Poached pears with chocolate sauce

Name: Poached pears with chocolate sauce
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 50 min
Cuisine: French
Ingredients: 1 piece grated ginger (about 1"); 4 ea Pears (firm); 24 oz Hard apple cider; 1 cup Water; 1 cup Sugar; 1 tsp Vanilla extract; 1/4 tsp cinnamon (or 1 cinnamon stick); 1/8 tsp Ground cardamom; 1 ea Star anise; 3.5 oz 70% dark chocolate; 1/4 cup Milk; 1/4 cup Heavy cream