ChocolateBet: December 31, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

2 pieces
Teuscher
Champagne Truffles (regular/milk)
Yum - These are great
Weight: ~ .9 oz.
Calories: 135 calories (estimate)
Cost: $0 (gift)
Purchased from: Teuscher store, in Palo Alto, CA

Happy end of 2008, and Joyous New Year all!

These champagne truffles seemed a perfect choice for New Year's Eve., and were some of the best truffles I've tasted from Teuscher's U.S. based shops. The Swiss really do make great, smooth milk chocolate. I liked this "standard" (milk chocolate) version better than the dark chocolate Champagne Truffles (that I had last year).

ChocolateBet: December 30, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:
6 pieces
Teuscher
Ginger (dark chocolate covered)
Very Good
Wt.: ~.8 oz.
Calories: ~108 calories (estim.)
Cost: $0 (gift)
Purchased from: Teuscher store, in Palo Alto, CA

ChocolateBet: December 29, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:
1 piece
Teuscher
Orange Slice (Milk Chocolate Covered)
Good +; nice orange flavor
Wt.: ~ .6 oz.
Calories: ~ 87 calories (estim.)
Cost: $0 (gift)
Purchased from: Teuscher store, in Palo Alto, CA

ChocolateBet: December 28, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

4 pieces
R.M. Palmer
Double Crisp Santas 'n Snowmen
Good
Weight: .66 oz./ 2 oz. (56 grams) in total pkg.
Calories: 97 calories (estimate) in 4 pieces
Cost: $ 0.50 for 2 oz. package (12 pieces)
Purchased from: Walgreens, in Palo Alto, CA

ChocolateBet: December 27, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:
7 squares
Seeds of Change
Santa Catarina (dark chocolate with mango, toasted coconut, and cashews) 61% cacao; organic
Good + - Very Good
Wt.: 70 grams/3.53 oz. (100.1 grams) total bar
Calories: ~ 403 calories in 7 squares (70 grams)
Cost: $0 (gift/share)
Purchased from: N/A

Thanks Alec for sharing this bar.

ChocolateBet: December 26, 2008

Chocolate(s) of the Day:

1.) 1 item/snowman
Russell Stover
Chocolate Marshmallow Snowman
Good; a bit too sweet for me, but it might be nice dunked in some hot chocolate
Weight: 7/8 oz. (25 grams)
Calories: 100 calories for one snowman
Cost: $0.41
Purchased from: Walgreens, in Palo Alto, CA

2.) 1 piece of Cheescake Factory flourless Peppermint (Chocolate) Cheesecake
topped with whipped cream and bits of peppermint candy - not counting this on my spreadsheet, but I will come back and try the other flourless varieties in the future.

Another two-fisted chocolate day this holiday week. I'm going to have to work hard at the gym this weekend - meaning more than my usual 15-minute workout.

ChocolateBet: December 25, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

parts of a homemade chocolate sports car
(Dagoba dark bar melted and used in chocolate sports car mold)
Very Good - Very Good +
Wt.: ~ .6 oz. (for cockpit and spoiler parts of small sports car)
Calories: 85 calories (estimate)
Cost: $0 (gift)
Purchased from: N/A

Thank you to Alec who became a chocolatier this last week and made some fun molded chocolate cars for the holidays using this 59% cacao Dagoba organic dark chocolate bar. (He visited a chocolate/candy supply store in Milpitas, CA and bought supplies, including bar and sports car molds, and experimented with various bars and molds until (bubble free)* cars were ready to roll off the assembly line to be displayed, and quickly eaten.)

*When making chocolate, trays and/or molds are often shaken or agitated to allow trapped air bubbles in melted chocolate to rise to the surface or dissipate. If making chocolate on a small scale, one can also prick visible bubbles with a toothpick.

ChocolateBet: December 24, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

1 nutcracker bar
Snickers (Mars)
Nutcracker
Good + - Very Good
Wt.: 1.0 oz. (28.4 grams)
Calories: 150 calories (estimate) in one Nutcracker
Cost: $0.59
Purchased from: Walgreens, in Palo Alto, CA

It is glorious to have a day off to relax. Today, I had a massage at Embody in Mountain View, CA. They were giving out small Monbana (70% cacao) squares. A nice touch. So, once again this week, it's a two-chocolate day. All this chocolate abundance helps me keep the bad media reports about the collapsing economy at a distance. Can you say chocolate-fueled denial? Happy holidays all.

ChocolateBet: December 23, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

1 "tree"
Reese's/Hershey
Milk Chocolate Reese's Peanut Butter Tree
Very Good
Wt.: 1.2 oz. (34 grams)/7.2 oz. (204 g.) in total package of 6 trees
Calories: 180 calories
Cost: $3.99 for package of 6 trees
Purchased from: Walgreens, in Palo Alto, CA

My kind of 6-pack. One for me, five to share. Happy holidays to all.

ChocolateBet: December 22, 2008

Chocolate(s) of the Day:

Disney (branded with/by? Walgreens) and U.K. mfr.
Happy Holiday Chocolate Figurines (in White and Milk Chocolate)
16 mini figurines (Winnie The Pooh, Tigger, Piglet, Eeyore shapes)
Good + - Very Good
Wt.: 1.52 oz. (43 grams) in total package
Calories: 240 calories
Cost: $1.99 for total pkg.
Purchased from: Walgreens, in Palo Alto, CA

Today was another two-chocolate day. It's holiday week. Eating lots of novelty and gift chocolate items this week.

1.) Chocolate #1 - These tiny little Pooh bear figurines were cute. Bizarre observation of the day: The white chocolate figurines (see scanned image of these chocolates, above right) seem a bit blurred, as if they were moving around (trying to escape perhaps?). Perhaps white chocolate vibrates at a higher frequency, or becomes unbalanced once the cocoa solids have been taken out. No, 'fraid not. I'm sure there was a perfectly reasonable scientific optical explanation for their relatively more blurred appearance. Waiting for Dr. Science to weigh in...In the meantime...

2.) Chocolate #2 for the day was a very nice homemade chocolate creme caramel at a friend's house, following a great crab dinner. I admire the cook's creativity - she used three different kinds of chocolate (including a chocolate Santa) for the creme caramel.

ChocolateBet: December 21, 2008

Chocolate(s) of the Day:

1.) Chocolate #1
3 squares
Reese's/Hershey
Milk Chocolate Reese's (bar) Filled With Reese's Peanut Butter
Very Good
Wt.: 30 grams/4.25 oz. (120 grams) in total bar
Calories: 150 calories for 3 squares
Cost: $2.19 for total bar
Purchased from: Walgreens, in Palo Alto, CA

2) Chocolate #2
1 brownie
(Homemade gift from Yanna - gluten-free too)
Very Good + - Yum
Wt.: 2.7 oz. (estimate) (~ 2.5 x 2.5 inches square)
Calories: 295 calories (estimate)
Cost: $0 (gift)
Purchased from: N/A

It was a lovely two-chocolate day today. The weather was cold and damp outside, but the chocolate holiday spirit was alive and well inside. Thank you to Yanna for dropping off the great homemade brownies.

ChocolateBet: December 20, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

2/3 of a bar/serving
Jolly Gourmet/My Favorite Co. co-branded w/ Barry Callebaut
Smooth White Chocolate Peppermint Bark Truffle Bar
Good + - Very Good
Wt.: 1.04 oz. (29.7 grams) (estimate) in 2/3 bar/1.58 oz. (45 grams) in total package
Calories: 165 calories (estimate) in 2/3 of a bar/serving
Cost: $0 (gift) - Thank you Megan! ($1.99 was the price marked on box)
Purchased from: (N/A - gift)

Made with a Barry Callebaut (Zurich, Switzerland) white chocolate coating, this layered creamy smooth + crunchy Jolly Gourmet confection was dressed up to look like an ice cream bar on a stick. Inside, the bar had a chocolate truffle center with cocoa powder and a layer of crunchy peppermint bits. Similar red and white bits adorned the outside of the bar.

ChocolateBet: December 19, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

1.5 oz. serving
M and M's Premiums
Chocolate Almond (roasted whole almonds and milk chocolate)
Very Good
Wt.: 1.5 oz. (42 grams or ~1/4 cup)/ 6.0 oz. (170.1 grams) in total package
Calories: 240 calories in 1.5 oz. serving
Cost: $4.00 (sale)
Purchased from: Safeway, in Palo Alto, CA

ChocolateBet: December 18, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

1 oz.
M and M's/Mars (Premiums)
Mint Chocolate (M and Ms) - "white chocolate mint wrapped in dark chocolate"
Very Good
Wt.: 1 oz. (28.3 g.)/6.0 oz. (170.1 g.) in total package
Calories: 158 calories (estimate) in 1 oz.
Cost: $4.00 (sale) for total package
Purchased from: Safeway, in Palo Alto, CA

Pictured in this entry are images of the Mint Chocolate M and Ms from Mars. The familiar disc shaped pieces were created with mint white chocolate centers, wrapped in dark chocolate, and covered in dark green candy shells.

I wondered how these (likely limited edition) new M and M's Premiums chocolate candies were doing in the stores. Mint and chocolate combinations are always fairly popular; and these were attractive and tasty. However, some people may want to stick with more "traditional" M and M's (plain dark chocolate and peanut).

ChocolateBet: December 17, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

1 piece
Russell Stover ("American Classics" series)
New York Cheesecake Ganache
Good
Weight: 16 grams for 1 square/ 4.5 oz. (128 grams) in total pkg.
Calories: 80 calories for 1 square
Cost: ?
Purchased from: Walgreens

Today's milk chocolate squares from Russell Stover Candies (Kansas City, MO) were filled with a New York cheesecake ganache, and a hint of raspberry.

ChocolateBet: December 16, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

1 serving, 2 squares
Russell Stover (American Classics series)
Southern Pecan Chocolate Torte ("naturally flavored")
Good - Good +
Weight: 32 grams/4.5 oz. (128 grams) in total package
Calories: 160 calories in one 2-piece serving
Cost: $3.49 for total package
Purchased from: Walgreens, on Stockton St., in San Francisco, CA

These are even better when you eat them with a handful for pecans.

ChocolateBet: December 15, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

1 pkg of 3 pieces
Werther's Original (August Storck KG, Germany)
Caramel Chocolate Dark (42% cacao)
Very Good
Weight: .7 0z. (19 grams)
Calories: 120 calories
Cost: $ 0.89
Purchased from: Blockbuster, in Palo Alto, CA

ChocolateBet: December 14, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

1 serving (4 pieces)
choxie (Target)
dark chocolate nut truffle meltaways
1.) peanut brittle - Good +
2.) pecan praline - Very Good
3.) honey glazed almond - Good + - Very Good
4.) toffee pistachio - Good +
Wt.: 29 grams for one each of the 4 above/8 oz. (226 g.) in total pkg.
Calories: 210 calories for one 4-pc. serving
Cost: $5.00
Purchased from: Target, in Mountain View, CA

This package of choxie (Target brand) chocolates contained four different "dark chocolate nut truffle meltaways" -- all with some type of nut, or nut brittle. The pecan praline flavor was a favorite.

ChocolateBet: December 13, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

1 serving (4 pcs.)
Bissinger's Handcrafted Chocolatier
Chocolate Covered Black Sesame Crunch
Very Good +
Weight: 29 grams/5 oz. (142 g.) in total package
Calories: 180 calories for 29 g., 4-pc. serving
Cost: $6.49 for total package
Purchased from: Central Market, in Plano, TX

These dark chocolate covered Black Sesame Crunch pieces (filled with a nice blend of almonds and sesame seeds) from Bissinger's (St. Louis, MO) were very satisfying. Even better: no wheat, and no artificial colors or flavors.

ChocolateBet: December 12, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

1.5 ounces
Old Dominion Peanut Company (since 1913)
"Master Pieces - Dipped Toffee Peanuts"
Very Good
Wt.: 1.5 oz. (42.4 grams)/10 oz. (283 grams) in total box
Calories: 225 calories in 1.5 oz.
Cost: $3.89 for total box
Purchased from: Ross, in Plano, TX

While on the road in Texas, I stopped into Ross to buy a pair of socks, and I saw these Old Dominion Dipped Toffee Peanuts. 

ChocolateBet: December 11, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

1 serving
Sanders Candy
Milk Chocolate Honey Roasted Peanut Bark
Good - Good +
Weight: 1.4 oz. (40 grams)/ 6.5 oz. (184 grams) in total box
Calories: 220 calories (estimate) for one 1.4 oz. serving
Cost: $ 6.99 for total box
Purchased from: Central Market, in Plano, TX

Today's offering was from Sanders Candy (Clinton Township, MI). Milk chocolate was "swirled with" fresh honey roasted peanuts (a tasty combination) and resulting, sweet bark pieces were arranged in this long, rectangular box.

ChocolateBet: December 10, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

6 pieces/1 box
Bissinger's
Salted Margarita Caramels
Good + - Very Good
Wt.: 2.2 oz. (62 grams)
Calories: 225 calories in 6 pieces
Cost: $7.99 total box (6 pieces)
Purchased from: Central Market, in Plano, TX

I've enjoyed salted caramels infused with lavender, rosemary, and other flavorings. The Margarita (tequila extract and slight citrus) flavor gave these Bissinger's chocolate covered caramels an interesting twist, and blended authentically with the salt crystals on top.

ChocolateBet: December 9, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

3 pieces
C. J. Olson Cherries
Dark Chocolate Cherry Almond Clusters
Good + - Very Good
Wt.: 1.1 oz./6 oz. total bag/pkg.
Calories: ~ 152 calories for 3 pieces
Cost: $ 8.65 for total bag/package
Purchased from: TC Temp books, Airport shop, at San Jose, CA (SJC) airport

ChocolateBet: December 8, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

4 pieces
Halloren/G. F. Handel's
Brandy Beans
Very Good
Weight: 33 g./7 oz. (200g) total box
Calories: 140 calories for 4 pieces
Cost: $ 7.99 for total box (24 pcs.)
Purchased from: Central Market, in Plano, TX

I was in the Dallas, TX, area, traveling on business, and I decided to buy dinner from a supermarket in the area. I went to the Central Market, chain of stores in Texas. It was a large store - sort of a cross between a Whole Foods Market (another chain that originated in Texas) and a deluxe indoor farmers market.

These bittersweet chocolates (made in Germany) were shaped a little like "beans" and were filled with brandy flavoring. These beans made up 1/2 of my dinner back at the hotel. It was wonderfully relaxing.

ChocolateBet: December 7, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:
2 items
Baskin Robbins
Individual "turkey" (frozen) - vanilla ice cream w/ chocolate cookies & frosting
Good - fun novelty item
Wt.: ~ 6 oz. ? (estim.)
Calories: ~ 360 cals. (estimated)
Cost: $ 3.19 for each "turkey"/$12.76 for an order of 4
Purchased from: Baskin Robbins (No. 137), in Palo Alto, CA

This year Baskin Robbins was featuring a large ice cream turkey, and smaller individual ones. I bought a tiny flock of 4 individual turkeys (2 chocolate, 2 vanilla) to try today. They're cute to look at. I couldn't eat the little chocolate cookie parts - which looked good, but these were fun to eat and to share, nonetheless.

ChocolateBet: December 6, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

1 serving - 3 pieces
Jelly Belly Candy Company
Sunkist Chocolate Raspberry Fruit Gems
("Naturally Flavored Soft Fruit Candy Coated with Dark Chocolate")
Good + - Very Good
Wt.: ~1.28 oz. (37 g.)/ 3.2 oz. (90g) total bag
Calories: "30" calories per serving (Note: This sounds too low for 3 pc. srvg. I'm calling them to double-check whether this is correct.)
Cost: $1.95 for total bag/package
Purchased from: Village Stationers, in Palo Alto, CA

Jelly Belly is perhaps most well-known for their jelly beans, but a few of their items also contain chocolate and/or cocoa powder.

The company opens their facility in the Fairfield, CA, area (a few hours away from where I live) to visitors; and one of these days I'll get up there for a tour.

ChocolateBet: December 5, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

1 bar
Snickers/Mars, Incorporated
Snickers Nut'n butter Crunch
("Milk Chocolate, Peanuts and Creamy Peanut Butter taste")
Very Good +
Weight: 1.71 oz. (48.5 grams) in 1 bar
Calories: 250 calories
Cost: $~.69?
Purchased from: ? (need to find receipt)

All variations of the original Snickers bar (part of Mars) have been good. That is, in part, due to the power of chocolate and peanuts and/or peanut butter in this case.

ChocolateBet: December 4, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

8 small squares
Alter Eco Fair Trade
Dark Chocolate Almond ("sun-dried and slow-roasted")
(El Ceibo Cooperative, Bolivia)
Good+
Wt.: 33.6 grams in 8 squares/3.5 oz. (100 grams) in total bar
Calories: ~168 calories in 8 small squares
Cost: $ ?
Purchased from: ?

I'd bought these dark chocolate almonds from Alter Eco some time ago. A nice story was included, printed on the packaging, about where the cacao had come from (a co-op in Bolivia). 

ChocolateBet: December 3, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

1.5 servings (3/4 cup)
Hershey's (branded)/Houston Harvest, Inc.
Hershey's Chocolate Drizzled Popcorn
Good +
Wt.: 3/4 cup (43.5 grams)/6 oz. (170 g.) in total pkg.
Calories: ~ 180 calories for 3/4 cup
Cost: $4.99 for total package
Purchased from: OfficeMax, in Mountain View, CA

I found this chocolate while shopping for office supplies.

ChocolateBet: December 2, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

2 pieces
Saxon Chocolates
Dark Chocolate Dipped Apricots
Good +
Wt.: .7 oz. (20 grams)/3.5 oz. (100 g.) total package
Calories: 75 calories for 2 pieces/apricots
Cost: $7.99 for total package of 10
Purchased from: Loehmann's, in Sunnyvale, CA

ChocolateBet: December 1, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:
1 cup
Barefoot Coffee
"deth chocolate" (hot chocolate)
Good +
Wt.: 12 fl oz. size cup; (~355 ml.)
Cost: $5.00
Calories: ~360 calories (wild guess)
Purchased from: Barefoot Coffee, on Stevens Creek Blvd., in Santa Clara, CA

Barefoot Coffee is a fun place; it's not your typical coffee chain. I received my hot deth chocolate with a smiley face in the foam on top. Barefoot's version of hot chocolate is fairly rich - which is good if you like stronger flavors. I took mine to go - and I should have taken a plastic stick or spoon with me to finish up the nice chocolate layer at the bottom of the cup. See if you can guess the secret ingredient.