Thursday, December 31, 2009

ChocolateBet: December 31, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:

2 chocolate cups
Dobla B.V.
Cordial and Toasting Cups
Very Good
Weight:  .32 oz. (9 g.) for 2 cups/1.9 oz. (54 g.) for 12 cups
Calories: 45 calories
Cost: $3.99 for a box of 12 cups
Purchased from: T.J. Maxx, in San Francisco, CA

Happy New Year's Eve to all. And what better way to usher in a new decade than to toast 2010 with some brandy in tiny Dark Belgian Chocolate Cordial and Tasting cups from Dobla (The Netherlands).

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

ChocolateBet: December 30, 2009

Chocolate(s) of the Day:

2 pieces
Alegio Chocolate
1.) Ecuador - 90%
2.) Venezuela - 72%
Weight: .8 oz. (22 g.) (estimate) for 2 pieces
Calories: 120 calories (estimate)
Cost: $
Purchased from: Alegio Chocolate, in Manika Jewelry, Maiden Lane, San Francisco, CA

These were two very nice, rich dark chocolates from Berkeley, CA-based Alegio Chocolate -- purchased in their newest location at Manika Jewelry near Union Square in San Francisco.

My favorite was the 90% cacao from Ecuador (shown with the hummingbird decoration above). However, on a different occasion, it might be the Venezuela (with the girl and butterfly), which today was just a nano-measure too sweet for me.

Such is the nature of food, wine and chocolate. I know I like something on the first try; however, the finer points of flavor preference are easily influenced by other factors, such as how hungry I am or what I've just eaten; my surroundings and/or mood; the freshness of the chocolate; etc. It's a great problem to have, trying to decide between two fine chocolates.

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

ChocolateBet: December 29, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:

1 piece
Xocolatl de David
72% Ecuadorian Chocolate with Black Truffle and Sea Salt
Very Good + - Yum
Weight: .5 oz. (14 g.) in 1 small, square bar
Calories: 75 calories (estimate)
Cost: $5.00 (need to verify)
Purchased from: Far West Fungi, in the Ferry Building, San Francisco, CA

Fungi and dark chocolate. It was so much better than it sounds. Then again, I like savory flavors and salt melded with chocolate.  I'm going back for more next time I head into downtown San Francisco.

ChocolateBet: December 28, 2009

Chocolate(s)  of the Day:

1.) Clarine's Florentines
1/2 cookie, Florentine
Very Good + - Yum
Weight: Approx. .5 oz. (14.1 g.)/5.5 oz. (155 g.) total pkg.
Calories: 75 calories (guesstimate)
Cost: $8.99
Purchased from: Bi-Rite Market, in San Francisco, CA

2.)  Nestle Butterfinger pieces in milk chocolate
"Santa Claus is Coming to Town"
1 serving, medallion
Good
Weight: 1.2 oz. (34 g.) total package
Calories: 160 calories
Cost: $
Purchased from: Walgreens, in Palo Alto, CA

One round, flat chocolate item does not equal another. It is unfair to compare these two chocolate items; however, I will. They both involve chocolate and nuts in some combination, and were holiday treats.

The Butterfinger medallion, stamped with Santa's jolly face, was good. However, I tend to favor dark chocolates made with a smaller number of high-quality ingredients.

Clarine's Florentines were the run-away winner here. These thin almond and chocolate confections were a hit with my extended family. In fact, I had to hustle to save half a Florentine to eat later (today). They were disappearing very quickly at our table. These Florentines were also gluten free, pleasing the non-wheat eaters.

Sunday, December 27, 2009

ChocolateBet: December 27, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:

3/4 bar
Starbucks
Dark Chocolate and Caramel bar
Very Good +
Weight: .9 oz. (26 g.) in 3/4 bar/1.2 oz. (35 g.) in total bar
Calories: 135 calories (estimate)
Cost: $1.45 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Starbucks Coffee, in Mountain View, CA

Today was a big movie intake day, with a walk over to Starbucks in between ("Avatar" and "Invictus"). This dark bar, manufactured for Starbucks (by a company not mentioned on the label) served as a great palette cleanser and lift, between films, and between popcorn and dinner.

ChocolateBet: December 26, 2009

Chocolate(s) of the Day:

1.) Palmer - Santa's Coal
1 piece
Good - Good +
Weight: .5 oz. (14.125 g.)/4 oz. (113 g.) total mesh bag of 8 pieces of "coal"
Calories: 75 calories for one piece (estimate)
Cost: $
Purchased from: Walgreens, in Palo Alto, CA

2.) Reese's - Reese's Peanut Butter Snowman
3/4 snowman
Very Good
Weight: 3.75 oz. (105.7 g)/(5 oz. (141 g.) total
Calories: 540 calories for 3/4 snowman
Cost: $4.99
Purchased from: CVS/pharmcy, in midtown Palo Alto, CA

3.) Sweet Time - Red Reindeer Noses
1 serving
Good
Weight: 0.70 oz. (20 g.) total package - chocolate round shell + red pieces inside
Calories: 100 calories
Cost: $0.59
Purchased from: Walgreens, in Palo Alto, CA

Today was a post-Christmas chocolate windfall -- from chocolate coal, to snowboarding peanut butter and chocolate snowmen and a chocolate clown nose -- no wait a minute, there were little mini red shelled chocolate candies inside this little chocolate nose orb (see image above).

Saturday, December 26, 2009

ChocolateBet: December 25, 2009


Chocolate of the Day:

3 pieces
Enric Rovira
Bombolas de naranja con chocolate negro
(Pieces or orange with dark chocolate)
Very Good - Very Good +
Weight: .8 oz. (22.64 g.) (estimate) / 3.53 oz. (100 g.) in total package/box
Calories: 120 calories (estimate)
Cost: $
Purchased from: Alegio Chocolate, in Manika Jewelry location, San Francisco, CA

Today marked the end (Day #7) of Chocolate and Orange Theme Week.

These orange chocolate pieces from Spanish chocolatier Enric Rovira ended this week on a high note. I was happy to be able to share these with family after presents were opened, and as part of a Christmas pre-lunch snack.

Thursday, December 24, 2009

ChocolateBet: December 24, 2009


Chocolate(s) of the Day:

1.) Terry's - Dark Chocolate Orange
1 segment
Good +
Weight: .31 oz. (8.8 g.)/6.17 oz. (175 g.) in total orange
Calories: 48 calories for 1 segment
Cost: $0.50 (sale)
Purchased from: (most likely Safeway or Walgreens in Palo Alto, CA, some time ago)

Day #6 of Chocolate and Orange Theme Week - and the conclusion of the battle of the foil-wrapped chocolate orange whack-a-thon. Trader Joe's dark chocolate orange scored highest of the four oranges sampled. However, I can't really say it was a fair fight, as the creaking sound you may have heard before the whacking (to separate the chocolate segments) started, was the sound of my removing the Terry's Orange from my chocolate vault. In fact this orange was, by far, the oldest item in my chocolate vault. Probably at least two years old. It stood up fairly well. Terry's was one of first vendors to turn out these citrus chocsimiles. Over the years, manufacturing for Terry's Chocolate Orange (a Kraft Foods owned brand now), was moved out of Great Britain, and production began to shift to other areas of Europe. However, Terry's still has a decent share of the holiday chocolate orange market from what I can tell. (From the old box I have, it looked like they also had a relationship in the U.S. with Callard & Bowser-Suchard, Inc.)

2.) Alegio Chocolate - Ginger and Orange; The Orange
2 pieces
Very Good
Weight: ~ .6 oz. (17 g.) in two pieces
Calories: 90 calories (estimate)
Cost: Approx. $4.00 for 2 pieces
Purchased from: Alegio Chocolate, Manika Jewelry location, 11 Maiden Lane, San Francisco, CA

Alegio Chocolate offers a great selection of fine chocolates. Both the Alegio "Ginger and Orange," and "The Orange" were filled with a 67% cacao (Madagascar) dark ganache. Both were skillful blends of orange and dark chocolate. My only complaint: the ginger flavor was almost undetectable in the first piece. I like ginger, so I would have enjoyed just a bit more of this flavor. (Our cat liked the image; she tried to "help" me type in this entry. xlzort aeg =g0fg0 h... - typed the cat.

ChocolateBet: December 23, 2009


Chocolate of the Day:

5 segments
Ferrara Chocolate
Milk (Chocolate) Orange
Good + - Very Good
Weight: 1.55 oz. (44 g.)/6.17 oz. (175 g.) total orange
Calories: 230 calories in 5 segments
Cost: $2.50 (sale)
Purchased from: Walgreens, in Palo Alto, CA

Day #5 of Chocolate and Orange Theme Week. Whack! Whack! Whack! What do my neighbors think when they hear me slamming something down so hard on my kitchen counter? I'm not sure; but the rewards are sweet. This milk chocolate orange with "Natural Orange Flavor" was very enjoyable; and not bad for milk chocolate (which can be too sweet for me).

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

ChocolateBet: December 22, 2009


Chocolate of the Day:
6 segments
Trader Joe's
Dark Chocolate Orange
Very Good
Weight: 1.8 oz. (52.8 g.) in 6 segments/6.17 oz. (175 g.) total orange
Calories: 252 calories in six segments
Cost: $2.49 for 1 orange
Purchased from: Trader Joe's, in Mountain View, CA

Day #4 of Chocolate and Orange Theme Week. And the battle of the chocolate holiday oranges continues. I liked this orange-flavored dark chocolate. Once again, I recruited some help (thanks Elise) to "burst" this orange open. (Chocolate oranges typically require a whack or two on a hard surface to break the orange segments apart. And the individual pieces are often molded/textured to look like real orange sections.)

ChocolateBet: December 21, 2009


Chocolate of the Day: 

6 segments
Ferrara Chocolate
Toffee Crunch Milk Chocolate Orange
Good - Good +
Weight: 1.86 oz. (52.8 g.) in 6 segments /6.17 oz. (175 g.) in total
Calories: 276 calories in 6 segments
Cost: $2.50 (sale)
Purchased from: Walgreens, in Palo Alto, CA

Day #3 of Chocolate and Orange Theme Week, and the battle of the chocolate oranges has begun.

These foil-wrapped citrus replicas have become a popular holiday chocolate. Just whack them on a hard surface (actually I had some help after the first few whacks failed), et voila, you have chocolate wedges that resemble orange segments.


The toffee crunch flavor of this particular chocolate "orange," was a milk chocolate variant I'd not seen before. It was fun to try the toffee flavor, but I would have preferred a little less sugar.

Sunday, December 20, 2009

ChocolateBet: December 20, 2009


Chocolate of the Day:
2 macarons
Miette Bakery
Chocolate Orange macarons
Very Good
Weight: ~1.2 oz. (34 g.)
Calories: 100 calories (guess)
Cost: $3.50 for 2 macarons/cookies
Purchased from: Miette Bakery, in San Francisco, CA

Day #3 of Chocolate and Orange Theme Week. Pictured above: glass jars of scrumptious little macarons in many flavors at Miette Bakery, located in the San Francisco Ferry Building. I couldn't eat their cakes (I can't eat wheat); however, their chocolate orange; rose geranium; vanilla; and other macarons represented some excellent cake alternatives. And Miette carried other chocolate bars, molded, and novelty items from around the globe.

Saturday, December 19, 2009

ChocolateBet: December 19, 2009


Chocolate of the Day:

3 pieces
Necco (New England Confectionery Co.)
Haviland Chocolate Covered Orange Creme Thin Mints
Good
Weight: .74 oz. (21 g.)/5 oz. (141 g.) total package
Calories: 80 calories for 3 pieces
Cost: $0.71 (sale)
Purchased from: Walgreens, in Palo Alto, CA

Eating three of these little, very sweet, thin mints marked the end (Day #7) of Chocolate and Mint Theme Week, and also served as Day #1 of Chocolate and Orange Theme Week. Seeing different foil-wrapped round chocolates molded in the shape of citrus fruit (just knock them on on a hard surface to separate the partially fused orange segments), got me interested in comparing some of them.

Note to those who get bored with theme weeks, not to worry; I will take a break from thematically-linked chocolates soon, I think. Can I help it if there are so many different chocolates out there?

ChocolateBet: December 18, 2009



Chocolate of the Day:
2 pieces
King Leo (Quality Candy Company Inc.)
Dark Chocolate Crunchy Patties - Peppermint
Very Good - Very Good +
Weight: 1.48 oz. (42 g.)/5 oz. (142 g.) total package
Calories: 180 calories in 2 pieces
Cost: $
Purchased from: Walgreens, in Palo Alto, CA?

This was Day #6 of Chocolate and Mint Theme Week. Today's dark chocolate peppermint patties contained a layer of peppermint white cream and a layer of crushed peppermint candy bits in the center -- making them texturally interesting, and refreshingly tasty.

ChocolateBet: December 17, 2009



Chocolate of the Day:
3 pieces
Scharffen Berger
Mint (small squares) 62% Cacao
Good +
Weight: .525 oz. (15 g.) for 3/2.1 oz. (60 g.) in total package of 12 squares
Calories: 78 calories in 3 pieces
Cost: $?
Purchased from: Scharffen Berger (Berkeley, CA - before plant closed)

The focus for today's choice (for Day #5 of Chocolate and Mint Theme Week), was more on the dark chocolate, with a more subtle mint flavor than most other chocolate and mint combinations sampled this week.

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

ChocolateBet: December 16, 2009


Chocolate of the Day:

1/3 bar + 3 items
Newman's Own Organics
Good +
Weight: .75 oz. (21.3 g.) in 1/3 bar
Calories: 113 calories for 1/3 bar
Cost: $2.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Whole Foods, Los Altos, CA?

In honor of National Chocolate Covered Anything Day (see holidayinsights.com), I rummaged around to find three "Anythings." I elected to use part of today's organic chocolate (bar) to cover three items: 1.) Lemon Rock Candy (aka yellow snow from Cost Plus World Market - see images); 2.) candied violets (see image); and 3.) tic tac mints (see image).

Milk chocolate was probably not the best choice for the lemon and violet items (too much sugar left no room for subtle flavorings). However, the tic tacs didn't fare so badly. Crunching down on these minty little bullets made my ears ring; but that fresh minty flavor busted right through the makeshift milk chocolate coating. Congratulations to those tic tacs on, fittingly, Day #4 of Chocolate and Mint Theme Week (2009).

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

ChocolateBet: December 15, 2009


Chocolate of the Day:
1 snowman
Russell Stover
Peppermint Bark Snowman
Very Good
Weight: 7/8 oz. (25 grams)
Calories: 140 calories
Cost: $0.50 for 1 snowman/pkg.
Purchased from: Walgreens, in Palo Alto, CA

Today's choice for Day #3 of Chocolate and Mint Theme Week (2009) was a peppermint bark snowman. The first accessory to go was the top hat.

Thanks also to Megan for the taste of homemade chocolate angel strata pie. The filling was very good.

Monday, December 14, 2009

ChocolateBet: December 14, 2009


Chocolate of the Day:
2 pieces
Dilettante Chocolates (Seattle Gourmet Foods)
Chocolate TruffleCreme mints - Peppermint #23
Very Good
Weight: .69 oz. (19 g.) in 2 pieces
Calories: 105 calories
Cost: NA (gift); thank you Megan
Purchased from: NA (gift)

The weather has come in one size only this week: gray and rainy. So, focusing on uplifting mint flavored chocolate items this week seemed like a good idea. That, and getting some outdoor exercise, should help. These TruffleCremes were flavored with oil of peppermint. I believe #23 refers to a formula developed by Dilettante Chocolates.

Sunday, December 13, 2009

ChocolateBet: December 13, 2009


Chocolate of the Day:

2 pieces
Anthon Berg
Creamy Mint(s)
Very Good
Weight: .7 oz. (20 g.)/4.9 oz. (140 g.) total package
Calories: 90 calories for 2 pieces
Cost: $?
Purchased from: ?

These individually wrapped 55% dark chocolates, with mint cream filling, were from Denmark. (Unfortunately, I misplaced price and purchase information from several month months ago.)

Saturday, December 12, 2009

ChocolateBet: December 12, 2009


Chocolate of the Day:

1 oz.
Melzy Enterprises Inc.
Figamajigs - Dark Chocolate Covered Fig Candy
Good + - Very Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.)/1.41 oz. (40 g.) total package
Calories: 106 calories (estimate)
Cost: NA - gift; thanks Megan! ($1.95 for 1 package)
Purchased from: East West Bookstore, in downtown Mountain View, CA

Healthy, low fat, tasty fig pieces, coated in dark chocolate, with no added milk products. Sounded good to me. Image of the (empty) package is shown above.

ChocolateBet: December 11, 2009


Chocolate of the Day:
1 Large Cup
Tea Era
Chocolate Milk Tea with Pearls
Good + - Very Good
Weight: Large (approx. 20 oz.)
Calories: 270 calories? (guess)
Cost: $ NA (gift - thank you Megan)
Purchased from: Tea Era, in downtown Mountain View, CA

Tapioca pearls added some nice chewy texture to this (cold) chocolate milk tea. Flavors were mixed and cups sealed on the spot, making these drinks easier to transport if you take them to go. (Just punch the special extra-wide straw through the top to sip up pearls and tea.)

Thursday, December 10, 2009

ChocolateBet: December 10, 2009


Chocolate of the Day:
1/4 bar
Valor Chocolates
Dark Chocolate with Marcona Almonds (bar)
Good + - Very Good
Weight: 2.18 oz. (61.9 g.)/8.75 oz. (250 g.) in total bar
Calories: 327 calories
Cost: $4.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: T.J. Maxx, in San Francisco, CA

It is difficult to convey the size of this Valor dark chocolate bar from Spain, from looking at the (scanned) image shown. This bar weighed in at a mammoth 8.75 oz. (250 grams). More than enough to share with friends, or to melt down for fondue.

And, thus ends Day #7 of Chocolate and Nut Theme Week (2009). Nuts included this past week included various types of almonds, hazelnuts, peanuts and pecans. My apologies to Brazil nuts and other nuts that were left out. I'm sure there will be another Chocolate and Nut Theme Week in 2010.

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

ChocolateBet: December 9, 2009


Chocolate of the Day:

1 oz.
Fancy's Candy's, Inc.
Sin in a Tin - Dark Chocolate & Hazelnut Toffee
Very Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) (estimate)
Calories: 150 calories (estimate)
Cost: $19.00 (online)
Purchased from: Blue Frog Chocolates, in New Orleans, LA

Today was
Day #6 of Chocolate and Nut Theme Week (2009).
Sin in a Tin. What a great name. Dark chocolate, hazelnut and toffee: a recipe for success.

ChocolateBet: December 8, 2009

Chocolate of the Day #2:
1 serving
Manresa (Restaurant)
Chocolate and hazelnut feuillentine, olive oil with
Bitter chocolate sorbet with sea salt
Very Good + - Yum
Weight: ~ 4 oz. (estimate)
Calories: ~ 200 calories (estimate)
Cost: $ NA (company holiday dinner)
Purchased from: NA - served at Manresa, in Los Gatos, CA

Oh wait. One more chocolate to add today. A bonus entry for Chocolate & Nut Theme Week, this chocolate dessert was worthy of note. It was the last dish in a multi-course holiday dinner. Two small pieces of velvety soft dark ganache/mousse were coated with finely ground cacoa powder, and topped with a dark chocolate sorbet. (I donated the very thin chocolate crisps, i.e. with wheat in them, to Alec.)

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

ChocolateBet: December 8, 2009


Chocolate of the Day #1:

1 package (3 pieces)
DeMet's Candy Company
Turtles ("Original - Pecans~Chocolate~Caramel")
Good + - Very Good
Weight: 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total package
Calories: 260 calories
Cost: $1.79
Purchased from: 7-Eleven store in midtown, Palo Alto, CA

I knew these were going to be good, because the fancy turtle with the top hat and the monocle told me so. (He's on the package -- the one with the bow tie.)

So it is that we close Day #5 of Chocolate and Nut week with a talking cartoon turtle.

Monday, December 7, 2009

ChocolateBet: December 7, 2009


Chocolate of the Day:

1 serving
7-Eleven, Inc.
Chocolate Covered Almonds
Good +
Weight: 1.4 oz. (40 g.)/2.5 oz. (70 g.) total bag
Calories: ~220 calories in 1 serving
Cost: $1.49 for total bag
Purchased from: 7-Eleven, in midtown Palo Alto, CA

Day #4 of Chocolate and Nut Theme Week (2009) seemed like a great time to try some convenience store chocolates. One of the biggest chains in the U.S., 7-Eleven is where I get my annual low-calorie Crystal Light frozen Slurpee drink and lottery ticket. Two foolish pastimes. I figured, why not make it a third? And the chocolates there are reasonably priced.

Sunday, December 6, 2009

ChocolateBet: December 6, 2009


Chocolate of the Day:

1/2 bar
B.T. McElrath Chocolatier, Inc.
Prairie Dog Chocolate Bar
Good + - Very Good
Weight: 1.5 oz. (42 g.)/3.0 oz. (85 g.) total bar
Calories: 220 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $4.69
Purchased from: Piazza's Fine Foods, in Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and Nut Theme Week (2009). I was inspired to try B.T. McElrath's Prairie Dog (40% milk) chocolate bar with almonds, after enjoying their Salty Dog (70% dark) chocolate bar. Both bars contain quality ingredients, butter toffee pieces, and nuts; but the Salty Dog bar won.

Cold weather (in California that means it is in the low 40s (F.) today, and the threat of rain, forced me inside (yes, like a prairie dog), giving me an opportunity to play chocolate mad scientist. A portion of this bar was eaten plain, and a portion was heated with leftover pecan pie and coffee liqueur. All that remains of the latter experiment in sugar and nut overload is an empty plate (see image) and fork.

Saturday, December 5, 2009

ChocolateBet: December 5, 2009


Chocolate of the Day:

1 package (2 cups)
Reese's (Hershey)
Reese's Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Lovers (cups)
Good +
Weight: 1.5 oz. (42 g.) in 1 package
Calories: 220 for 2 cups
Cost: $0.69 (sale)
Purchased from: Walgreens, in Palo Alto, CA

It was Day #2 of another Chocolate and Nut Theme Week.

Choosing a theme week to celebrate chocolate + nuts was predictable as I adore this combination. Reese's has made multiple versions of their classic peanut butter cups; and I have tried to stay up on the latest. A smooth peanut butter colored frosting tops these milk chocolate cups.

Friday, December 4, 2009

ChocolateBet: December 4, 2009


Chocolate of the Day:

6 pieces
Royal Family Food Co., Ltd.
Mochi Choco Ball(s)
Good + - Very Good
Weight: 3.8 oz. (108 g.) in 1 box
Calories: 348 calories (if I've translated the label correctly)
Cost: $1.25 for 1 box of 6 pcs.
Purchased from: a store in Chinatown, San Francisco, CA

Not being able to eat wheat, several years ago I found mochi (made from rice) products to be a possible source of chocolate items. These chocolate-coated mochi balls were filled with peanut jam. The Taiwan-based company, Royal Family, lists ISO 2200 and HACCP on their label, indicating that they follow certain quality practices. Perhaps these good practices contributed to a great shelf life. These chocolates were still quite good, despite the fact that I bought them last year (2008).

Speaking of lasting traditions, I decided to launch my second (perhaps annual) Chocolate & Nut Theme Week today. The peanut jam inspired me.

Note: My apologies to the small store in Chinatown that I can't mention by name (due to incomplete information on the store receipt).

Thursday, December 3, 2009

ChocolateBet: December 3, 2009


Chocolate of the Day:

1 bar
Splendid Chocolates
Milk Chocolate with Eggnog bar
Good
Weight: 2.3 oz. (65 g.) in 1 total bar
Calories: 300 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $
Purchased from: ?

I thought this red, gold and green, festively wrapped, eggnog bar would be fun for the holiday season. However, the very sweet white filling inside this bar from Canada tasted more like eggnot than eggnog. Chocolate often obscures more subtle flavors, such as spices. So I sprinkled some freshly grated nutmeg on this bar; and it helped conjure up holiday memories of eggnog and baked custard.

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

ChocolateBet: December 2, 2009


Chocolate of the Day:

14 pieces
Hammond's
Peppermint Jewels
Very Good
Weight: 2.82 oz. (80 g.)/8 oz. (226 g.) in total bag
Calories: 360 calories in 14 pcs. (2 servings)
Cost: $7.50 for 1 bag
Purchased from: Gourmet Works of Los Altos; in downtown Los Altos, CA

This cheery bag of peppermint stick candy "jewels" coated with dark chocolate, from Hammond's Candies, was tied up with a small white bow on top, making it gift-worthy. In the spirit of holiday giving, I'll share these chocolate jewels with others.

I considered making a piece of edible jewel-ry with these pieces; but my dining room table was covered with half-manifested projects already. A quick web search revealed a few artisans already working in chocolate, including Hatzidakis Manos (see Chocolate Jewels profile on Facebook).

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

ChocolateBet: December 1, 2009




Chocolate of the Day:
1 shoe
Barbie - Dylan's Candy Bar (Distrib. by Galerie)
Good
Weight: .74 oz. (21 g.) for 1 shoe/1.48 oz. (42 g.) total box
Calories: 120 calories for 1 shoe
Cost: $16.00 for 1 pair/1 box
Purchased from: Neiman Marcus, in San Francisco, CA

"Would you like the left shoe, or the right shoe?" I asked my daughter. Eating a chocsimile of a famous make-believe doll's shoe. I'm not sure how we got here, but it's fun, isn't it. All except the price. Ouch. At $16.00, girlish fantasy doesn't come cheap. The chocolate was OK, but the hot pink and black packaging was very snazzy, very hip Barbie.
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