ChocolateBet: October 31, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:

1 cookie
La Biscotteria
Amaretti Chocolate Ganache Cookie
Very Good +
Weight: ~ 2.5 oz. (estimate)
Calories: ~ 300 calories (estimate)
Cost: $3.00
Purchased from: La Biscotteria, Redwood City, CA

First, Happy Halloween all. I have failed for three years running to find a chocolate skull in time for Halloween. I did finally find one today, online -- from Vosges, based in the Chicago area. So, provided they haven't run out already, I'll cover that in November.

However, I believe I found something better for today. Yesterday, I visited La Biscotteria (Redwood City, CA) for the first time.

This Italian themed, family-run business (see image of owner and shop above), sells biscotti and very tasty baked goods, pottery, and other items, such as chocolate dipped figs. Their Amaretti cookies (wheat-free) are excellent, and are available with and without chocolate, in small and large sizes. Today I enjoyed a large Amaretti cookie (with chocolate).

(The image of several of these cookies on plate above is from La Biscotteria website.) Definitely a great Halloween treat. An (optional) small glass of port might go well with this cookies in the future.

ChocolateBet: October 30, 2009

Chocolate of the Day #1:
1 small square
Valrhona
Guanaja
Very Good - Very Good +
Weight: ~ .28 oz. (8 grams) (estimate)
Calories: ~42 calories (estimate)
Cost: $0.40
Purchased from: Fog City News, San Francisco, CA

Valrhona has an excellent reputation for rich, smooth dark chocolates. This 70% (cacao) square made from beans from South America delivered.

Chocolate of the Day: #2
Brand: (Made for Candy Land)
Monterey Bay Otter Poop
Good+
Weight: 4 oz. (113 g.)
Calories: ~ 600 calories
Cost: $4.99 for 1 bag
Purchased from: Candy Land, in Monterey, CA

My second chocolate today, Monterey Bay Otter Poop, veered into the shallow end of the chocolate decorum pool. Two days ago a friend and I watched otters frolic in their tank at the Monterey Bay Aquarium before popping into Bubba Gumps for lunch and Candy Land for dessert. Perhaps when I saw this bag I was still suffering from otter adoration syndrome. As far as I know, absolutely no otter poop was involved in the making of these chocolates. The bag contained chocolate covered praline peanuts. (I believe the same manufacturer also makes chocolate homages to other types of animal scat (e.g. moose droppings, bear poop), and sells them to/brands them for local retailers and tourist shops throughout North America.)

ChocolateBet: October 29, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:

1 regular serving (cup)
Fosters Freeze LLC
Soft serve ice cream - 1/2 vanilla + 1/2 chocolate
Good + - Very Good
Weight: ~ 5 oz. (estimate)
Calories: ~ 180 calories (estimate)
Cost: $1.91 (includes $0.16 tax)
Purchased from: Fosters Freeze, in Menlo Park, CA

Fosters Freeze, is a California-based fast food chain that is famous for their soft serve ice cream, burgers, fries and other frozen dessert treats. There is a nostalgic fondness for this ~60-year old chain. Apparently in 2006, local residents signed a petition to prevent the demolition of the Menlo Park Fosters Freeze location that I visited this evening. I certainly enjoyed my vanilla and chocolate soft serve ice cream swirled together in a cup - a lower calorie option than most ice creams.

ChocolateBet: October 28, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:
1 serving (glass)
PortoFino restaurant
Hot chocolate with Sambuca, brandy, whipped cream
(hot chocolate version of their Caffe Portofino coffee drink)
Very Good - Very Good +
Weight: ~ 8 fluid oz. (237 mL)
Calories: ~ 430 calories (estimate)
Cost: $7.75
Purchased from: PortoFino restaurant, in Carmel, CA

There was something extra transporting about sipping a licorice*-laced hot chocolate in a cottage near the sea. Actually, PortoFino (translation: beautiful door) restaurant was a great restaurant disguised as a cottage, in true Carmel style. Wonderful hot soup + this drink was enough to take the chill off a cool, breezy afternoon.

*Sambuca is an Italian anise-flavored liqueur

ChocolateBet: October 27, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:
4 servings
General Mills
Gluten Free Brownie Mix
Very Good
Weight: ~5 oz. (141 g.) in 4 prepared brownies/16 oz. (454 g.) total box of mix
Calories: 600 calories in 4 servings
Cost: $3.79 (on sale)
Purchased from: Safeway, in Palo Alto, CA

Why yes, you might say, 1/4 pan of brownies is a lot. However, I practice a gluten free diet, not a glutton free diet....I'm hoping the 4 servings of broccoli I'm about to eat will make up for this brownie binge.

ChocolateBet: October 26, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:

1 egg
Imported by Ferrero Canada Ltd.
Kinder Surprise (egg shaped milk chocolate)
Good +
Weight: .7 oz. (20 grams)
Calories: 105 calories (estimate)
Cost: $3.00
Purchased from: Jeffreys Toys, 685 Market St., in San Francisco, CA

Who wouldn't want to break open a chocolate egg for a surprise inside? I dutifully gobbled through the milk chocolate shell to free the prize; and I found that it was wrapped inside a protective, yellow, yolk-like plastic sac.

For those wondering what I found inside the yolk sac, it was filled with tiny plastic body parts - a torso, detachable arms, legs and head/helmet. I couldn't seem to get the arms and legs to stay put; so I may have to glue them in place. I suppose I could also read the directions.

ChocolateBet: October 25, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:
1 small package
Brehmer's Handmade Candies
English Toffee
Very Good
Weight: ~ 1.1 oz. (31.13 g.)(estimate)
Calories: ~ 160 calories
Cost: $?
Purchased from: Confetti - Le Chocolatier, in San Francisco, CA

I always enjoy trying local (to San Francisco Bay Area) chocolates. (Does that make me a chocolate + locovore = chocovore?) Maybe. Brehmer's is located in Brisbane, CA.

ChocolateBet: October 24, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:
2 cupcakes
General Mills
Betty Crocker Gluten Free Cake Mix - Devil's Food
Very Good
Weight: ~ 4.6 oz. (130 grams) 2 cupcakes/15 oz. (425 g.) in total box of dry mix
Calories: 433 calories for 2 cupcakes
Cost: $3.79 for 1 box of mix
Purchased from: Safeway, in Palo Alto, CA

Cupcakes have enjoyed a surge in popularity in recent years. However, not being able to eat wheat/gluten reduced me to a mere observer, my nose figuratively pressed against the glass at most cupcake outlets. One kind friend took me to Kara's Cupcakes recently, and scraped off some of her frosting for me to try. So, I was happy to discover that Betty Crocker (that sweet, fictional 88-year old year old*), began offering gluten free cake mixes this year.

Eating warm chocolate cake right out of the oven is lovely. I did that last night during a "test run," when I used this Betty Crocker gluten free mix to bake Devil's Food cupcakes. I cooked some in a conventional oven and some in a microwave oven. (They were both good.) Today, I had two of the latter, unfrosted, for breakfast. And while I did suffer from a few moments of temporary, dessert-induced brain fuzz a bit later, it was worth it.

*Better Crocker was invented in 1921 by home economist Marjorie Child Husted at Washburn, Crosby Co. (producer of Gold Medal flour), shortly before a merger that resulted in a new company, General Mills.

ChocolateBet: October 23, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:

1 bar
Garden Island Chocolate Co.
Kauai Chocolate Coconut Milk bar
Good + - Very Good
Weight: 2 oz. (56.6 calories) in 1 bar
Calories: ~ 300 calories (estimate)
Cost: $0 (gift from Alec)
Purchased from: N/A

The coconut milk flavor in this bar was very authentic. I ate this bar with a handful of toasted almonds and the two paired nicely.

The tagline printed on this organic chocolate bar wrapper invites the customer to "Taste the Aloha." Yes, I would be happy to support local Kauai local agriculture and community, thank you. Garden Island Chocolate Co. is fortunate to be able to work with a cooperative of farmers, involved in raising and propagating their own cacao trees. And "all processing of the chocolate (including stone-grinding of cacao in a melanger) from the bean to the finished bar is done on Kauai."

Thank you to Alec who brought a few of these Kauai Chocolate bars back from a recent trip to Hawaii. 

ChocolateBet: October 22, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:

1 package, 2 cups
Reese's (H.B. Reese Candy Co./The Hershey Company)
Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups
Very Good
Weight: 1.5 oz. (42 grams) in package of 2 cups
Calories: 210 calories
Cost: $0.69 (sale price)
Purchased from: Walgreens, in midtown Palo Alto, CA

Hershey's has gone over to the dark side with these new Reese's peanut butter cups. I have always liked the regular milk chocolate variety. I figured: I like dark chocolate better than milk chocolate, so it stands to reason that I would like the dark version of these peanut butter cups better than the originals. However, I think I liked these equally well. Odd to think how much of the taste of something can come from nostalgia.

ChocolateBet: October 21, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:

1 bar
Garden Island Chocolate Co.
Kauai Chocolate Macadamia Nut and Coconut bar
Very Good
Weight: 2 oz. (57 grams)
Calories: ~ 300 calories (estimate)
Cost: $0 (gift - Thank you Alec!)
Purchased from: N/A

Well, I couldn't make it to Kauai this year, but Alec made a quick trip there and brought back two Garden Island chocolate bars.

Today's (organic) dark chocolate (80% cacao) bar was made with local, organic Hawaiian cacao, macadamia nuts, sugar and vanilla beans. How great to live in the one U.S. state where it's possible to grow cacao fruit.

ChocolateBet: October 20, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:

2 small squares
TCHO
Dark Chocolate "Citrus" squares
Weight: 2 squares = .36 oz. (10 g.)
Calories: ~ 54 cals. for 2 squares (estim.)
Cost: $0
Purchased from: N/A

To help clarify complex language used to describe high-end (mostly dark) chocolate products, TCHO began affixing simpler descriptions to their chocolate: e.g. fruity, nutty, chocolatey, and citrus.

Today I tried two small "Citrus" squares with dark chocolate (70%) made from (organic) beans from Madagascar. I detected a very mild citrus flavor after slowly eating the second square. I didn't do a side-by-side tasting of all four TCHO flavors, but perhaps I will in the future.

ChocolateBet: October 19, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:

2 small squares
TCHO
Dark Chocolate "Chocolatey" squares
Very Good - Very Good +
Weight: 2 squares = .36 oz. (10 g.)
Calories: 54 calories (estimate) for 2 small squares
Cost: $0
Purchased from: N/A, from gallery opening last weekend in San Francisco, CA

TCHO dark chocolate squares are made with cacao beans from Ghana (70% cacao). And, as advertised, they had a nice, rich (earthy, almost mocha) chocolatey taste. TCHO is a Bay Area-based chocolate manufacturing company, located on the waterfront (Pier 17) in San Francisco, CA.

ChocolateBet: October 18, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:
1 truffle
Chubby Chipmunk Hand-Dipped Chocolates
Moose - Milk Truffle
Very Good
Weight: 1.48 oz. (42 g)/~9.9 oz. (290 g.) in total 7-pc. tin
Calories: ~222 calories in 1.48 oz. truffle
Cost: ~$5.14 for 1 truffle (includes shipping, etc.)/~$36.00 for total order
Purchased from: Chubby Chipmunk Hand-Dipped Chocolates, in Deadwood, South Dakota

Five dollars sounds like a lot for one truffle; however, that included shipping and handling and all costs. And it was a heck of a lot cheaper than flying there to pick one up. I'd still like to see North and South Dakota one day. But, for now, I'm happy to enjoy a large Chubby Chipmunk Moose truffle, topped with chocolate sprinkles, from Deadwood, South Dakota.

ChocolateBet: October 17, 2009

Chocolate(s) of the Day:
2 truffles
Chubby Chipmunk Hand-Dipped Chocolates
1.) Royal Raspberry - Dark Truffle - Very Good
2.) Moose Toffee - Milk Truffle - Very Good
Weight: 2.89 oz. (82 grams) for both truffles/~9.9 oz. (290 g.) in 7-pc. tin
Calories: ~ 432 calories for both truffles
Cost: ~$10.28 for 2 truffles/~$36.00 for whole order
Purchased from: Chubby Chipmunk Hand-Dipped Chocolates, Deadwood, South Dakota

The Fall days are growing shorter and temperatures are cooling off, especially in the northern U.S. states. While some animals begin to slow down, Chubby Chipmunks Hand-Dipped Chocolates continues to turn out Truffles to "Sigh" For (Chubby Chipmunk's tagline). I had two of these meal-sized truffles for brunch. Think of a pudgy-cheeked chipmunk, speeding around getting chores done, and you get the picture. The Royal Raspberry Dark truffle was decorated with a tiny bit of red dust, and the Moose Toffee Milk truffle was topped with small bits of toffee.

ChocolateBet: October 16, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:
1 truffle
Chubby Chipmunk Hand-Dipped Chocolates
Signature Dark Chocolate Truffle
Very Good
Weight: ~ 1.41 oz. (40 grams)/~9.9 oz. (290 g.) for 7 pieces
Calories: ~ 210 calories (estimate)
Cost: ~$5.14 for 1 truffle/~$36.00 for total order
Purchased from: Chubby Chipmunk Hand-Dipped Chocolates, Deadwood, South Dakota

These truffles came in a special acorn-shaped tin. (The image above came from www.chubbychipmunk.net.) Today is a special occasion, not only because I was able to eat a gold-dusted dark truffle associated with a chubby chipmunk, but also because with the addition of this South Dakota-based chocolate vendor to this blog, I can now say that I have eaten chocolates made from all 50 states in the United States. Hurray! Another chocolate eating milestone. I look forward to trying the other truffle flavors in this assortment.

ChocolateBet: October 15, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:

2 oz.
Lindy Sue's Candies
Buffalo Chews
Very Good
Weight: 2 oz. (56.6 g.)/8 oz. (226 g.) in total package
Calories: 300 calories (estimate)
Cost: (Need to check order slip)
Purchased from: Lindy Sue's, located at Mandan Drug, in North Dakota

These Chocolate Covered Potato Chips with Caramel were "fresh off the prairie" from North Dakota.

Lindy Sue's used to carry some chocolate bars based on historic figures (like Custer), but those were out of stock when I ordered these Buffalo Chews.

ChocolateBet: Oct. 14, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:
1 serving
Nestle
Raisinets Dark (aka Dark Raisinets)
Good +
Weight: 1/4 cup (45 g.)/11 oz. (311.8 g.) in total package
Calories: 180 calories in 1/4 cup serving
Cost: ?
Purchased from: ?

One serving of chocolate raisins (Raisinets) = 1/2 cup of grapes, the package tells me. That, and the antioxidants from chocolate, will help me maintain my body health. But, seriously, after eating a relatively heavy Mexican dinner earlier this evening, a chocolate with some fruit in it was less heavy and more satisfying. When it came to movie theater treats throughout my life, popcorn was the runaway winner, followed by chocolate covered peanuts. However, Raisinets have nostalgic value as well. The raisins come from my home state of California. (And, if you're older than ~ 40, who doesn't remember those animated California raisin commercials growing up?)

ChocolateBet: October 13, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:

1 bar
Enjoy Life Natural Brands, LLC
Cocoa Loco snack bar
Good +
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.)/5 oz.(141 g.) total box of 5 bars
Calories: 120 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $4.29 for box of 5 bars
Purchased from: Raley's, in Incline Village, Nevada

These bars are nut and gluten free. I bought these to take on a hike when up in the Sierra mountains last weekend. I liked the relatively small bar, the right size for me.

ChocolateBet: October 12, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:

1 bar
Klondike (Unilever)
Klondike 100 calorie Vanilla bar
Good - Good +
Weight: 2 fl. oz. (59 mL)/16 fl oz. (473 mL) in total package of 8 bars
Calories: 100 calories
Cost: $3.99 for a box of 8 bars
Purchased from: Safeway, in Palo Alto, CA

Today the cool weather moved in, and it rained. This got me thinking of polar bears and other animals that live in cold climates. I prefer warmer climates, but I have thought about traveling up to Northern Canada or Alaska to see the wildlife and Northern Lights. That said, the closest I may get to a polar bear may be looking at one in the zoo, or on a Klondike box of ice cream bars. I liked the smaller size of these bars.

ChocolateBet: October 11, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:
1/3 bar
Askinosie Chocolate
Davao, Philippines Dark Milk + Fleur de Sel bar
Good +
Weight: ~1 oz. (28.3 g.)/3 oz. (85 g.) in total bar
Calories: ~ 150 calories (estimate)
Cost: $8.50
Purchased from: Chocolate Covered, in San Francisco, CA

Askinosie Bars come complete with information about the cacao beans (Variety: Trinitario; Origin: Davao, Philippines; and Cocoa content: 62% dark milk chocolate) -- as well as a picture of the lead farmer (Peter V. Cruz, in this case). And, additional information on the bean-to-bar journey of this, and other offerings, is available on the Askinosie website.

ChocolateBet: October 10, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:
1 serving
Gourmet Works of Los Altos
dark chocolate toasted almond bark
Very Good
Weight: ~ 2 oz. (56.6 grams)
Calories: ~ 300 calories (estimate)
Cost: $?
Purchased from: Gourmet Works of Los Altos, in Los Altos, CA

I like dark chocolate with toasted almonds. The almonds help to cut the sweetness and offer some crunchy texture. Unfortunately, she says with mock sorrow, natural great pairings like this tend to vanish before I can scan or photograph them. I offer as evidence what is left - an image of an empty clear plastic bag and a gold twist-tie.

ChocolateBet: October 9, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:

1 serving - 7 pieces
Hammond's Candies (Since 1920)
Peanut Butter Jewels
Good - Good +
Weight: 1.41 oz. (40 g.)/8 oz. (226 g.) total bag
Calories: 160 calories in one 7-piece serving
Cost: $7.50 for total bag
Purchased from: Gourmet Works in Los Altos, CA

The old-time candy shop packaging was attractive and cheerful -- and appropriate for a business that has been in operation since 1920. (Hat's off to that accomplishment.)

These particular candies contain hydrogenated fats, which I'm not fond of; but the quality seemed high, and they tasted fine otherwise.

My apology to Hammond's, as this is not the best picture of the candies, but it is hard to scan three-dimensional objects.

ChocolateBet: October 8, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:

4/5 bar
Dove (Mars)
Silky Smooth Dark Chocolate bar
Good + - Very Good
Weight: 1.04 oz. (29.52 g.)/1.3 oz. (36.9 g.) in total bar
Calories: 152 calories in 4/5 bar
Cost: $0 (free - via the Mars Real Chocolate Relief Act)
Purchased from: Walgreens, in midtown Palo Alto, CA

Someone at Mars had fun designing this Real Chocolate Relief Act* marketing campaign. In any case, I certainly enjoyed being a participant. And, given the current recession, I'm sure others did as well.

I shared the wealth and gave a piece away to my daughter Megan. As described, this chocolate bar was very smooth. It was a bit sweet, but then my palette has moved distinctly to the darker side over the years. My daughter really liked her piece.

* Logo pictured is a trademark of Mars, Incorporated 2009 

ChocolateBet: October 7, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:
3 servings (6 small cookies)
General Mills
Betty Crocker Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix
Very Good
Weight: ~2.86 oz. (81 g.) mix in 3 servings/19 oz. (539 g.) total box of mix
Calories: 450 calories in 3 servings (prepared mix - 6 cookies)
Cost: $3.79 (sale)
Purchased from: Safeway, in Palo Alto, CA

It's ironic that distant relatives of my family were involved in founding General Mills - maker of flour, cereal, baking mixes, and other products based on wheat. And I can't eat wheat. So, I was delighted when Betty Crocker, that fabulous, fictitious homemaker, started making gluten free chocolate chip cookie mix (and other mixes). These cookies were very tasty, hot out of the oven. (Adding that stick of real butter to the mix didn't hurt either.)

ChocolateBet: October 6, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:
1 bar
MaryJanesFarm
"Ginger Jive" bar
Very Good - Very Good +
Weight: 1.25 oz. (35 grams) in 1 bar
Calories: 193 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $3.50 for 1 bar
Purchased from: REI, in San Carlos, CA

I picked up some tasty shrimp and mushroom take-out food from Chinatown last night (in San Francisco, on the way home from a trip up north). There was just the right touch of ginger. This dish inspired me to try this dark chocolate (66% cacao) organic bar with crystallized ginger. Also, I like smaller bars like this. (I'm not always able to share leftover chocolate with others, so I hate the thought of wasting extra chocolate often left from larger 3 oz. bars.)

ChocolateBet: October 5, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:
1 bar
Green & Black's Chocolate Ltd.
Very Good + - Yum
Weight: 3.5 oz. (100 grams) in 1 bar
Calories: ~ 520 calories (estimate)
Cost: $3.79
Purchased from: Gualala Supermarket, in Gualala, CA

Good, professional execution on texture, ingredients, and taste is the way I would describe this organic, dark chocolate bar. The bar tasted freshly made as well, which always helps.

And where is Gualala you might ask? (It is a small town on the Pacific Ocean, a few hours North of San Francisco.)

ChocolateBet: October 4, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:
1 piece
Sonoma Chocolatiers
Spicy Peanut Butter
Very Good
Weight: ~.6 oz. (17 g.) in 1 piece
Calories: ~ 90 calories (estimate)
Cost: $2.20
Purchased from: Infusions Tea House, Sebastopol, CA

The Infusions Tea House carries several interesting flavored chocolates from Sonoma Chocolatiers (and a few from Love Bird Chocolates). This individual Spicy Peanut Butter chocolate has a ganache (filling) made with 62% cacao and peanut butter. (If you're looking for a Reese's style peanut butter center, this is not it. It's more dark cacao than peanut butter.) The ganache is surrounded by a 75% cacao coating, and finally rolled in chopped peanuts. The hot, spicy flavor is more of a slight aftertaste than a full-on burn.

Note: the image above is from the Sonoma Chocolatiers website: http://sonomachocolatiers.com/flavors

ChocolateBet: October 3, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:
1/2 bar
Choco-Lina
Sheep Milk Chocolate bar
Good +
Weight: 1.51 oz. (45 grams)/3.17 oz. (90 g.) in total bar
Calories: 226 calories (estimate)
Cost: $7.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocolate Covered, in San Francisco, CA

The actual name for this bar from Vienna, Austria, is "Schafmilchschokolade" (Sheep Milk Chocolate). I am always impressed when I see words this long. I couldn't really detect any strong sheep milk taste. However, milk chocolate can be very sweet, and this sweetness can mask flavors almost as well as the taste of very dark chocolate. I liked the individual sheep stamped in each square of the chocolate bar.

Today's chocolate choice was inspired by a trip I'm making today up to The Sea Ranch, along the Northern California Coast. Grassy fields that once held sheep now contain (mostly vacation/second) homes, and occasionally small groups of deer. Although there were small design concessions made to honor a sheep ranch past. The Sea Ranch logo is based on a ram's horns, and unpainted wood siding on homes seems like a nod to old sheep ranch structures. Digression: I have yet to hear about any deer milk chocolate, although I would not be surprised to hear that someone, somewhere in the world is considering this. Maybe reindeer milk?

Note: Chocolate eating will continue while I'm gone for the next several days, but posting will be delayed, due to lack of Internet connectivity.

ChocolateBet: October 2, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:
1 Tall Espresso Drink
Starbucks
Caffe Mocha Latte
Good + - Very Good
Weight: 12 oz.
Calories: 200 calories in 1 tall, no whipped cream
Cost: $3.00
Purchased from: Starbucks, in Menlo Park, CA

It's that time. The weather is cooling down and I ordered one of my first hot lattes of the season at Starbucks. I'm happy to report that there were even two beverages/flavors (with chocolate) that I haven't tried there yet. Hurray.

Apparently, today, October 2, is also "Name Your Car Day." My apologies to those who are tired of my zany holidays month....But, so many of these strange holidays seem to have the potential for chocolate tie-ins, I couldn't resist. I hereby name my car, "The Chocolate Wagon."

ChocolateBet: October 1, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:
1 bar
Tree Huggin' Treats
Crispy Cat - Toasted Almond (Dark Chocolate) bar
Very Good
Weight: 1.76 oz. (50 grams) in 1 bar
Calories: 200 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $2.39
Purchased from: Whole Foods Market, in Cupertino, CA

This dairy-free and gluten-free bar and is, according to their web site, 95% organic. I liked the fact that it was not too sweet. Agave syrup is used as a sweetener. It's gotten a little easier to find a decent tasting gluten-free health or granola-type bar. I'm looking forward to trying the two other Crispy Cat bar flavors.