Kamloops Artizans' Bazaar hot chocolate (Image Credit: CFJC Today/Anthony Corea)

By Marty Hastings

Cocoa craze

YKA Hot Chocolate Festival buttressing non-profit, bolstering local cafes, restaurants

Feb 5, 2026 | 4:37 PM

KAMLOOPS — Sumptuous servings of cocoa are warming cockles, padding non-profit coffers and piquing interest in Kamloops cafes and restaurants.  

The third annual YKA Hot Chocolate Festival is running through the month of February, with participating vendors donating between $1 and $3 from each drink sold to the Mount Paul Community Food Centre, which runs programs accessible to anyone looking to enhance their food security.  

CFJC visited three of the 18 duelling hot chocolatiers on Thursday (Feb. 6) – Francesco Oliva of Kamloops Artisans’ Bazaar and Soup Desire Cafe, Romeo Oloresisimo of Manila Social and Bella Rasmussen of Riverbrew Cafe.  

“We wanted to go with the ‘wow’ factor and really do something to look at rather than just to taste,” Rasmussen said, noting business at Riverbrew has been booming since it opened two months ago in Sun Rivers. “Because we just opened, we wanted to drive people to our coffee shop.”  

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Riverbrew’s salted caramel pretzel hot chocolate includes a dynamic dose of whipped cream drizzled with decadence, generous swirls of its key ingredients.

Manila bolsters its brew with fire, torching and flaming its Filipino concoction that includes condensed milk, milk chocolate, bitter Filipino chocolate, leche flan, orange-peel-and-clove syrup and ube (purple yam from the Philippines) served with a Filipino cracker.  

“When I look at this as a competition, you’ve got to do something a little better than the other guy,” Oloresisimo said, noting the scent of the hot chocolate reminds him of his childhood. “We thought the idea of doing something with fire at a table would bring a little bit more drama.”  

For Oliva, less is more, his taste of Italy simple and succulent, with high quality chocolate melted in milk, topped with in-house-made whipping cream and served with almond biscotti.  

“You’re going to experience quintessential chocolate,” he said. “There are no other flavours. There are no other notes. The focus is all on the chocolate itself. It’s probably the most decadent chocolate flavour you can possibly imagine married to a very creamy texture.”

Last year, 14 vendors combined to sell 3,165 hot chocolates and raise $3,964 for the food centre. In 2024, 11 vendors raised $3,000.  

“This is a great way that the community can support local businesses, local entrepreneurs and then in turn also support a community non-profit,” said Dawn Christie, director for the Mount Paul Community Food Centre.  

Customers can vote on the drinks through QR codes at vendor locations or online at the food centre website. Star ratings – not the number of drinks sold – will determine gold, silver and bronze award winners.  

Last year, Logjam Coffee on the North Shore won the competition.  

“I don’t care about the prizes or first place,” Oliva said. “I really care about building community and building relationship more than the actual competition. It’s a good way to support each other and showcase all the different options we have in town.”