Wednesday, July 30, 2008

ChocolateBet: July 30, 2008


Chocolate of the Day:

1 bar
Caffarel
Puro Cioccolato Extra-Fondente, Cacao 70%
Good +
Weight: 1.2 oz. (35 grams) in total bar
Calories: 185 calories (estimate, info not listed on wrapper)
Cost: $2.99 (Canadian)
Purchased from: Beniamo and Co., in Montreal, Quebec

I bought this 70% cacao dark bar from Caffarel (Italia) in a shop in Canada. This was handy, as I'm not likely to travel to Italy this year. 

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

ChocolateBet: July 29, 2008


Chocolate of the Day:
1 bar
Dolfin
Dark - 88% Cocoa from West Africa
Good + - Very Good - a bit bitter, chalky given high cacao content, but good
Wt: 30 grams (1.058 oz.)
Calories: ~ 165 cals.
Cost: $2.99 (Canadian)
Purchased from: Beniamo & Co., in Montreal, Quebec

Monday, July 28, 2008

ChocolateBet: July 28, 2008


Chocolate of the Day:

1 brownie
Frankly Natural Bakers
Cherry Berry Brownie (gluten-free, vegan)
Good+-Very Good
Weight: 3.5 oz. (100 grams)
Calories: 360 calories in whole brownie (2 servings)
Cost: $2.39 for total package
Purchased from: Piazza's Fine Foods, in Palo Alto, CA

Sunday, July 27, 2008

ChocolateBet: July 27, 2008


Chocolate of the Day:
1 bar
Dolfin
Milk - Konacha Green Tea from Japan
Very Good - nice flavors
Wt.: 30 grams (1.058 oz.)
Calories: ~170 cals.
Cost: $2.99 (Canadian)
Purchased from: Beniamo & Co., in Montreal, Quebec

Saturday, July 26, 2008

ChocolateBet: July 26, 2008


Chocolate of the Day:

1 bar
Frankly Natural Bakers
Carob Almondine Brownie (gluten-free, vegan)
Good + - Very Good
Weight: 3.5 oz. (100 grams)
Calories: 420 calories in 1 whole brownie (2 servings)
Cost: $2.39
Purchased from: Piazza's Fine Foods, in Palo Alto, CA

I ate a little extra chocolate on the side today, as these Carob Almondine brownies were largely carob (vs. cacao). Good excuse to eat more chocolate.

ChocolateBet: July 25, 2008


Chocolate of the Day:

1 bar
Monbana (France)
Noir - Dark (bar, 70% cocoa; fair trade)
Very Good
Weight: 35 grams (1.22 oz.)
Calories: 190 calories (estimate)
Cost: $2.99 (Canadian)
Purchased from: Le Cartet, in Montreal, Quebec

Thursday, July 24, 2008

ChocolateBet: July 24, 2008


Chocolate of the Day:

1/2 bar
L'Arbre A Sucre
"Chocolat noir and Morceaux de sucre d'erable croquants"
(Dark chocolate and pieces of maple? sugar)
Good - Very Good
Weight: 19 grams for 1/2 bar; 38 grams total
Calories: 110 calories (estimate) for 19 gram serving
Cost: $2.99 (Canadian)
Purchased from: Le Cartet, in Montreal, Quebec

This L'Arbre a Sucre bar from Quebec (Canada) was a nice dark chocolate bar, although I couldn't really taste the maple sugar that much. The 60% dark chocolate might have been just "dark" enough that it drowned out the maple flavor. The maple sugar was, I believe, the field of little granules applied to one side of the bar. Given this area's great maple sugar, I think I shall buy some a la carte next time, to make sure it doesn't get lost in the shuffle.

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

ChocolateBet: July 23, 2008


Chocolate of the Day:

1 bar
Galler
"Pimontais" bar
Good - Very Good
Weight: 70 grams (2.5 oz.)
Calories: 375 calories (estimate) for total bar
Cost: $3.69 (Canadian)
Purchased from: Le Cartet, in Montreal, Quebec

From what I could tell "Pimontais" roughly translated is "Piedmontese" in Italian. Piedmont in Italian means Foothill, and is a region in Northwest Italy, that I associate with hazelnuts.

This Galler (Belgium) milk chocolate bar was filled with a slightly crispy hazelnut and cereal interior with a touch of coconut.

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

ChocolateBet: July 22, 2008


Chocolate of the Day:

1 brownie
Frankly Natural Bakers
Wacky Walnut Brownie (Gluten Free)
Good
Weight: 3.5 oz. (100 grams) total
Calories: 400 calories in 1 whole brownie (2 servings)
Cost: $2.39 each/total package
Purchased from Piazza's Fine Foods, in Palo Alto, CA


Monday, July 21, 2008

ChocolateBet: July 21, 2008


Chocolate of the Day:

1 bar
Dolfin Chocolat
"Fruity Escapade" - Apple, Peach and Apricot (60% dark chocolate)
(Limited Edition 2008)
Very Good - Dolfin bars have nice flavors - from start to finish
Wt: 30 grams (1.058 oz.)
Calories: 160 (estimate - info not listed/visible on label)
Cost: $2.39 (Canadian)
Purchased from: Le Cartet, in Montreal, Quebec

ChocolateBet: July 20, 2008


Chocolate of the Day:

1 bar
Dolfin
"Fancy Lemon Feeling" - Lemon and Ginger (dark choc.) (Limited Edition 2008)
Very Good - nice flavors
Weight: 30 grams (1.058 oz.)
Calories: 160 calories (estimate, info not on label)
Cost: $2.39 (Canadian)
Purchased from: Le Cartet, in Montreal, Quebec

ChocolateBet: July 19, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:
1/2 serving (split 1 serving)
The Fish Market
"Chocolate Seduction" - Warm flourless chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream
Very Good
Wt: ~ 4 oz.
Calories: ~ 250 (estim) for 1/2
Cost: $6.50 ttl
Purchased from: The Fish Market, in Palo Alto, CA

Friday, July 18, 2008

ChocolateBet: July 18, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:
1 piece
Thomas Haas
Salted Caramel Pecan - "toasted pecans, caramel and fleur de sel"
Very Good - a slight bitter walnut taste with the salt and sweet flavors
Wt: ~.4 oz.
Calories: ~70
Cost: $1.95
Purchased from: CocoaBella, in San Francisco, CA

Thursday, July 17, 2008

ChocolateBet: July 17, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:
1 piece
Laderach (Switzerland)
"Nougatine" - Hazelnut ganache under (crunchy) almond praline (top/dome)
Yum - excellent combination of textures (smooth and crunchy) and nut flavors.
Wt: ~.5 oz.
Calories: ~75
Cost: $1.75
Purchased from: CocoaBella in San Francisco, CA

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

ChocolateBet: July 16, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:
1 piece
Thomas Haas (Canada)
Cognac Truffle - aged cognac infused dark chocolate
Very Good
Wt: ~.4 oz.
Calories: ~ 70 cals.
Cost: $2.00
Purchased from: CocoaBella, in San Francisco, CA

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

ChocolateBet: July 15, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:
1 piece
Thomas Haas (Canada)
Jamaican Rum - crunchy sugared shell w/ rum ganache
Yum - I love rum and brandy and dark chocolate, so I may be biased. This was great.
Wt: ~.5 oz.
Calories: ~75 calories
Cost: ~ $2.00
Purchased from: CocoaBella in San Francisco, CA

Monday, July 14, 2008

ChocolateBet: July 14, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:
1 piece
Oriol Balaguer
"Soja" - Soy Sauce Ganache in Dark Chocolate
Very Nice - fun flavor combination with the soy sauce (salt + sweet)
Wt: ~.5 oz.
Calories: ~75 cals.
Cost: $1.50 for 1 piece
Purchased from: CocoaBella in San Francisco, CA

Sunday, July 13, 2008

ChocolateBet: July 13, 2008


Chocolate of the Day:

1 bar
Dolfin
"Southern Passion: Apricot and Rosemary"
(Limited Edition 2008)
Very Good + - nice fruit and herb flavor combination
Weight: 30 grams (1.058 oz.)
Calories: 160 calories (estimate - info not listed on wrapper)
Cost: $2.39 (Canadian)
Purchased from: Le Cartet (boutique alimentaire), in Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Saturday, July 12, 2008

ChocolateBet: July 12, 2008


Chocolate of the Day:
1 bar
Dolfin
Dark Chocolate - Pink Peppercorns from Brazil
Very Good + - I couldn't taste the peppercorns that much, but this bar had a very nice overall flavor.
Wt: 30 grams (1.058 oz.)
Calories: ~160 (estim. - not listed on wrapper)
Cost: $2.99 (Canadian)
Purchased from: Beniamino & Co., in Montreal, Canada

Thank you Melanie for the introduction to these little Dolfin chocolate bars.

ChocolateBet: July 11, 2008


Chocolate of the Day:

1 bar
Bovetti (Artisan Chocolatier)
Milk Chocolate - Anis/Aniseed (32% cacao)
Very Good + - It's fairly sweet, but I love the anise flavor
Weight: 100 grams (~3 1/2 oz.) (~ 4 servings)
Calories: 520 calories (estimate) for whole bar
Cost: $7.39 (Canadian)
Purchased from: Le Cartet (boutique alimentaire) in Montreal, Quebec

Le Cartet is a wonderful shop in Montreal. I grabbed a handful of chocolate bars while walking from a business meeting back to the hotel. This aniseed bar became a late night/early morning dinner.

Dinner was eaten before I had a chance to capture the image of this chocolate bar in the wrapper. (See image empty wrapper/container (above right).)

Thursday, July 10, 2008

ChocolateBet: July 10, 2008


Chocolate of the Day:

1 bar
Dolfin (Belgium)
"Summer Memories - Apple Crumble"
(Limited Edition 2008 - with apple, hazelnuts, sugarcane)
Very Good - nice blend of cinnamon and other flavors
Weight: 30 grams (1.058 oz.) in 1 bar
Calories: 160 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $2.39 (Canadian)
Purchased from: Le Cartet ("boutique alimentaire"), in Montreal, Quebec

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

ChocolateBet: July 9, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:
1 piece
Holder - Resto-Bar
Guayaquil Chocolate Truffle (drk choc.)
Very Good - drk, bittersweet
Wt: ~.4 oz.
Calories: ~ 72 calories
Cost: $2.50 (Canadian)
Purchased from: Holder Resto-Bar, in Montreal, Quebec

Thank you Melanie for the great visit to Montreal.

ChocolateBet: July 8, 2008


Chocolate of the Day:

1 piece
Starbucks Chocolates
Vanilla Bean Truffles - Drk (indiv. wrppd.)
Good+
Weight: .5 oz. (14.1 g.) (estimate) for one piece
Calories: 75 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: $4.99
Purchased from: Rite Aid Pharmacy, in Pacifica, CA

I'm fighting off a cold. I hope a combination of these dark chocolate covered Vanilla Bean Truffles from Starbucks and cold medicine will do the trick, as I'm flying across country today on a business trip. A good walk and a piece of chocolate (coupled with rest) often makes me feel better.

Monday, July 7, 2008

ChocolateBet: July 07, 2008


Chocolate of the Day:

2 cups/1 serving
Boyer Candy Co.
Mallo Cup (Milk Chocolate, Whipped Creme Center, some coconut flavor)
Good + - this was not bad for milk chocolate
Weight: 1.6 oz. (45.3 grams); back of package says 46 grams, so not sure which is correct.
Calories: 200 calories
Cost: $? (I need to find receipt)
Purchased from: ?(I need to find receipt)

Sunday, July 6, 2008

ChocolateBet: July 6, 2008


Chocolate of the Day:
1 small chocolate coin
MICO?/Chocolate Heaven
"Alcatraz Pirates" shot glass - fill with milk chocolate gold coins
Good + - Very Good - not bad for milk chocolate
Wt: 1.5 oz. total (~20 gold foil-wrapped coins)
Calories: ~11.2 cals. for 1 coin
Cost: $5.99 for pirate shot glass and choc. coins
Purchased from: Chocolate Heaven, at Pier 39, in San Francisco, CA

I was hoping to save up enough chocolate items to have a "chocolate and money" theme week, but I will likely just eat an item as I find it. The chocolate in chocolate coins is usually OK; the real value of the item tends to be the novelty. And, now that I think about it, chocolate money may have held up better in value in the last several months than the U.S. dollar. So,....I'm making an investment. Right.

The printing on the gold foil indicates that the coins are solid milk chocolate, and lists the U.S. as the country of origin, and the date of coinage as 1865. (It does not look like a Spanish 2-escudo dubloon coin, but then again, I think making exact replicas of money items may be illegal anyway.) I'm not sure about where the "pirate" connection comes in here. There is a place called Pirate's Cove on Alcatraz and there were pirates in the 1800s. I may be missing out on a story here. And maybe I'm just trying to read way too much into a cheap San Francisco souvenir. Entirely possible! :-)

ChocolateBet: July 5, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:
1 bite
Pacifica Beach Resort (restaurant)
Mocha Cheesecake
Good + - Very Good
Wt: ~ .4 oz.
Calories: ~ 30 calories
Cost: $0 (gift)
Purchased from: Pacifica Beach Resort (restaurant), in Pacifica, CA

I had a bite of the filling. I think that the restaurant may have obtained this mocha cheesecake from somewhere else. Yes, a "French guy, named Steve... up the road on Pamenta (sp?)" was the answer to this question when I asked our waiter. (Perhaps he was referring to the French Patisserie up the road, on Palmetto Ave., also in Pacifica?) In any case, I don't recall ever eating anything from the French Patisserie before.

ChocolateBet: July 4, 2008


Chocolate of the Day:
1/2 bar
Madelaine (Chocolate Novelties)
Premium Dark Chocolate (bar) - 72% cacoa
Very Good
Wt: .9 oz. /1.8 oz. (51 g.) total
Calories: 140 cals. in 1/2 bar
Cost: $1.75
Purchased from: Chocolate Heaven, at Pier 39, in San Francisco

The plan was to walk to Pier 39, eat a bit of chocolate and a light supper, and then watch fireworks in San Francisco. Chocolate is fairly reliable; however a fog-free evening in San Francisco in summer is anything but guaranteed. We could hear fireworks, but we couldn't see them. Ah well, it was fun anyway.

ChocolateBet: July 3, 2008


Chocolate of the Day:
1 serving
Yogurtland
Chocolate and peanut butter yogurt
Good+ - Very Good
Wt: 10.72 oz. total w/ sliced bananas & nuts on top (@$0.30/oz.)
Calories: ~ 350
Cost: $ 3.07
Purchased from: Yogurtland, in Cupertino, CA

Frozen yogurt seems to be back in style. Yogurtland stores have a large self-serve wall, that you walk along and where you get to choose how much of what flavor you put in a cup. We were there about 10 p.m. at night, and there was a fairly long line.

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

ChocolateBet: July 2, 2008


Chocolate of the Day:

2 pieces/1 serving
Jo's Candies
Peppermint Crunch
Very Good - would be great crunched into some vanilla ice cream too.
Wt: 28 grams for 2 pcs./6 oz. (168 g.) total box
Calories: 140 for 2 pcs.
Cost: $?
Purchased from: (need to find receipt)

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

ChocolateBet: July 1, 2008


Chocolate of the Day:
1 piece
Shokolaat
Scarlet OHara
(Irish creme caramel and milk chocolate, covered w/ white chocolate)
Very Good +; nice blend of flavors
Wt: ~ .4 oz.
Calories: ~ 75 calories
Cost: $0 (gift) Thank you Elise!
Purchased from: Shokolaat
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...