The Northern Italians know the best way to manage a cold winter's day is to tuck into a unique drink called a bicerin (pronounced "beet-chureen"). Named for the small glass it's served in, this delicious drink has just three ingredients: thick hot chocolate, hot espresso and cool heavy cream, beautifully layered in a glass. I first had bicerin on a skiing trip to Cortina several years ago. Local cafes served small glasses of the decadent hot chocolate in the late afternoon. After a day of skiing, the rich drink really hit the spot.
After our latest snowstorm yesterday, I decided that it's the perfect time for a glass of bicerin. Ciao!
Bicerin
Two servings
It’s important to use a clear glass; you need to be able to see all three layers.
To make a bicerin, warm one cup (250 ml) whole milk in a medium-sized saucepan with 3 ounces (90 gr) of chopped bittersweet or semisweet chocolate. Whisk the mixture until it begins to boil, then let it boil for 1 minute, whisking constantly (the chocolate mixture will foam up a bit.)
Afterward, remove it from the heat and set aside. Make a small pot of very strong coffee, or good Italian espresso.
Fill the bottom third of a clear, heat-proof glass with the warm chocolate mixture. Pour in some coffee or espresso. (If you want to help it create a definite layer, pour it over the back of a spoon, into the glass.)
Top with a nice swirl of sweetened, freshly-whipped cream.
