Tuesday, September 30, 2008

ChocolateBet: September 30, 2008


Chocolate of the Day:

1 serving
Chukar Cherry Company
Dark Chocolate Cabernet Cherry (Dark Chocolate Covered Cherries)
Very Good +
Wt.: 43 grams/ 8 oz. (227 grams) in total package
Calories: 180 calories
Cost: $10.99 for total 8 oz. package
Purchased from: Z. Cioccolatos, in San Francisco, CA

Nice rich chocolate and cherry flavors

Monday, September 29, 2008

ChocolateBet: September 29, 2008


Chocolate of the Day:

2 servings
Tuxedos Black Tie Brand, Promotion In Motion Inc.
Milk Chocolate Covered Almonds
Very Good
Wt.: ~2.857 oz. (80 grams)/ 5 oz. (142 grams) total package
Calories: 440 calories in 2 servings
Cost: $ 2.99
Purchased from: Paradies Shops, in the John Wayne Airport, in Santa Ana, California.

I couldn't find any chocolates that were specific or local to Southern California in this little airport shop; however, I found these milk chocolate-covered almonds to eat for dinner before flying back home.

Sunday, September 28, 2008

ChocolateBet: September 28, 2008


Chocolate of the Day:

1 piece/ball
Surfin' Ass Coffee/Keoki Chocolate Factory
Keoki's Big Island Donkey Balls, Half Ass ("20 Layers of Milk, 20 Layers of Dark")
Good + - Very Good
Weight: ~ .8 oz. / 8 ounces (227 grams) in total package of ~ 10 pieces
Calories: 120 calories (estimate)
Cost: $11.95 for total package/bag
Purchased from: Lava Java (Coffee Roasters), in Kehei, on the island of Maui, in Hawaii

This (1/2 milk and 1/2 dark) chocolate flavor was good, although I liked the all-dark chocolate flavor a bit better.

These Donkey Ball chocolates came in several flavors; I bought one package of almost every flavor I could see/find to try. So, two flavors down, about 4-5 more flavors left to try I think. Thanks again to Lava Java for shipping a box of these back home. My suitcase was already bulging at that point. But I didn't want to leave Hawaii without bringing some of these home. While I wasn't able to ask anyone at Surfin' Ass/Keoki's about how they came to create Donkey Balls, I get the feeling they had fun along the way.

The packaging contains the customer-flattering statement "Chocolate People Sure Are Smart!" OK, now I don't feel so foolish about buying chocolate donkey balls.

Saturday, September 27, 2008

ChocolateBet: September 27, 2008


Chocolate of the Day
1 square/serving
Tahoe City Chocolates
Chocolate Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Square
Good+ - Very Good
Wt.: ~ 2.5 oz.
Calories: ~ 300 calories
Cost: $ ?
Purchased from: Tahoe City Chocolates, in Tahoe City, CA

This square/piece is good for someone who wants something a little more substantial than a small chocolate truffle. Tahoe City (the town) is located on the shores of Lake Tahoe, a large lake in the Sierra Nevada mountains, which attracts a lot of vacationers. The town sits about 6,200 feet above sea level. The Tahoe City Chocolates label (shown at right although hard to see) incorporates a pine tree and mountain design.

Friday, September 26, 2008

ChocolateBet: September 26, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:
1 piece
Tahoe City Chocolates
Almond Raisin
Very Good
Wt.: ~ .5 oz.
Calories: ~ 75 calories
Cost: $ ?
Purchased from: Tahoe City Chocolates, in Tahoe City, CA

Fruit and nut chocolates are tough to make work. This one works.

Thursday, September 25, 2008

ChocolateBet: September 25, 2008


Chocolate of the Day:
1 piece
Tahoe City Chocolates
(Dark) Honeycomb
Very Good + - very nice taste and texture
Wt.: ~.5 oz.
Calories: ~ 70 cals.
Cost: $ ?
Purchased from: Tahoe City Chocolates, in Tahoe City, CA

Very nice honeycomb chocolate. Thank you again to Mike at Tahoe City Chocolates for making some good suggestions, and for letting me taste a few different chocolates before buying some. This is a nice old-fashioned chocolate, candy and ice cream shop, hidden in a small mall down toward the lake shore/boat marina.

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

ChocolateBet: September 24, 2008


Chocolate of the Day:
1.5 Tablespoons (1.5 servings)
Dalmatia/Hermes International (Product of Croatia)
Ficoco - fig & cocoa spread
Very Good - nice rich fig and chocolate flavors
Wt: ~ 1.1 oz (30 grams)/8.5 oz. (240 grams) total weight in jar
Calories: 90 calories in 1.5 Tbsp/serving
Cost: $?
Purchased from: Piazzas? in Palo Alto, CA (need to check this)

This fig & cocoa spread might make a good filling for a croissant. I can't eat croissants/wheat, so I mixed this spread into some yogurt and nuts, and chopped fresh figs. And I'll try it with some gluten-free toast later.

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

ChocolateBet: September 23, 2008


Chocolate of the Day:

1 package/2 pieces
Hawaiian Host
Maui Caramacs ("Milk Chocolate Covered Caramel and Macadamias")
Very Good +
Wt.: .95 oz. (27 grams)
Calories: 140 calories in 1 package (2 pieces)
Cost: $?
Purchased from: ? (?, Maui, Hawaii)

This week I'm interleaving chocolates from my two recent (September '08) vacation destinations - Hawaii and Lake Tahoe. This is one of the last chocolates that I picked up while in Hawaii.

Even after two years of eating a different chocolate every day, I still enjoy discovering new chocolates in new places -- and hearing stories from the people who own/sell chocolates along the way.

I also enjoyed the sweet richness of the caramel and the crunchy mac nuts in this milk chocolate confection from Hawaiian Host (Honolulu, HI).

Monday, September 22, 2008

ChocolateBet: September 22, 2008


Chocolate of the Day:

1 bar
Wow Wee Candy Bar
Wow Wee Maui's - Kava Chocolate Bar
Good +
Weight: 1.75 oz. (50 grams) for 1 bar
Calories: 260 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $1.95
Purchased from: Lava Java, in Kihei, on the island of Maui, Hawaii

Interesting concept - Kava in a chocolate bar. Kava is supposed to make you relaxed. (The warning label on the wrapper recommends not eating more than one of these chocolate bars per day; and also recommends against driving heavy machinery if you're eating too much Kava.)

I didn't notice any dramatic effects from eating one of these. But, then again, I just came back from vacation, and I was feeling refreshed, clear-headed and productive just from the break; so it was hard to isolate any kava effects.

The milk chocolate base in this bar was OK, but the tiny flecks of kava did impart a certain texture that may taste fibrous or gritty to some.

ChocolateBet: September 21, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

1 piece
Tahoe City Chocolates
(Milk) Chocolate (Dipped) Apricot
Very Good; the apricot inside the chocolate had just about the right amount of moistness and sweetness to it.
Weight: ~ .6 oz. (estimate)
Calories: 75 calories (estimate)
Cost: $?
Purchased from: Tahoe City Chocolates, in Tahoe City, CA

ChocolateBet: September 20, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

1 piece
Tahoe City Chocolates
English Toffee
Very Good
Weight: 1 oz. (estimate)
Calories: 150 calories (estimate)
Cost: $?
Purchased from Tahoe City Chocolates, in Tahoe City, CA

Sunday, September 21, 2008

ChocolateBet: September 19, 2008


Chocolate of the Day:

1 piece
Coconut Truffle
Tahoe City Chocolates
Very Good+
Weight: ~ .5 oz. (estimate)
Calories: 75 calories (estimate)
Cost: $?
Purchased from: Tahoe City Chocolates (in a small mall on the lake), in Tahoe City, CA

Thank you to Mike at Tahoe City Chocolates who gave me a few tips on which chocolates I might enjoy. Today's Coconut Truffle was like a smaller, slightly creamier version of a Mounds bar.

Thursday, September 18, 2008

ChocolateBet: September 18, 2008


Chocolate of the Day:

1 pkg./2 pcs.
Hawaiian Sun
Tapa Toffee - "Chocolate Covered Macadamia Nut Toffee"
Very Good
Weight: .80 oz. (23 g)
Calories: 130 calories for 1 package
Cost: $1.29
Purchased from: Safeway, on the island of Kauai, in Hawaii"

It's hard to go wrong with chocolate-coated nut toffees in my book. And this Tapa Toffee from Hawaiian Sun (Honolulu, HI), made with mac nut toffee and a very subtle hint of coconut oil, was good.

Random thought: I don't know whether all (or any of) the Honolulu-based chocolate companies (Hawaiian Host, Hawaiian King, Hawaiian Sun and a few others) are related. I'll have to look into that later when I have more time.

ChocolateBet: September 17, 2008


Chocolate of the Day:

1 bar
Wow Wee Candy (Bar) - Maui's Candy Bar
Maui Kitch'n Cook'd Potato Chip and Milk Chocolate bar
Very Good
Wt.: 1.75 oz. (50 grams)
Calories: 253 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $ ?
Purchased from: Lava Java, in Kihei on the island of Maui, in Hawaii

Milk chocolate + Maui style potato chips. Two of my favorite foods, together in a bar.

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

ChocolateBet: Septemer 16, 2008


Chocolate of the Day:

1 package (2 pieces /1 serving)
Hawaiian Host
Kona Caramacs ("Kona coffee caramel and macadamias covered in milk chocolate")
Very Good - I'll bet a dark chocolate version of this wouldn't be bad.
Wt.: .95 ounces (27 grams) in package
Calories: 130 calories in one package/2 piece serving
Cost: $1.99
Purchased from: Travel Traders - shop in main terminal of Kauai airport, in Hawaii

Airports - once again a good source if you're looking to buy some local chocolates.

Kona coffee caramel and dry roasted macadamia nuts, covered in milk chocolate. I think that sums up rather nicely what can happen when chocolate goes on vacation to Hawaii.

These Kona Caramacs (caramel + mac nuts) were made by Hawaiian Host Chocolates (Honolulu, HI). The chocolate may have come over from the U.S. mainland. It wasn't clear, but the other major components looked all Hawaiian to me.

Monday, September 15, 2008

ChocolateBet: September 15, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

1 piece
Sahagun Chocolates
"Oregon Kiss" - ground hazelnuts and a small amount of fleur de sel
Very Good - nice blend of flavors
Weight: ~.5 oz.
Calories: 75 calories (estimate)
Cost: $
Purchased from: Sahagun Chocolates/Chocolate Shop, in Portland, OR


Sunday, September 14, 2008

ChocolateBet: September 14, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:
1 piece
Sahagun Chocolates
"Miracle Pill" - (prune, orange peel, dark chocolate)
Very Good + - nice rich moist, sweet filling goes well with the dark chocolate
Wt.: ~.5 oz.
Calories: ~ 75 calories
Cost: $?
Purchased from: Sahagun Chocolates/Chocolate Shop, in Portland, OR

Warning: Nostalgia Moment....This chocolate reminded me of chocolate-covered fruit (prunes and apricots mostly) that my mom used to order around the holidays in the 1960s and 1970s, from a company called Bee Ritchie's in the SF South Bay Area. Bee Ritchie's (I hope I'm spelling their name correctly) was in business when Silicon Valley still had some farmland left that hadn't been developed. At this time (back in the dinosaur age as my teenage daughter would say), there were still some apricot and plum trees standing - remnants of old orchards that were apparently thriving back in the 1940s and 1950s. Sahagun uses local Oregon produce for their chocolates, so my guess is that the dried Brooks plum (aka prune) in this chocolate was from an Oregon orchard.

Saturday, September 13, 2008

ChocolateBet: September 13, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:
1 piece
Sahagun Chocolates
Figalicious - "Calmyrna fig, Marcona almond, chestnut honey,...cardomom, Venezuelan choc..."
Good + - Very Good (This was good, however the fig was a little stiff/chewy for me)
Wt.: ~ .5 oz.
Calories: 75 calories
Cost: $ (not sure)
Purchased from: Sahagun Chocolates/Chocolate Shop, in Portland, OR

I forgot I had a small box of a few chocolates from my Portland trip last month. It's nice to find forgotten chocolates - as long as too much time hasn't gone by.

Friday, September 12, 2008

ChocolateBet: September 12, 2008


Chocolate of the Day:

2 cookies
Arrowhead Mills
Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix
Very Good - especially when right out of the oven
Wt.: ~60 grams for 2 cookies; Total box (dry mix) = 12.9 oz. (365 g.)
Calories: 250 calories (estimate) for 2 cookies
Cost: $5.59 for 1 package/box
Purchased from: Piazza's Fine Foods, in Palo Alto, CA

These were happy birthday cookies baked last night -- and eaten as today's chocolate, for breakfast this morning with some fruit. (Hey, I had to throw in the "some fruit" part to sound somewhat healthy, eh? It was a peach actually.)

ChocolateBet: September 11, 2008


Chocolate of the Day:

4 pieces
Hilo Hattie
Chocolate Covered Macadamia Nut Toffee
Very Good - nice blend of crunchy textures
Weight: 38 grams for 4 pieces; 8 oz. (226 g.) total container/can
Calories: 220 calories for 4 pieces
Cost: $ (need to check receipt)
Purchased from: Hilo Hattie store, in Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii

There are several Hilo Hattie stores throughout Hawaii. We stopped by the Hilo Hattie store in Lahaina, on the island of Maui, to pick up some gifts to take back home to friends and family. In fact, the large Hilo Hattie's plastic shopping bag served as an excellent carry-on bag, for all the gift and chocolate items I picked up in Hawaii, during the journey home. (Of course the large bag also branded us as tourists - and fair game for other vendors in town trying to sell stuff. No doubt, we were visible as tourists from outer space.)

This Lahaina Hilo Hattie store also has a Maui Divers Jewelry pearl counter, where you can select a (real) oyster from a bucket and end up with your very own pearl. I was hoping for "chocolate" colored pearl(s). I selected a nice ugly (ugly is better they say) oyster, which they pried open for me. It contained two very nice matching, large white pearls. (There is no guarantee what color pearl you'll get.) I later bought a pair of chocolate pearls, at another Maui Divers location (at the Maui airport) which they drilled and made into earrings for me. My chocolate bet gets me into trouble...again.

Today marks the end of year #2 of the chocolate bet! I've been eating a different kind of chocolate each day for two years now. It looks like there are enough chocolate brands/items to keep eating chocolates for at least one more year. My new goal is to eat different chocolates for at least 1,000 days in a row. Only ~ 270 more days to go to hit this milestone (on or about ~ June 9, 2009).

ChocolateBet: September 10, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:
1 piece
Kauai Chocolate Company, LLC
Pina Colada - pineapple shaped dark chocolate
Very Good
Wt.: ~.5 oz.
Calories: ~ 75 calories
Cost: $ (need to check receipt)
Purchased from: Kauai Chocolate Company LLC, in Ele'ele, Kauai, Hawaii

ChocolateBet: September 9, 2008



Chocolate of the Day:
1 piece
Kauai Chocolate Company LLC
Dark Brick (layers - chocolate, macadamia toffee, other)
Good + - Very Good
Wt.: ~ 1 oz.
Calories: ~ 150 calories
Cost: $ (need to check receipt)
Purchased from: Kauai Chocolate Company, LLC, in Ele'ele, Kauai, Hawaii

I discovered the Kauai Chocolate Company, as it was in the same building as the Kauai sea tour outfit where we were booking a trip to Na Pali coast. (Ele'ele is between Poipu and Hanapepe on the South side of Kauai.) Also in the same building is a Hawaiian shave ice place, and a few gift shops.

Random observation: We were surprised to see the large number of wild chickens and roosters in Kauai - although I did note that there weren't any around this building or the marina/dock area in Ele' ele - that I could see at least. I didn't see any chicken or rooster-shaped chocolates; maybe this is an opportunity for a local chocolatier. However, I did see t-shirts, shot glasses and other items with chickens or rooster images printed on them. I even saw a bin of small stuffed chickens/roosters with little tiny faux leis around their necks at the airport, adjacent to the chocolate display.

Monday, September 8, 2008

ChocolateBet: September 8, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

1 scoop (in a cup)
Lappert's (ice cream)
Coconut Macadamia Nut Fudge ice cream
Very Good
Wt.: ~ 4 fluid ounces (oz.) in 1 scoop
Calories: ~260 calories (estim.)
Cost: $3.65
Purchased from: Lappert's (the original location in Hanapepe, Kauai, Hawaii)

It was fun to visit the original Lappert's roadside-stand location. I even bought a Lappert's t-shirt. If you find yourself in Hawaii (there is no Lappert's back on the mainland), I recommend trying their "Kauai Pie" ice cream (coffee ice cream base, macadamia nuts, cake/pie flakes, and maybe some chocolate - I can't remember). It is a popular local flavor. (However, for readers who want to avoid gluten or wheat, note the cake flakes probably have some flour in them.)

Sunday, September 7, 2008

ChocolateBet: September 7, 2008


Chocolate of the Day:

2 pieces
Surfin' Ass Coffee/Keoki's Big Island
Dark Chocolate Donkey Balls
Very Good+
Weight: ~1.32 oz. for 2 pieces /4 oz. (114 grams) total package
Calories: 200 calories (estimate) for 2 pieces
Cost: $5.95 total package
Purchased from: Lava Java*, in Kihei, Maui; Hawaii

We discovered these Donkey Balls after seeing a banner hanging outside Lava Java*, while vacationing on the island of Maui (Hawaii). These chocolates came in many different flavors, some with humorous names. Most were large (almost jawbreaker sized orbs) with a macadamia nut in the middle; some had a coffee bean in the middle.

The dark chocolate coating was rich, smooth and delicious; but it was a bit difficult to bite into. Better to be patient; but you could also (carefully) cut one in half with a knife I suppose.

*In the true spirit of Hawaiian entrepreneurship, Lava Java was selling coffee, chocolates, cigars -- and also Internet access. Thank you to Dan who helped ship an order of various flavors of Donkey Balls back to California. 

ChocolateBet: September 6, 2008


Chocolate of the Day:

1 piece
Hawaiian King
Chocolate Covered Macadamia Nuts
Good + - Very Good
Weight: .5 oz. (14.1 g.) in 1 piece
Calories: 75 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: ~$7.00 total box/package (sale)
Purchased from: Airport gift shop, in (Oahu?), Hawaii

Each of the 8 pieces in this box of Chocolate Covered Macadamia Nuts from Hawaiian King Candies (Honolulu, HI) consisted of two chocolate coated, dry roasted mac nuts stuck together, forming a chubby chocolate eight shape. These nuts provided a nice salt + sweet flavor that complemented the chocolate nicely.

ChocolateBet: September 5, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

1 piece
Godiva Chocolatier
Dark Chocolate Marzipan Heart
Very Good +
Weight: .6 oz. (estimate)
Calories: 90 calories (estimate)
Cost: $1.93 (estimate)
Purchased from: Godiva Chocolatier, in Palo Alto, CA

Nice flavor combination; and this Dark Marzipan Heart from Godiva would be a fun chocolate to share with someone special as well.

Thursday, September 4, 2008

ChocolateBet: September 4, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

1 piece
Godiva Chocolatier
Hazelnut Chocolate Caramel Cluster
Good + - nice design; can't really taste hazelnut flavor that much
Weight: .75 oz. (estimate)
Calories: 112 calories (estimate) in this piece
Cost: $1.93 (estimate) (I took the total price paid for 4 pcs bought in bulk, and divided the total price by 4 to get an average cost per piece. This piece was bigger, so it may be more expensive than $1.93.)
Purchased from: Godiva Chocolatier, in Palo Alto, CA

I am eating this chocolate in Hawaii, in the early morning (my body is still in the Pacific Time Zone).

It's nice to be on vacation, in a place where there are chocolate options to explore. I may have to eat more than one chocolate today if we locate a piece of chocolate macadamia nut pie I keep hearing about. We'll see.

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

ChocolateBet: September 3, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

1 piece
Godiva Chocolatier
Raspberry Star
Good
Weight: .5 oz. (estimate)
Calories: 75 calories (estimate) for 1 pc.
Cost: $1.93 (estimate)
Purchased from: Godiva Chocolatier, in Palo Alto, CA

I took this Raspberry Star (and two other Godiva chocolates) with me on vacation; and I ate this one before departing on the plane for vacation in Hawaii. I wasn't sure how difficult it would be to find chocolates in Hawaii.

Not to worry. I'm here in Maui and there will be plenty of chocolate-related items to sample this week from what I've seen so far.

I liked the design and the shape of this Raspberry Star from Godiva; however, it tasted somewhat blander or grainier than expected. It may have just been the white chocolate.

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

ChocolateBet: September 2, 2008


Chocolate of the Day:

1 bar
Snickers (Mars)
Rockin' Nut Road bar
Very Good - nice variation on regular Snickers; I generally like rocky-road-like combinations.
Weight: 1.83 oz. (51.9 grams) in 1 bar
Calories: 240 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $? (need to find receipt)
Purchased from: ? (need to find receipt)

I'm fond of Snickers (Mars) bars, as candy bars go; and I've enjoyed all the variations on the popular bar that parent company Mars has turned out so far (usually available for a limited time). Today's Snickers Rockin' Nut Road Limited Edition bar was no exception.

The bar contained: "Almonds, caramel and marshmallow-flavored nougat, wrapped in dark chocolate."

Monday, September 1, 2008

ChocolateBet: September 1, 2008


Chocolate of the Day:

2 servings (~ 8 small cookies)
Pamela's Products
Extreme Chocolate Mini Cookies (gluten-free)
Very Good - nice small size
Weight: ~ 2 oz. (56 grams) for 2 srvgs; 7 oz. (198 g.) for total package
Calories: 260 calories for 2 srvgs.
Cost: $ 2.99 for total package
Purchased from: Piazzas Fine Foods, in Palo Alto, CA

It's amazing how easy it is to justify having several little tiny cookies, due to their small size. Two servings? No problem.

Also, of all the different gluten-free chocolate cookies I've tried, these seem to be the best for making a chocolate cookie crust, and/or for crumbling/mixing into ice cream.
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