiro Latin Fusion restaurant group, this café nestled inside the Wheaton Public Library does serve regular hot chocolate but be sure to opt for the abuelita, a rich traditional Mexican mix made with dark cocoa, cinnamon, sugar, and wheat. “It’s a recipe that brings back so many memories from our childhood,” owner Akire Avila says. “Our grandmothers would always have a hot pot ready with sweet Mexican bread and cookies for us to eat every morning.”
Good to know: The Mexican hot chocolate is available year-round in the coffee shop but also will occasionally pop up as a seasonal feature (with an optional shot of Mezcal) at the group’s restaurants in Wheaton, Geneva, and Aurora. The coffee shop also has been known to feature its own specialty hot chocolate with a homemade chocolate bomb, often around Valentine’s Day. 225 N. Cross St.

Toni Patisserie & Café

Hinsdale

Director of operations Steven Rennau says most customers don’t generally walk into this popular sweet shop looking for hot chocolate specifically—not when there are so many cakes and cookies and eclairs vying for their attention. But those who add a cup to their order tend to walk away more than satisfied by a no-frills yet richly indulgent version made with Dutch chocolate, whole milk, and a touch of French vanilla (plus whipped cream, of course). “We believe that simple is best,” Rennau says. “Like with most of the things we do at Toni, we believe that excellent ingredients can do the heavy lifting for us.”
Good to know: Toni also offers a white chocolate hot chocolate and a peppermint hot chocolate. 51 S. Washington St.

BOOZY WARMUPS

Zorba Cocktail Bar

Naperville

Devon Ley, the director of outlets at Hotel Arista, notes that while the popularity of the classic hot toddy has certainly waned over the years, the drink still fits within a niche mindset for guests because it isn’t perceived as an everyday cocktail. And the hot toddy has a place anytime and anywhere throughout the day, working equally well as an alternative brunch cocktail or as an after-dinner sipper. “It’s not too booze-forward that you’re done after one, but if you’re looking for a little something extra to warm your spirits, it’s an excellent choice,” Ley says. While the hotel’s Zorba Cocktail Bar doesn’t feature a straight hot toddy on its drink slate (it’s always available by request), its Smells Like Tea Spirit is a hot toddy-inspired chilled alternative that incorporates Hayman’s London Dry gin and gets its warming aroma and spiced flavor from Egyptian chamomile.
Good to know: Ley says some of the keys to a good hot toddy are the fruit garnish (which not only adds to the flavor profile but also minimizes the surface area of the hot liquid and blocks the steam), the glassware (a footed ceramic mug is preferred), and the quality of the water used (filtering makes all the difference). “At the end of the day, the hot toddy has outlived most other cocktails because of its simplicity and its versatility—it’s older than the old-fashioned, just as simple to make, and just as difficult to make well.” 2139 CityGate Ln.

French 75 Gallery and Lounge

Aurora

This stylish cocktail lounge and art gallery does not have a traditional hot toddy (generally a simple combination of whiskey, honey, lemon, hot water, and spices such as clove or cinnamon) on its menu, but manager and co-owner Braden Smith says he’s always happy to whip one up upon request. When those bitter Midwestern nights call for something warm, French 75 does feature a house favorite called the Hot Apple Cheer, which mulls organic apple cider with cloves, cinnamon, star anise, brown sugar, red apples, and oranges, all poured over 100-proof bonded bourbon and garnished with a whole star anise for added aroma. “As soon as the season starts to change, we get people asking for this delicious hot beverage,” Smith says. “It’s definitely one of the most popular cocktails we serve all year.”
Good to know: The Hot Apple Cheer is available only on Fridays and Saturdays during the winter, with Smith and his team starting the mulling process on Thursday evenings to give the spices time to work their magic. “It only gets better the longer it mulls,” he says. 56 E. Galena Blvd.

Evolet Eve

Warrenville

Customers love to pack the patio on warm evenings at Evolet Eve, but when the weather turns, it’s back inside to the cozy and comfortable bar surroundings, where many like to chase the chill with a Glühwein (hot mulled wine) or a traditional hot toddy. And while founder and owner Monika Lefever says her team likes to put creative twists on some of the classics, these cold-weather favorites tend to be straightforward versions that are defined largely by their use of fresh ingredients and higher-quality syrups and liqueurs. “Something like a hot toddy is really fairly simple, yet just like an old-fashioned, you can still mess one up with incorrect specs or less-than-stellar ingredients,” she says. “That’s why fresh and quality is our equation for everything we pump out behind our lil’ ol’ bar.
Good to know: For those who don’t need a warm-up, Evolet Eve’s extensive year-round selection of wines, beers, spirits, and cocktails has something for almost every taste. 28W575 Stafford Pl.

Photos: Akire Avila (Altiro); Will Mager (Chocolaterie Stam); Montana Baugh (Toni Patisserie & Café); French 75; Jenna Mandolini (Zorba); Monika Lefever (Evolet Eve)