Coming back to school from the winter holidays can be tough. Who wants to face the dreaded reality of 7 am alarm clocks ringing, or what seems like a million due dates after a few weeks off? (hint: not me). But in the midst of this back-to-school chaos and relentless Instagram exploring, I’ve managed to find a place that doesn’t fall short of paradise. Whether chocolate is a steady part of your diet (as it is in mine) or a sweet treat you enjoy every now and then, a trip to Cacao 70 is a must. This safe haven for chocoholics can conveniently be found on William Street, in the heart of the Byward Market.
The menu ranges from hearty breakfast and brunch foods to the most exquisite chocolate creations! Prior to my visit, pizza was just this amazing greasy, cheesy, essential for my late night study sessions, and yes- any pizza is a personal pizza if you believe in yourself enough. But what I didn’t realize is how pizza could get even better. Cacao 70 takes pizza to the next level, with chocolate. They offer 6 genius, rich, chocolatey pizza creations. The other ingredients vary from warm, sweet ricotta cheese, to fresh fruits, marshmallows and to peanut butter. And that’s not even the best part.
As if that isn’t enough to satisfy our cravings, they also serve the most exquisite assortment of sweet treats including Belgian waffles, fondu, crepes, ice cream cups and smoothies. Get this: you can even roast your own marshmallows on a little fondu grill they give you. There really is something for everyone on their menu!
It hasn’t been long since my first visit, and I’m already planning on what I’m going to try on my next one. After around fifteen minutes of panic trying to decide on just one dish each (after agreeing on hot chocolate of course), my roommates and I chose to share the “sharing, sharing for two or more” platter. Cacao 70 knows just how good they are at what they do. The platter was genius. It offered little bits of everything. We shared a quarter of a triple chocolate pizza, banana split waffle, fresh strawberries, graham crackers, brownie bits, chocolate wafers, chocolate coated cereal, chocolate covered ice cream, and marshmallows. The best part about it was that it also came with our very own adorable little fondue grill that they lit right in front of us! The irresistible aroma of milk, white, and dark chocolate filled the entire café, and this seems to be their signature treat.
If you’ve managed to get through these first few weeks of school without dropping out and hoping to marry rich… I’d say you owe it to yourself to take a trip to Cacao 70. Your taste buds will thank me later. I am beating myself up over the fact that I have been through the market dozens of times, and walked right past their door without going in to see what it was all about. Keeping up with school, extracurricular activities, a job, family, friends and a significant other doesn’t leave much time for city venturing. Making time for yourself, and your own happiness is just as important. Remember to focus on yourself and treat yourself every once in a while! Plus, the casual, yet intimate ambience at the café is perfect for catching up with friends or family and would also make for a cute date night. And if you think about it, chocolate is made from cacao beans. These beans grow on a tree… which makes it a plant. Wouldn’t that after all, make chocolate a salad?
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