Here’s the good news, at least for me: I survived the hot cocoa at Eggspectation. Now here’s the bad news, certainly for that “we ain’t just eggs” restaurant in the Downtown Silver Spring shopping center: I survived the hot cocoa at Eggspectation.
First, a little background.
I’m lactose intolerant and not ashamed to admit it. I cramp at the sight of whole milk, and spontaneously fart on contact with it. Ingestion of any dairy product — yogurt, cheese, ice cream, whatever — triggers painful bloating. That’s just me.
Consuming hot cocoa made with warm milk and topped with whipped cream certainly would have sent me running for the bathroom. Yet Eggspectation’s version of the drink had no ill effect on me. Good thing, right?
Well, good only in that I spared my dining companions the disturbing sight and smell of my lactose intolerance. Bad for Eggspectation, because now I have the responsibility of reporting that the joint uses nothing but water, powder and aerosolized whipped topping to make its hot cocoa. There’s nothing dairy about this drink.
Of course, the place doesn’t promote itself as a coffee house or patisserie. They’re all about eggs and, strangely enough, terrifically moist and monstrously sized hamburgers. And how realistic is it to expect their chefs to grate chunks of semi-sweet chocolate into a simmering pot of milk?
Still, it would have been nice if the drink’s taste matched its presentation. Served in a clear cappuccino mug (above), the hot cocoa was topped with a swirl of whipped whatever then sprinkled with a couple of chocolate chips. Its comfy, cozy look said flannel jammies and warm slippers.
However, its taste said something entirely different: organic chemistry, that college class that taught me how to decaffeinate tea using ether. (Good times!) The drink derived its flavor mostly from high-fructose corn syrup, with hints of nitrous oxide used as a propellant in aerosol cans. Its consistency also ran thin, more like water and not milk.
At three bucks a mug, one would be better off scoring that same action at home with a packet of Swiss Miss. When at Eggspectation, stick with the eggs and burgers.
Eggspectation, 923 Ellsworth Dr, Silver Spring, (301) 585-1700.
Photo by J. Deseo/SSP.
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Boxed wines and rosés are back in vogue. Just ask The Penguin's sommeliers.
Eggs is a few hidden gems on the menu, besides the obvious breakfast stuff. Their bloody marys are surprisingly good, and generously sized too.
Editor’s note: Hidden gems? You mean, Easter eggs? Bad joke, I know. — JD (Jan 28, 2009)
Girlfriend loooves the coffee products!!!
Peace
Jennifer, I might have a solution for you. Mrs. Springvale Roader is a chocolate lover and a vegan, so she satisfies her hot cocoa cravings by using vanilla Silk soy milk. Maybe you’d like that, too. There’s even soy whipped cream, which can’t be worse than whatever it is you got at Eggspectation.
From my past experiences of bland food and poor service at Eggspectation, I have learned to to enter this place with very low Eggsspectations.
Thanks for the tip, Mr (and Mrs) Springvale Roader.
I use soy milk when prepping hot cocoa at home. However, soy milk sometimes lends a vanilla flavor and can become bitter when overheated.
Therefore, I’ve assigned members of Team Cocoa Quest to order hot cocoa without asking for adjustments. That means whole milk, water, or whatever a restaurant regularly uses to brew that mug.
Eggspectation is great for vegetarians. One can get a yummy big salad. Also, hot veggies (steamed, I think.) The joint is kinda noisy, all that metal. But hey, got my veggies, I’m happy.
I enjoy eating at Egg. My girlfriend has a 4 yr old and they are great about accommodating for kids. I am also lactose intolerant so I share your pain and for years my mother would make me soy milk and use carob for chocolate – well Eggs for some reason is great. Maybe the quality. Moorenko’s ice cream also doesn’t kill me like others do.
P.S. my mother is a vegetarian and loves EGG!
Rice milk hot cocoa is the best ive ever had. I’m not vegan, but I’ll take rice milk over regular for cocoa.
My partner and I liked going to Eggspectation for breakfast (we love the smoothies and yogurt/granola/fruit parfair!) but the service has been steadily going downhill there. It got to the point that every time we went, there was a problem. Haven’t been there in a few months–hopefully it’s gotten better. I like to support our neighborhood businesses…