Open just a few weeks, "HotChocolate" has become one of the hottest restaurants in the city thanks in part to its extensive dessert menu.
Mindy Segal is one of Chicago's great pastry chefs. With stints at Charlie Trotter's, Marche and mk, she's certainly comfortable working with sugar, butter and cream. Just a few weeks ago, she opened her own place that offers high-quality sweets and savories. But with more than 20 desserts to choose from, it's clear where her passion lies.

Don't judge a restaurant by its name. HotChocolate is the latest addition to a burgeoning stretch of North Damen in Bucktown but Chef and Owner Mindy Segal has created a comfy neighborhood joint, where you can get a glass of wine and upscale snacks like a Kobe beef steak sandwich with caramelized onions, watercress and gorgonzola on a toasted ciabatta roll.

Earthy onion soup contains cider, bacon and granny smith apples - echoed by a warm applecake on the side; brie is baked into brioche with mushrooms - it's drizzled with warm honey syrup; even the pork loin comes from a small farm - it's roasted with apple butter. If you've noticed a theme here, it's no coincidence. Segal was trained as a pastry chef, and has worked at Charlie Trotter's, Marche and most recently, mk.

There are more than a dozen desserts to choose from...some highlights include a warm chocolate souffle tart topped with salted caramel ice cream and a homemade pretzel. A roasted baby pear rests up against a spiced pear cake, layered with browned-butter buttercream - a mini cinnamon ice cream soda washes it all down . An heirloom apple and cider pot pie is nestled beneath sour cream ice cream - there's a refreshing granny smith sorbet on the side. Segal offers a tasting of all of the housemade cookies...plus, four or five different milkshakes to choose from - they each arrive with a tiny chocolate buttermilk cake and a little silver pitcher with extra shake in it. There are even a few savory options, like a composed cheese course served with a salad and some sourdough bread...or a Vermont blue cheese and seckel pear tart with port syrup.

Naturally, there are five kinds of hot chocolate to choose from, each served with house-made marshmallows. The most intriguing of which is the "black and tan" - one-third hot fudge, two-thirds Scharffenberger milk chocolate.

Just like a regular menu at the city's top restaurants, the items on Segal's dessert menu will change with the seasons. The only negative: they do not take reservations, so either get there early, or be prepared to wait.

HotChocolate
1747 N. Damen Ave.
773-489-1747

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/news/hung...chocolate.html