Those who know me know that I am extremely organized and deadline-oriented.  Those who know me well also know that I tend to procrastinate on certain things.  Today, (finally, after many invitations from Mindy) I had lunch at Hot Chocolate in Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborhood.  Oh, how I wish I had gone sooner!

I generally prefer to choose restaurants where I know I will be served a well-made dessert.  Today’s lunch spot also had to be convenient to the Blue Line to accommodate a friend arriving at O’Hare from London.  Hot Chocolate is just minutes away from the Damen stop; and with Mindy Segal at the helm, I was confident that dessert would be just right.

My smoked portobello sandwich was teeming with flavor: hummus red pepper and tomoato preserve served on a soudough flatbread.  My friend’s lamb sausage was served with a delectable Krema Kasa cheese and wild arugula.

Already full from the satisfying portions and local brews, we opted to share one of Mindy’s dessert creations: warm brioche donuts served with hot fudge.  What a perfect indulgence on a rainy day.  The sugar crystals danced on my tongue preparing me for the warmth of the brioche and the silky fudge that topped it off.

Besides the spot-on foodstuffs, the thing that will keep me (and my friends) returning to Hot Chocolate is the attentive service and friendly greeting we received from our server and hostess.

I now understand why everyone has been encouraging me to check out Hot Chocolate and hope you will too.

Hot Chocolate.  1747 N. Damen.  773-489-1747.  www.hotchocolatechicago.com