"To Cocoa or not to Cocoa, that is the question."

Here is my top picks for hot chocolate in the Nashville Area. For all those coffee drinkers, that is not for me. I have an acute taste for that sweet, soothing, hot chocolate. I have used it for many adventures to heat up my cast iron, blue cup to warm my hands on those cold river and backpacking trips. When not making my own hot chocolate concoction, I enjoy Swiss Miss. I like to find unique venues that have their own variation on my favorite drink hot chocolate. Here are my top picks for those days that you are out and about and need something to warm you up.

1. Borders Bookstore Cafe, West End

The hot chocolate is served with a nice mountain of whip cream with shavings of white chocolate and chocolate stir stick to mix all the flavors together.

Pros: Decent price, great favor, great taste, great accents, buy the big size because you will want more and more

Cons: leave lid off or all those white chocolate shavings are stuck on the lid, store location is limited, may need to use parking garage, limited seating, and bookstore can get a little noisy

2. Billy Goat Coffee Cafe, Mt. Juliet Providence Mall

The hot chocolate is serve in a nice quite and intimate venue. The hot chocolate has no extras but the favor and taste make up for it.

Pros: New mall area, plenty of parking, great place to stop and relax, some evenings they have open mic for local artists, great tasting hot chocolate.

Cons: Construction on the exit, traffic is a booger, WATCH OUT off ramp ends quick into slow lane!!!!

3.Sam and Zoe's Coffeehouse, Berry Hill behind Baja Burrito

This venue has an awesome feel to it. This is a nice place to sit and compose your next top ten, or just to sit and chat among friends. The hot chocolate is okay but the venue has lots more to give. The food is awesome, extremely healthy, and smells wonderful.

Pros: Great little place for people to hangout at, great customer service, great food, salads, and snacks, fast service, drive thru option, outside porch seating option

Cons: Hot chocolate could use a little tweaking, limited parking

Bentley - VentureTree Team

Good Eats!!!

Hey Everyone,

The VentureTree Team is going to start a new topic category called Good Eats. We know that after that long hike or ride your stomach begins to register a little on the empty side. We here at VentureTree want to start to inform you on the local eateries in the Nashville surroundings areas that meet our standards. Those standards include taste, service, atmosphere, and how unique the venue is for our patrons. VentureTree wants to focus on those great Mom and Pop eateries that get so easily overlooked. In our efforts to inform you, we also want you to help guide us in our explorations. If you know of a eatery that you would like us to write about leave us a comment on our blog or myspace page.



Bentley - VentureTree Team