Today is our first really chilly day: Time to think of hot chocolate! Pick up a few pointers from Mr. Chocolate himself, Jacques Torres, on how to make a perfect cup.

Torres uses his own brand of hot chocolate mix made from ground chocolate, not cocoa powder (ground chocolate mix is also known as drinking chocolate). But you can use any mix and still benefit from Jacques’ double boiled technique.

Our favorite hot chocolate: Aztec-style, flavored with allspice, cinnamon and ground chiles.