Happiness comes in many shapes, flavors and sizes; mine comes in a mug, served with a marshmallow on the side at Mindy’s Hot Chocolate. When I’ve had a rough week from not sleeping enough, not eating full meals at the right time, working overtime on multiple assignments and if it’s winter time, which means I have not had enough human contact, Mindy’s is my go-to. Sometimes I find a friend, sometimes I make the trip on my own but somehow, every time I’ve been there, I get the table in the corner, by the window. In the summer, this spot is a different story because they open up the windows so noise and wind from outside blows into the restaurant. However, in both seasons the hot chocolate is consistent. The texture is just right (not watered down or nauseatingly thick) and the whole experience of drinking it out of the heavy ceramic mug feels like I am wrapped into a warm hug. When it’s winter, I prefer the overwhelming goodness of the dark chocolate and caramel—the Medium—and in the summer I go for the Chocolate Mint—mint with a mix of white and milk chocolate that feels refreshing and light. The cayenne in the Mexican Hot Chocolate is too much for me but it’s my mom’s favorite. On most days I take a long nap after I drink a hot chocolate at Mindy’s but if I get there in the middle of the day and have to go back to working after, I get espresso shots added to mine. (Manisha AR)
