Hot chocolate

Makes 4-6 cups

Melt makes the most delicious hot chocolate and if you are ever passing its shop, I would recommend you stop in and have a cup. This is what we make at Petersham at this time of year when it is nice to drink something hot, rich and nurturing.

200g/7oz dark chocolate (we use Valrhona)
60g/21/2oz caster sugar
200ml/7fl oz double cream
300ml/1/2pint whole milk

For the sweetened cream

160ml/51/2fl oz double cream
50g/2oz caster sugar

Break the chocolate into chunks. Put in a saucepan with the sugar, cream and milk. Place over a low heat and stir until the chocolate and sugar have melted and you have a rich, homogenised dark-chocolate drink. Pour into cups and serve piping hot.

To make the sweetened cream, place the cream in a bowl and whisk until soft peaks form. Then stir through the sugar.