{"id":246999,"date":"2014-02-14T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2014-02-14T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sdnews.com\/drinking-toward-dessert\/"},"modified":"2014-02-14T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2014-02-14T08:00:00","slug":"drinking-toward-dessert","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/test.sdnews.com\/es\/drinking-toward-dessert\/","title":{"rendered":"Drinking toward dessert"},"content":{"rendered":"

Come On Get Happy! | By Dr. Ink<\/p>\n

Chocolat
\n3896 Fifth Ave. (Hillcrest)
\n619-574-8500
\nHappy Hour: 4 to 6:30 p.m., Monday through Friday<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Wherever fancy-pants chocolates, gelatos and desserts are served, there should always be wine and bubbly in close orbit, given that they all fall into the same category of romantic temptations. Indeed, the owners of Chocolat got it right by catering to drinkers.<\/p>\n

\"Pizza<\/a>
Pizza and prosecco (Photo by Dr. Ink)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Happy hour bargains don\u2019t apply to the sweet edibles because a \u201cton of cost goes into them,\u201d according to an employee. But wines and prosecco come down a couple notches in price, costing $5 per glass.<\/p>\n

When ducking in recently for a mental reset after canvassing the city with out-of-town company, the wine selection featured an Australian Chardonnay, a Napa Cabernet, Italian Chianti and a merlot whose origin my waitress didn\u2019t know.<\/p>\n

Just as well since my tongue craved fizz, leading me to a fluted glass of prosecco from Cupcake Vineyards. The vintner, located in the Central Coast, produces red and white wines that usually taste acceptable for the price, especially with food. The softly effervescent prosecco lived up to that standard, offering soothing notes of cantaloupe and peach without the cloying aftertaste.<\/p>\n

Several savories are discounted as well, such as ricotta-pear \u201cbruschette\u201d with honey ($4.95); tuna antipasti with red peppers ($6.95); and decent-sized pizzas served on boards for $7.95.<\/p>\n

I ordered the \u201cCarmela\u201d pizza, a close cousin to the classic Alsatian flammkuchens I\u2019ve eaten with wild abandon in Europe. It\u2019s topped with caramelized onions, Gruyere cheese and wild mushrooms. Chocolat\u2019s version, however, comes with the added prosecco-friendly bonus of fresh arugula and balsamic glaze.<\/p>\n

Though bustling most days, the four-year-old caf\u00e9 feels a little too stylish for rip-roaring drinking sessions with its black-and-white color scheme and flowering plants adorning most tables. And it\u2019s hard to leave without perusing the gelatos, which inevitably prompts a purchase after netting a few free samples from a rainbow of flavors.<\/p>\n

Attesting to the fact, never before have I come home from happy hour with peanut butter and chocolate on my breath.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

CALIFICACIONES:
\nBebidas: 4
\nA small list of California and international wines comprise the booze list, along with a pleasant semi-dry prosecco from Cupcake Vineyards.
\nComida: 4
\nThe \u201cCarmela\u201d pizza yielded five irregular squares. The crust was light and crispy and topped with a flavorful blend of melted Gruyere cheese, caramelized onions and fresh arugula.
\nValor: 4
\nExpect to save between 10 and 20 percent for various appetizers and wines by the glass.
\nService: 3
\nTable service seems to suffer when staffers begin tending to customers at the cash register. Also, the happy hour menu wasn\u2019t presented until asking for it.
\nDuraci\u00f3n: 4
\nNo happy hour on weekends, but the 6:30 p.m. end time on all other days gives customers working overtime a fair chance to seize the bargains.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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