Signature Hot Chocolate

(Skip to 5:45 in the clip above to see exactly what I'm talking about)

In this clip, Judy the elf gives Tim Allen Hot Chocolate that is her own recipe, which took her 1,200 years to get right. It's not to hot, not to cold - shaken, not stirred and has extra chocolate.

Ever since 1994 when this movie first came out I have been in search for this Hot Chocolate somewhere.

I think I may have found it.

The morning started of with a simple goal in mind: Get Perfect Oatmeal from Starbucks.

I had a free coupon and after my abusive attack against Starbucks last month, I figured since it was free I should give it a try. Before I left my house I paid a short visit to Starbucks.com where I stumbled across something I never expected. Starbucks wasn't promoting coffee, or Oatmeal or one of their fattening pastries - instead the entire site was dedicated to their new Signature Hot Chocolate. Available in chocolate, hazelnut or caramel.

Wow, I thought. That looks flippin fantastic. But, it was the morning, I needed coffee, not hot chocolate so I had no intention of buying.

I left my house with the thought of the hot chocolate in mind and instead turned into Dunkin Donuts on my way to Starbucks to get cheaper, better coffee before picking up my free Perfect Oatmeal.

Upon arriving at Starbucks I was driven not to get distracted. Starbucks layout has a way of begging you to browse and spend money on things that are completely ridiculously. Alas, I am weak and about 13 seconds later I was looking at the shelves of overpriced Starbucks products instead of waiting in line to get my Perfect Oatmeal.

As I was completed distracted, I had no idea I was being watched and slowly a barista left her boundaries of the counter and approached me asking, "Can I help you find something?"

(flabbergasted) What?

Since when has a barista EVER left the counter to offer their help to anybody?

Sheepishly, I respond with no and that I was only here to get my free Perfect Oatmeal and get on my way. She says,"Oooh it's so good. You need our new Signature Hot Chocolate to go with it."

"Quiet! Quiet!" I think. The last thing I need is a verbal temptation of an overpriced Hot Chocolate drink that I'm already dying to try.

I glance up at the fancy chalkboard and say to the barista, "That sounds good but it's $3.10 for a Tall?!?! It's Hot Chocolate not expensive coffee!"

She responds, "I know I know, but trust me it's really good."

Hmmmm. Hmmmmm.

"Ok, but I want a short." {Very Classy move. The short cup is smaller (8oz) than the Tall and costs about $1 less, and it's not advertised to be sold}.

She looks at me carefully and lowers her voice. "We're not supposed to sell those."

"Come on" I say, "you want me to try it don't you?"

"Ok," she responds, "I can give you a hot cup of water and a lemon." (she said this as a decoy, baristas can give out the short cups if guests want hot water and lemon).

I give her the Perfect Oatmeal coupon (which I almost completely forgot about in my excitement for the Hot Chocolate and the fact that I was getting a deal at Starbucks) and paid my $2.33 (including tax) for my short Signature Hot Chocolate.

The Perfect Oatmeal came out first. This is no new revolutionary product, however it's Starbucks best selling product launch in their history. It's oatmeal in a bag people! They put the the oats in boiling hot water and then hand you a little bag of dried fruit and a packet of brown sugar with the verbal instructions of, "Wait 3 minutes before adding in."

The Signature Hot Chocolate however is an entirely different story. Never before I have seen such excitement from the Starbucks staff about a new product. All three of the baristas were genuinely excited that I was trying it. It was handed over by the barista with, "You're going to love this."

I took my sip......

and fell in love.

It's rich, creamy, uses 4 different chocolates and tastes EXACTLY how I imagine the hot chocolate tasting in The Santa Clause.

I stood, awe struck in Starbucks for several minutes. Never have a I tried Hot Chocolate that's this good. I mean - it's freakin delicious. It fills your soul as you drink it. Ever single sip is perfect.

I yell a hearty, "Thank You" as I walk out the door and the barista responded cheerfully, "Enjoy your hot water and lemon."

Once I got in the car I continued to indulge. Trust me people - this is awesome. However be warned: It is extremely rich and chocolaty. If you don't like lots of chocolate this is not for you. Feel free to go for the weaker, not nearly as good original Hot Chocolate.

The Oatmeal, however is overrated. Sure I mixed all the goods in and tried to romance it. But, at the end of the day, it's just hot, watery, oat-filled cereal. Blah.

Forget the coffee, forget the oatmeal, forget how it's overpriced and go get Signature Hot Chocolate. You will never look at Starbucks the same again.