One of the first businesses to open at The Hudson (where the Downtown Public Market is located) was 2% Jazz Coffee. This is their second location, their first being at 2631 Douglas Street, popular with coffee drinkers for many years. The decor is industrial and interesting with coffee roasting visible from an open balcony near the entrance.

2% Jazz Coffee, 1701 Douglas Street, on the Fisgard Street side of The Hudson.

2% Jazz Coffee, 1701 Douglas Street, on the Fisgard Street side of The Hudson.

The hot chocolate was tasty and very sweet. There was a hint of spice. The barista said it was chipotle, but I didn't detect any smokiness or heat, just an interesting flavour.

The hot chocolate was tasty and very sweet. There was a hint of spice. The barista said it was chipotle, but I didn’t detect any smokiness or heat, just an interesting flavour.

The space was left raw and open with lots of seating options and big windows.

The space was left raw and open with lots of seating options and big windows.

Yummy looking treats.

Yummy looking treats.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Vanilla Sablé Cookies; adapted from this recipe with cinnamon sugar hearts.

Vanilla Sablé Cookies; adapted from this recipe with cinnamon sugar hearts.

All packaged and ready for delivery.

All packaged and ready for delivery.

Valentine’s Eve breakfast this morning: homemade chocolate walnut sticky buns with cinnamon. I used this recipe for naan bread. I rolled out the dough after it had risen for about 2 hours, brushed it with melted butter, sprinkled with cinnamon sugar, toasted organic walnuts and chopped organic chocolate. After rolling it up like a jelly roll, I cut into 11 pieces and placed cut side down in a nine-inch round cake pan lined with parchment. The tops were brushed with butter and sprinkled with more cinnamon sugar. Very delicious and not too sweet!

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dkn_ChocolateWalnutBuns3

Cat was hamming it up yesterday and GJ took some great shots of her. Our beloved kitty, Miss Rimpoche Taxicab II:

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Today’s rain storm marks the end of a cold snap. The cold clear days were beautiful, but I’m sure hard on the little buds.

Small purple crocuses blooming in spite of the cold.

Small purple crocuses blooming in spite of the cold.

Lovely fountain in Beacon Hill Park, Victoria BC.

Lovely fountain in Beacon Hill Park, Victoria BC.

View from the top of Beacon Hill.

View from the top of Beacon Hill.

Coloured lights filtered through the icy fountain in Centennial Square.

Coloured lights filtered through the icy fountain in Centennial Square.

Cute cat alert, sorry. My two best beloved ones.

GJ works on a new drawing for a book he hopes to publish soon and Taxicab helps.

GJ works on a new drawing for a book he hopes to publish soon and Taxicab helps.

Lack of a sunbeam means a warm human and lamp are required.

Lack of a sunbeam means a warm human and lamp are required.

Popped into JagaSilk again today to see if they offered a chocolaty delight for my February blogging; of course they do! We enjoyed their Aztec Chocolate Drink: single origin chocolate from The Philippines, direct source cinnamon from India, a pinch of cayenne, a touch of penela (raw-unrefined cane juice) and organic milk. Truly divine! Miyuki and Jared are so knowledgeable and passionate about what they do and what they offer. They would love to tell you all about the magic of this drink and, of course, maccha.

Aztec Chocolate Drink at JagaSilk, Victoria BC.

Aztec Chocolate Drink at JagaSilk, Victoria BC.

Yesterday our neighbourhood of Chinatown hosted the Lion Dance celebration as part of Chinese New Year. Colourful lions, martial arts displays,  drumming and fire crackers welcomed in the new year. It was a lively afternoon!

Participants and spectators taking part on the Lunar New Year Lion Dance, Chinatown Victoria BC.

Participants and spectators taking part in the Lunar New Year Lion Dance, Chinatown Victoria BC.

Shops and homes along the lion dance route hang lettuce and red packets with money enclosed. Accompanied by drummers, the lion visits each doorway and accepts the packet and lettuce. Firecrackers scare away evil spirits and leave be behind good luck and good fortune for the year ahead.

Shops and homes along the lion dance route hang lettuce and red packets with money enclosed. Accompanied by drummers, the lion visits each doorway and accepts the packet and lettuce. Firecrackers scare away evil spirits and leave be behind good luck and good fortune for the year ahead.

Eight lions seen photographed through old wavy glass.

Eight lions seen photographed through old wavy glass.

My favourite lion. The artistry is magical.

My favourite lion. The artistry is magical.

So many beautiful colours and costumes.

So many beautiful colours and costumes.

A colourful dragon waiting to come to life.

A colourful dragon waiting to come to life.

Dales Gallery ready with it's offering for the Lion.

Dales Gallery ready with it’s offering for the Lion.

February on the south tip of Vancouver Island brings the promise of spring with early flowers. The snowdrops have been out for weeks now, and more blooms are bursting every day. Yesterday I spied this beautiful witch hazel:

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February; winter is still here. Love and the promise of spring are in the air. So I will dedicate myself to my hot chocolate obsession, and look for other lovely things to photograph.

I begin with my enduring favourite: peppermint hot chocolate from Bean Around the World. Made with peppermint tea instead of syrup, it’s rich and satisfying, and always beautifully presented.

I want on of these right now!

I want on of these right now!

Fun and eclectic, one of my favourite Chinatown hangouts.

Fun and eclectic, one of my favourite Chinatown hangouts.