Thursday, April 30, 2009

ChocolateBet: April 30, 2009


Chocolate of the Day:

1 bar
Gnosis Chocolate (handmade raw organic chocolate)
Cashew Goji Cherry
Good + - Very Good
Weight: 2 oz. (56 g.)
Calories: 300 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $
Purchased from: Gnosis Chocolate, in New York City, NY (online order)

Nice, fresh, healthy ingredients make this a tasty bar. The only goji berries I'd tasted up until now had been dried. These tasted closer to fresh, however, it was hard to tell whether I was tasting the goji or the cherry in some bites.

ChocolateBet: April 29, 2009


Chocolate of the Day:
1 bar
Gnosis Chocolate (handmade raw organic chocolate)
Coconut Almond
Very Good - Very Good +
Weight: 2 oz. (56 g.)
Calories: ~ 300 calories (estimate)
Cost: $
Purchased from: Gnosis Chocolate, New York City, NY

This bar is a very satisfying combination of chocolate, coconut and almond (one of the chocolate taste trifectas in my mind). The coconut tastes fresher than that found in most commercial chocolate bars, and the healthier ingredients mean I don't feel as guilty for eating the whole 2-oz. bar.

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

ChocolateBet: April 28, 2009


Chocolate of the Day:
1 bar
Gnosis Chocolate (handmade raw organic chocolate)
Simplicity
Good + - Very Good
Weight: 2 oz. (56 oz.)
Calories: ~ 300 calories in 1 bar (estimate)
Cost: $
Purchased from: Gnosis Chocolate, in New York City, New York (online order)

This bar was a little sweet (although I like the agave nectar being used as a sweetener); but it's very good otherwise. Gnosis chocolates have quite a nice taste and texture. I ate part of this bar with some raw walnuts and a dash of cinnamon on a small plate, which I also enjoyed. My guess is that these chocolates would mix very well with some organic vanilla ice cream as well.

Monday, April 27, 2009

ChocolateBet: April 27, 2009


Chocolate of the Day:
2 pieces
Bedre Fine Chocolate
Crisps - Dark Chocolate (covered potato crisps/chips)
Good +
Weight: .88 oz.(25 g.) for 2 Crisps/5 oz. (142 g.) in total container
Calories: 180 calories for 2 pieces
Cost: $4.75 for 1 container (+shipping for online order)
Purchased from: Bedre Fine Chocolate, Oklahoma (online order) owned by Chickasaw Nation

I like chocolate and I like potato chips, so I have tried several combinations of these two ingredients. (I also like chocolate and nuts, chocolate and bacon, and salt chocolate caramels -- so salt seems to be another common theme here.) Anyway, I've found it's tough to get the right balance with chocolate-covered chips - often the chocolate seems to overwhelm the chips. These Crisps tasted like they were made from high-quality chocolate, and they were good. Note: these are not gluten-free, as they do have some wheat/starch in them.

Sunday, April 26, 2009

ChocolateBet: April 26, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:

2 pieces
Tokyo Nostalgie/Nostalgy
(Distributed by Noda USA)
Chocolate Mochi
Good - Good +
Weight: .706 oz. (20 g.)/ 3.53 oz. (100 g.) total box of 10
Calories: 105 calories (estimate)
Cost: $4.50
Purchased from: nippon-ya, in Japantown area of San Francisco, CA

This box was adorned with night-time and sunset city scenes of a bridge (not sure which one). "Please have memories of the travel all together" the wrapper states.

I'm guessing this "Rare Chocolate Mochi" item was packaged for Japanese people living in the U.S. who may be thinking fondly of home, or Japanese tourists who visit San Francisco and who find mochi more difficult to find in the U.S. Or, for anyone that might like mochi or chocolate, like me.

Mochi is a sweet, slightly starchy and gelatinous item -- the gnocchi of the dessert world. Ingredients include vegetable starch syrups (corn, potato, and/or sweet potato), sugar, rice (cake) powder, oils, and albumen. It is usually gluten-free as well.

Mochi is somewhat difficult to find, even in west coast cities like San Francisco that have a Japantown. And, chooclate mochi is, indeed, even rarer.

Saturday, April 25, 2009

ChocolateBet: April 25, 2009


Chocolate of the Day:
10 pieces
Hori Confectionery (Hokkaido)
"Corn Chocolate" (aka Milk Chocolate Corn Puffs)
Very Good
Weight: 2.82 oz. (80 grams) in total pkg of 10 indiv. wrapped pcs.
Calories: ~395 calories (estimate)
Cost:$1.49 in total package
Purchased from: nippon-ya (store) in Japantown area of San Francisco, CA

Today, I was in the Japantown area of San Francisco to attend a film festival. I just missed the cherry blossom festivities (that was last weekend). While I was there I ate some sushi and udon for lunch and admired some cherry trees still in bloom. And, I looked for Japanese chocolates. I found two different kinds; this is the first of the two. "Corn Chocolate" is fairly crunchy and light, and not bad at all. In fact, I managed to polish off all 10 pieces in this package.

Friday, April 24, 2009

ChocolateBet: April 24, 2009


Chocolate of the Day:

5 servings
Bedre Fine Chocolate
Clusters - Roasted Peanuts in Milk Chocolate
Very Good
Weight: 5 oz. (142 grams) in one can
Calories: 765 calories
Cost: $6.75 (plus shipping for online order)
Purchased from: Bedre Fine Chocolate, Pauls Valley, Oklahoma

Bedre Fine Chocolates is owned by the Chickasaw Nation. While I was unable to travel to Oklahoma to try these, ordering chocolates online is a great way to sample chocolate from far-away places. One only has to take care when ordering chocolate during the warmer/summer months.

Fortunately, I put this order in before the spell of hot weather around here. Although the box I received was packed with plenty of styrofoam packing to help ensure against possible meltage along the way.

Thursday, April 23, 2009

ChocolateBet: April 23, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:
1 serving
Colombo (frozen yogurt)
Chocolate (nonfat) and Simply Vanilla (lowfat) swirled together in a cup
Good +
Weight: ~ 8 oz. total
Calories: ~ 250
Cost: $3.39
Purchased from: RLW, Inc. Snack Bar in Mc Carran International Airport, Las Vegas, NV

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

ChocolateBet: April 22, 2009


Chocolate of the Day:

6 pieces
SunSpire (The Hain Celestial Group, Inc.)
Earth Balls (Fair Trade) Milk Chocolate
Good + - Very Good
Weight: ~1.41 oz. (40 g.)/5 oz. (141 g.) ttl pkg
Calories: 210 calories in 6 pieces
Cost: $4.99 total pkg.
Purchased from: Piazza's Fine Foods in Palo Alto, CA

Happy Earth Day, April 22, to all in the U.S. These Earth Ball chocolates seemed like the right choice to celebrate this occasion.

------------------------------*------------------------------*---------------------------------

Today, I also enjoyed an assortment of milk and dark chocolates from The Chocolate Tree, in Beaufort, South Carolina. This box included milk and dark chocolate-covered brazil nuts; milk chocolate coconut; milk and dark chocolate-covered peanut clusters; milk chocolate peanut butter; and a milk chocolate toffee crunch. Also included in this half-pound assortment box were milk and dark chocolate sand dollars, chocolates with raisins, and a few others. I ate about 4 oz. (of the 8 oz. box), about 610 calories worth. We had a hot spell this week - so it was necessary to eat some of these chocolates before they melted. (Yep, that's my excuse, and I'm sticking to it.)

I was able to order this assortment box over the phone. Thanks to the Chocolate Tree for putting this order together. It's great to have tried some chocolates from South Carolina.

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

ChocolateBet: April 21, 2009


Chocolate of the Day:

8 small squares
Gnosis Chocolate
SuperChoc
Very Good - Very Good +
Weight: 1.77 oz. (49.77 g.)/2 oz. (56 g.) in total bar/box
Calories: ~267 calories (estimate)
Cost: $0 (sample)
Purchased from: N/A - received sample during visit Gnosis made to San Francisco

I have to admit some earlier raw chocolate items I've tasted were just so-so. So, I was very pleasantly surprised with SuperChoc's great taste and consistency, as well as the healthy back-story associated with this bar. I'm looking forward to trying the other flavors from Gnosis this year.

Gnosis Chocolate was founded by Vanessa Barg, who brings with her a substantial health counseling background. She and her team are engaged in making each batch by hand - without the help of large machinery normally associated with bulk manufacturers. She explained that there is no milk (that can bind to antioxidants - which might normally bind with free radicals, neutralizing some of the chocolate's beneficial properties). And, instead of sugar, she uses agave syrup, a boon to diabetics and those watching their blood sugar levels. This chocolate is also gluten-free. Thank you to Sarah for tipping me off about Gnosis.

Monday, April 20, 2009

ChocolateBet: April 20, 2009



Chocolate of the Day:
4 pieces (truffle eggs)
Ethel's Chocolate/Mars
Truffle Egg Collection (8 pc. - 4 different flavors) in Egg-Shaped Box
Very Good - Very Good +
1.) Milk Chocolate Truffle with Lemon Ganache - Very Good +
2.) Milk Chocolate Truffle with Mango Passion Ganache - Very Good +
3.) Milk Chocolate Truffle with Key Lime Ganache - Very Good - VG+
4.) Milk Chocolate Truffle with Raspberry Ganache - Very Good
Weight: 2.61 oz. (74 grams)/5.22 oz. (148 grams) total box
Calories: ~ 395 calories in 4 eggs
Cost: $14.00 (sale price for 8-piece box)
Purchased from: Ethel's Chocolate Lounge in the Flamingo Hotel, Las Vegas, NV

These eggs are made from high-quality milk chocolate, and are paired with very nice fruit-flavored centers. The lemon was my favorite; the filling was a perfect blend of lemon curd + lemon meringue. All four flavors are worth trying - if you can find them. These seasonal treats were already on sale when I bought them yesterday.

Sunday, April 19, 2009

ChocolateBet: April 19, 2009



Chocolate of the Day:

2 pieces
Cerreta's Fine Chocolates
Very Good
Weight: ~ 1 oz. (28 g.)/4.5 oz. (126 g.) in total package
Calories: ~ 130 calories for 2 pieces (cowboy boots)
Cost: $3.99 + shipping (online order)
Purchased from: Cerreta's Fine Chocolates, in Glendale Arizona (online order)

These were very tasty boots. I look forward to trying more chocolate boots and shoes in the near future. I'm researching a shop in L.A. area that sells chocolate high heels.

It is great to try some chocolate from Arizona. I also have some cactus candy from Cactus Candy Co. (Phoenix, Arizona). Perhaps I will try dunking this cactus candy in some melted chocolate.

Saturday, April 18, 2009

ChocolateBet: April 18, 2009



Chocolate of the Day:

3 cakes
Quaker (The Quaker Oats Company)
Good +
Weight: ~1.59 oz. (45 g.)/7.23 oz. (205 g.) total package
Calories: 180 calories (estimate) for 3 cakes
Cost: $ (don't have this info)
Purchased from: (Safeway?)

Friday, April 17, 2009

ChocolateBet: April 17, 2009


Chocolate of the Day:

1 oz.
Chocoholics Divine Desserts
Chocolate Voodoo Doll ("The Sweetest Revenge of All!")
Very Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) (estimate) /5 oz. (142 grams) total voodoo doll
Calories: 150 calories (estimate)
Cost: $ (need to find order info.)
Purchased from: Blue Frog Chocolates, New Orleans, LA (online order)

Some very clever thinking went into this chocolate voodoo doll. I'm "using" mine to help clean up my house. The instructions direct me to use my teeth instead of pins to sink into the chocolate doll. Well, it certainly tastes good.

Thursday, April 16, 2009

ChocolateBet: April 16, 2009


Chocolate of the Day:

1 piece
Chocorart (Chocolate Organico Artesanal)
Cafe/Coffee
Very Good
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.)/ 6.36 oz. (180 g.) total package of 6
Calories: ~ 160 calories (estimate)
Cost: $15.95 for a package of 6 different flavors*
Purchased from: store in airport (San Jose, Costa Rica)

*I enjoyed the vanilla and coffee flavors from this assortment package the best. These two flavors may have come from locally grown vanilla orchid and coffee beans (in Costa Rica).

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

ChocolateBet: April 15, 2009


Chocolate of the Day:

1 piece
Chocorart (Chocolate Organico Artesenal)
Gengibre/Ginger
Good + - Very Good
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.)/ 6.36 oz. (180 g.) total package of 6
Calories: ~160 calories (estimate)
Cost: $15.95 for a package of six different flavors*
Purchased from: store in San Jose airport, Costa Rica

I was supposed to be on a diet this week. But I was running around all day, and I ended up eating most of a pint of ice cream for dinner, in addition to this chocolate with ginger. Maybe it was the stress from tax day. Happy annual tax return filing deadline day to all in the U.S. Ah well, tomorrow it's back to 1 oz. (28 grams) of chocolate a day. Really.

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

ChocolateBet: April 14, 2009


Chocolate of the Day:
1 piece
Chocorart (Chocolate Organico Artesanal)
Coco/Coconut
Good - Good +
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.)/ 6.36 oz. (180 g.) ttl pkg of 6
Calories: ~ 160 calories (estimate)
Cost: $15.95 for a package of six different flavors*
Purchased from: shop in San Jose airport, in Costa Rica

*This is the third cigar-shaped chocolate (from a package of six different flavors) from Chocorart that I've tried. I liked the Vanilla flavor best so far. The company that makes these chocolates is on the East Coast of Costa Rica, not an area that we visited when we were there earlier this year. However, once again, an airport shop proved to be a good place to buy chocolates, from the parts of the country we weren't able to see.

Monday, April 13, 2009

ChocolateBet: April 13, 2009


Chocolate of the Day:

1 piece
Chocorart (Chocolate Organico Artesanal)
Vanilla
Very Good
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 grams)/6.36 oz. (180 g.) total package of 6
Calories: 160 calories (estimate) for 1 package
Cost: $15.95 for package of six different flavors*
Purchased from: Store in San Jose airport, in Costa Rica

Today's cigar-shaped handmade chocolate was good, with vanilla (and light cinnamon) flavors. This was the second flavor from an assortment package bought in Costa Rica recently. (The first flavor was mint.)

Sunday, April 12, 2009

ChocolateBet: April 12, 2009


Chocolate of the Day:

2 chocolate chicks
"Belgian Easter Tub" Milk Chocolate Chicks
Good + - Very Good
Weight: ~1.23 oz. (~17 grams)/~5 oz. (136 g.) total pkg. of 8 chicks
Calories: ~185 calories for 2 chicks
Cost: $12.50 for a package of 8 chicks
Purchased from: Sugar Shack, in Menlo Park, CA

Happy Easter. It's only fair to give equal time to chocolate chicks today -- after nibbling on a chocolate bunny face yesterday, and some chocolate spring flowers the day before yesterday.

These chicks were pretty tasty; although I almost lost one when I put it down, unwrapped, just for a few seconds, on my nice, warm computer. Very foolish. I'm now carefully wiping off a little "meltage" spot near my keyboard.

Saturday, April 11, 2009

ChocolateBet: April 11, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:
1 piece (of bunny face)
Russell Stover
Chocolate Easter Bunny with Almonds
Good +
Weight: ~.75 oz. (21.2 g.)/3 oz. (85 grams) in total bunny
Calories: 120 calories
Cost: $ (need to check receipt)
Purchased from: Longs Drugs, in San Jose, CA

This is the time of year when a section of store shelves is dedicated to Chocolate Bunnies. Chocolate has inserted itself into all major U.S. Holidays, largely in the shape of bunnies, chicks, and eggs.

We were invited to attend a Passover dinner at a friend's home today. Much good food was consumed. I can't eat wheat, so I couldn't try the matsoh crackers covered in chocolate and nuts that someone brought. Fortunately, someone else made a flourless chocolate cake, which tasted great with fresh strawberries.

Friday, April 10, 2009

ChocolateBet: April 10, 2009


Chocolate of the Day:

2 pieces
Le Choix (www.achoix.com; distrib. for Belgian co?)
Milk Belgian Chocolate(s) - Spring Cornet (10-pcs., foil-wrapped)
Good - Good +
Weight: ~1.0 oz. (28.3 g.)/~5 oz. (141.5 g.) total pkg.
Calories: 150 calories (estimate) for 1 oz. (2 pcs.)
Cost: $12.50 (pricey) for 10 piece-package
Purchased from: Sugar Shack, in Menlo Park, CA

Fun packaging and spring flower theme, with pansy shaped chocolates inside floral foil wrappers; but these were a bit on the pricey side.

Thursday, April 9, 2009

ChocolateBet: April 9, 2009


Chocolate of the Day:
1 piece
Robicheaux's Specialty Candy, Inc.
Mississippi Shaped Chocolate (white) in (milk) Pecan Turtle
Good +
Weight: ~2.5 oz. (70.75 g.)
Calories: ~ 375 calories
Cost: $4.50 + any applicable shipping
Purchased from: The Mississippi Gift Company.Com (online order)

I was looking for a chocolate item that would be unique to Mississippi, and this turtle fit the bill. (Robicheaux's also makes other chocolate novelty items (Bulldog, cowboy boot, other) in/on top of pecan turtles.)

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

ChocolateBet: April 8, 2009


Chocolate of the Day:

2 pieces
IKEA Food
Tarta Mork Choklad (Dark Choc.)
Good + - Very Good
Weight: 4.09 oz. (116.5 grams) (estimate) /12.3 oz. (350 g.) in total cake
Calories: 500 calories (estimate) for two pieces
Cost: $5.49 for total cake
Purchased from: IKEA, in East Palo Alto, California

This Tarta Mork Choklad was very satisfying for a wheat-free cake. It was one of three different types of wheat-free, almond cakes sold at IKEA.

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

ChocolateBet: April 7, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:

1 bar
Biermann (made by Multiplex Co.)
Marzipan (bar) Covered in Dark Chocolate
Very Good
Weight: 1.65 oz. (47 grams) in one bar
Calories: 200 calories
Cost: $2.98
Purchased from: Marini's at the Beach/Marini's Candies, in downtown Santa Cruz, CA

Monday, April 6, 2009

ChocolateBet: April 6, 2009


Chocolate of the Day:
1 piece
Marini's at the Beach/Marini's Candies
Chocolate Dipped Apricot (dark choc.)
Good + - Very Good
Weight: ~ 1.1 oz. (~30 grams)
Calories: ~ 160 calories (estimate)
Cost: $ (check receipt)
Purchased from: Marini's at the Beach/Marini's Candies

Nice big sweet apricot dipped in chocolate.

Sunday, April 5, 2009

ChocolateBet: April 5, 2009


Chocolate of the Day:
1 piece
Marini's at the Beach/Marini's Candies
Chocolate Covered Bacon (milk choc.)
Very Good
Weight: ~1.1 oz. (~30 g.)
Calories: ~ 200 calories (estimate)
Cost: $ (check receipt)
Purchased from: Marini's at the Beach/Marini's Candies, in Santa Cruz, CA (downtown location)

Marini's has been in Santa Cruz since 1915, and there are three locations in the city: the downtown location, the Beach Boardwalk, and the Municipal Wharf. Fun assortment of chocolates here. I had this strip of chocolate-covered bacon for breakfast, along with some fruit. I also saw, but did not purchase, some breakfast bark (white chocolate w/ various sugar-sweetened breakfast cereal pieces embedded in it).

ChocolateBet: April 4, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:
1/2 serving
Chocolate (cafe/restaurant)
Belga (hot chocolate w/ hazelnut flavor)
Very Good
Weight: ~ 3.5 oz.
Calories: ~200 calories
Cost: $4.25 
Purchased from: Chocolate, in downtown Santa Cruz, CA

This cafe has great lemon vinaigrette salad dressing and chicken soup and gelato. The meat dishes with chocolate and spices include chicken mole and pork w/ barbeque sauce with chocolate). And they have several nice flavors of hot chocolate, including the one I tried this evening. 

Friday, April 3, 2009

ChocolateBet: April 3, 2009


Chocolate of the Day:
3 pieces/bears
Marich Confectionery Co.
Chocolate Cinnamon Bears
Good +
Weight: 1.28 oz. (36.2 g.) for 3 pieces
Calories: ~ 165 cals. for 3 (assuming ~ 130 cals./oz.)
Cost: $0.80 for 3 ($9.99/lb. - these were .08 lb.)
Purchased from: Sugar Shack, in Menlo Park, CA

The cinnamon-flavored gummy bear filling taste is robust enough that you barely notice the chocolate coating. Fun bear shapes and flavor.

Thursday, April 2, 2009

ChocolateBet: April 2, 2009


Chocolate of the Day:
1 tiny bar
Maglio
Papuasia - 36% cacao
Good
Weight: ~.28 oz. (7.9 g.)
Calories: Good; ~42 cals. (estim.)
Cost: ~$1.00
Purchased from: Caffe del Doge, in Palo Alto, CA

Maglio does a nice job of packaging. This very small bar was even scored on top with 12 tiny squares - just like a larger bar would be.

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

ChocolateBet: April 1, 2009


Chocolate of the Day:

4 pieces
De Brito Chocolate Factory
California Apricots in Chocolate (Dark)
Very Good
Weight: ~1.6 oz. (45.28g.)/4 oz. (~113.2 g.) ttl pkg.
Calories: 240 calories
Cost: $3.34 for total package
Purchased from: De Brito Chocolate Factory, in Hollister, CA

Apricots stand up well to dark chocolate; you can still taste the fruit underneath. And starting with great apricots makes these even better.

I grew up in California, on a street that used to be an apricot orchard; and there were still apricot trees in the neighborhood. So, I have fond memories of fresh, dried, and chocolate-covered apricots. For those that grew up in Santa Clara County (before it was largely paved over and renamed Silicon Valley), you may remember Bee Ritchie's chocolate-covered/dipped prunes and apricots, Mariani dried apricots, and a host of other local names like this.
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