Place a heavy-bottom 3 qt saucepan over medium heat. Add the milk and sugar. Stir until the sugar dissolves. Bring to a simmer then remove from the heat.
While hot, add the chopped chocolate pieces, stirring until they are melted. Stir in the cream, vanilla and salt.
You can serve it immediately or use an immersion blender (tilted at an angle) to froth it up a bit. If timing doesn’t allow you to serve it piping hot, you can reheat it carefully. Just don’t scorch the hot chocolate as that will give it a bitter taste.
Top with a dollop of unsweetened whipped cream and delicate chocolate shavings, if desired, and sip slowly.
