With the bitter cold weather of the holiday season upon us, a warm mug of hot chocolate is the perfect beverage to both keep us warm and satisfy our sweet cravings.  A drink that reminds us of snow days and of the holiday season, hot chocolate is a beverage that makes us smile and wards off the cold.  There are a variety of ways to make hot chocolate, including serving it with different toppings or in different flavors, and, lucky for us, there are numerous places to get the drink in Port.

“When it’s cold outside, I enjoy drinking hot chocolate because it helps warm me up,” said senior Eden Bloch.  “I love chocolate, and turning it into a hot drink with whipped cream is even better.”

The local Starbucks on Main Street is known for the wide varieties of hot chocolate it serves.  Not only does it promote specific combinations, but there is an extent of freedom in customizing your own drink as well. 

“Starbucks has a large variety of hot chocolate and that makes me want to go there a lot during the winter season,” said junior Misha Petrov.  “Not every coffee place has so many different types of hot chocolate, so it’s really cool that Starbucks has that.”

 Starbucks serves a regular style hot chocolate, composed of steamed milk mixed in with vanilla and mocha flavored syrups, with an option of whipped cream and a delicious chocolate drizzle.  A variation of this is their “Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate,” which includes steamed milk and mocha sauce combined with toffee nuts and vanilla syrups topped with whipped cream, caramel sauce, turbinado sugar, and sea salt.  

In addition, they also serve the “Peppermint Cocoa,” known for its strong peppermint flavored syrup mixed in with steamed milk and chocolate mocha sauce, topped with whipped cream and dark chocolate curls.  Starbucks also makes “Peppermint White Hot Chocolate,” which is essentially the same drink as the Peppermint Cocoa, except that the chocolate mocha sauce is replaced with delectable white chocolate mocha sauce.  Both peppermint beverages are seasonal offerings though so be sure to try them before you have to wait until next winter!  Furthermore, if you prefer a more cinnamon flavor, try the “Snickerdoodle Hot Cocoa,” made with white chocolate and cinnamon dolce syrup, topped with cinnamon sugar and whipped cream.

“Their snickerdoodle hot chocolate is definitely the best,” said junior Jacob Friedler.  “It’s so different from the other flavors, which is what I like about it.”

Starbucks’ countless offerings are certainly evident and the chain’s specialty hot chocolates are very popular around town. 

Dunkin’ Donuts is another great place that’s in town to grab a hot chocolate with three amazing offerings.  Their original hot chocolate is a regular style hot chocolate, served especially sugary and creamy.  The other two flavors served locally include their Oreo hot chocolate, which is geared towards those customers who prefer sweeter drinks, and salted caramel hot chocolate, which is perfect for those who enjoy the combination between sweet and salty. 

“I’ve loved Dunkin’ Donuts hot chocolate since I was a kid, and I’ve always thought it tasted really good,” said junior Morgen Darnell.  “We have two Dunkin’ Donuts in our community, which is convenient for those who live in different parts of town.  They can easily access some delicious hot chocolate from Dunkin’!”

Boychiks Deli, which recently opened in late Fall, also serves hot chocolate. Located right down Campus Drive, Boychiks is just a short walk from Schreiber, making it extremely convenient for students to go there before school, after school, or during their off periods to quickly grab a hot chocolate.  Although they only serve one type of regular hot chocolate, many students claim to love it. 

“The hot chocolate from Boychiks is actually really good!” said junior Amy Huang.  “It’s not just watered down chocolate powder.  It’s very creamy and it has just the right amount of sugar.”

 Let There Be Bagels is another great place to get some regular styled hot chocolate in town during the cold winter season.  Often referred to as LTBB, this shop has been a staple in Port Washington for years, making it a daily stop for many students. 

“I love bagels and I love hot chocolate, so I go to Let There Be Bagels often to grab some hot chocolate to sip down with my bagel,” said junior Stephanie Kapsalis.  “Best combination ever.”

There are certainly no shortage of places to get a mouthwatering cup of hot chocolate in town, including, but not limited to, Starbucks, Dunkin’ Donuts, Boychiks, and Let There Be Bagels. Be sure to get some hot chocolate during the winter season to beat the cold with a cup of warm, creamy chocolate!