ChocolateBet: December 25, 2007

Chocolate of the Day:

1 small serving of shavings
Godiva
Dark Chocolate Santa (foil-wrapped)
Very Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2.5 oz./71 g. total
Calories: 150 calories (estimate) in 1 oz. of shavings
Cost: $6.50
Purchased from: Macy's at Stanford Shopping Center, Palo Alto, CA

This was Very Good; especially given that most little figures or sculpted/molded chocolate figures over a certain size taste a bit waxy or dull (probably due to ingredients used to help them keep their shape I'm guessing, or to cut down on costs/weight perhaps).

OK, I admit it; I have an odd sense of humor. Because Christmas can be a time when expectations can run high, and family time and commercial overload can be overwhelming, I think there is a place for a bit of comic relief. This fine Godiva chocolate Santa was transmogrified* (see Calvin and Hobbes comics) into chocolate shavings and included in a hot milk, brandy, cinnamon and spices drink for a nice cold winter evening. Poor Santa got shaved by a vegetable peeler.

ChocolateBet: December 24, 2007

Chocolate of the Day:

2 pieces
Frango
Candy Cane (mint chocolates) - Limited Edition
Very Good+
Weight: 16 oz. (453 g.) for 1 box
Calories: 80 calories (estimate) for 2 small pieces
Cost: $15.40 total (30% off sale) originally $22.00
Purchased from: Macy's, at Stanford Shopping Center, Palo Alto, CA

I shared this box of crunchy Candy Cane and chocolate sweets with family at a holiday dinner get-together.

My sister, who lived in Seattle, WA, for many years assured me that Frango mints originated in Seattle -- and that a smaller department store that originated these chocolates/mint line was bought up by Marshall-Fields department store. Eventually Macy's bought out Marshall-Fields, or Macy's became the Frango distributor. Glad to hear that a favorite sweets brand survived all these transitions. (Frango is also listed in wikipedia for more info.)

I believe the limited edition chocolates can only be found at specific times of the year, and that these Candy Cane chocolate mints fit under this category.