Sunday, January 31, 2010

ChocolateBet: January 31, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:
2 pieces
van Dungen (Steenland Chocolate)
Milk Chocolate Clogs
Good +
Weight: .5 oz. (14 g.) in 2 /3.2 oz. (90 g.) in total box
Calories: 76 calories for 2 (estimate)
Cost: $?
Purchased from: Miette Bakery, Ferry Building, in San Francisco, CA

Today I thought I'd be out walking around San Francisco Bay. The sun was out, but I ended up fighting off a cold instead. In keeping with the walking (theme at least), today's chocolate was a pair of milk chocolate clogs. I found these chocsimiles of carved, wooden shoes from Holland at Miette Bakery -- a small place, filled with interesting pastries and chocolates.

ChocolatBet: January 30, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:
1 piece
Teuscher
milk chocolate automobile/car
Very Good
Weight: .5 oz. (14 g.) (estimate)
Calories: 76 calories (estimate)
Cost: $1.90 (estimate)
Purchased from: Teuscher store, Stanford Shopping Center, Palo Alto, CA

A little solid milk chocolate car was a good mascot for the day. In the suburbs, I spend a lot of time driving from place to place. But, today I had some fun places to go: a great photography lecture at Stanford, and a meeting with animation friends. Tomorrow will be a walking day.

Friday, January 29, 2010

ChocolateBet: January 29, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:
1 piece
Teuscher
Dark chocolate airplane
Very Good
Weight: ~ .6 oz. (17 g.) (estimate)
Calories: ~ 87 calories (estimate)
Cost: $1.90 (estimate)
Purchased from Teuscher store, Stanford Shopping Center, Palo Alto, CA

My mind was on travel today, so eating a dark chocolate airplane seemed like an appropriate choice. This small, solid chocolate plane was quite good.

Thursday, January 28, 2010

ChocolateBet: January 28, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:
1 small square
Charles Chocolates
65% Bittersweet Chocolate
Very Good
Weight: .17 oz. (5 g.)
Calories: 25 calories (estimate)
Cost: N/A $0
Purchased from: N/A

Good things come in small packages. I enjoyed this dark, bite-sized square.

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

ChocolateBet: January 27, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:
1/2 bar
Bi-Rite Creamery and Bakeshop
Rocky Road (bar)
Very Good
Weight: 1.7 oz. (47.5 g.)/3.4 oz. (95 g.) in total bar
Calories: 247 calories (estimate)
Cost: $5.00 for 1 bar (3 for $15.00)
Purchased from: Bi-Rite Market, in San Francisco, CA

This fresh-tasting bar was loaded with large pieces of "housemade marsmallows and salted almonds." It was like eating a dark chocolate version of S'mores. The chocolate bar base was made from a blend of dark and milk chocolate. (This bar was made for Bi-Rite by Charles Chocolates, in Emeryville, CA.)

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

ChocolateBet: January 26, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:
1/2 bar
Bi-Rite Creamery & Bakeshop
Coffee Toffee bar
Very Good
Weight: 1.7 oz. (47.5 g.)/3.4 oz. (95 g.) total bar
Calories: 255 calories in 1/2 bar (estimate)
Cost: $5.00 for 1 bar (3 for $15.00)
Purchased from: Bi-Rite Market, in San Francisco, CA

No need to sip a hot espresso today, this bar was full of crunchy coffee bean pieces. This bar also contained almond toffee, in a blend of dark and milk chocolate. The Coffee Toffee bar was made for Bi-Rite by Charles Chocolates (based in Emeryville, CA).

Monday, January 25, 2010

ChocolateBet: January 25, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:
3/4 bar
Teuscher
Lemon Chocolate (bar)
Very Good
Weight: .675 oz. (18.75 g.)/.9 oz. (25 g.) total bar
Calories: 97 calories (estimate) in 3/4 small bar
Cost: $4.00? for small bar
Purchased from: Teuscher store, in Stanford Shopping Center, Palo Alto, CA

This dark chocolate (50% cacao) bar flavored with lemon had real snap to it when I broke off a piece to share. I like dark chocolate and lemon combinations, and I was happy with this bar.  Unfortunately, the wrapper did not scan or photograph well, so my apologies if the image above is hard to read.

Sunday, January 24, 2010

ChocolateBet: January 24, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:
1/2 bar
Bi-Rite Creamery & Bakeshop
Peanut Praline Bar
Very Good
Weight: 1.7 oz. (47.5 g.)/3.4 oz. (95 g.) in total bar
Calories: 255 calories for 1/2 bar
Cost: $5.00 for 1 bar (3 for $15.00)
Purchased from: Bi-Rite Market, in San Francisco, CA

If the thought of eating peanut brittle bits in deep milk chocolate sounds attractive, this bar is a good choice. Made for Bi-Rite by Charles Chocolates (located across the Bay in Emeryville, CA), this bar tasted fresh, and had nice texture and flavors.

Saturday, January 23, 2010

ChocolateBet: January 23, 2010


Chocolate(s) of the Day:

1.) Michel Cluizel - Bread - Good +
Weight: .6 oz. (17 g.) in 1 "loaf" or piece (estimate)
Calories: 90 calories (estimate)
Cost: $1.50
Purchased from: Miette Bakery, Ferry Building, San Francisco, CA

Very cute little baguette shape. If I'd had a chocolate fromage,
and chocolate sardines (which Michel Cluizel does make),
I would have had a complete picnic.

2.) Trader Joe's "Chocolate Palette" Single Origin Dark Chocolate Bars
Flavors include: Papua New Guinea (70%), Dominican Republic (70%), others
Very Good - Very Good +
Weight: 2.5 oz. (71 g.) (estimate) worth of several tastes
Calories: 375 calories for tastes of different bars
Cost: $ N/A
Purchased from: Trader Joe's by Lisa

Thank you very much to Lisa and Rolf for arranging a single origin bar tasting. Sampling different chocolates side by side really highlights differences and unique qualities much more effectively than sequential tasting over a period of days.

Friday, January 22, 2010

ChocolateBet: January 22, 2010


Chocolate(s) of the Day:

1.) Maison Bouche - Pine Cones (Bergamot) - 1 piece/cone
Very Good
Weight: .6 oz. (17 g.)/3.6 oz. (101.88 g.) total package/clear box (estims.)
Calories: 82 calories (estimate)
Cost: $14.00 for total package of 6 chocolate pine cones
Purchased from: Miette Bakery, in the Ferry Building, San Francisco, CA

2.) Teuscher - 66% dark chocolate log
Very Good - Very Good +
Weight: .6 oz. (17 g.) (estimate)
Calories: 87 calories (estimate)
Cost: $1.87 (guess) if $50/lb.
Purchased from: Teuscher shop, at Stanford Shopping Center, CA

And today's chocolates conclude (Day #7 of) Chocolate and Tree Theme Week. I tried the (Maison Bouche) rose marzipan pine cones earlier in the week, and today I noticed that there was a bergamot flavor as well. The rose cones win by a nose. I also enjoyed the Teuscher solid dark chocolate log.

ChocolateBet: January 21, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:
1 piece
DeMet's Candy Company
Stixx (Butterfinger)
Good +
Weight: .6 oz. (17 g.)/3.64 oz. (103.2 g.) total package of 6
Calories: 80 calories
Cost: $1.14
Purchased from: Safeway, in San Jose, CA

Made with Nestle Butterfinger pieces, these sticks (Stixx actually) sort of fit with Day #6 of Chocolate and Tree Theme Week.

While the Stixx were fine, I had hoped to find a chocsimile of the Tree mascot from Stanford University. (I live a few miles from Stanford.) The tree is rather infamous; however, the closest thing I could find in stores was a t-shirt proclaiming "Fear the Tree" and a tree golf club cover. Ah well.

Thursday, January 21, 2010

ChocolateBet: January 20, 2010

Chocolate(s) of the Day:
2 pieces/logs
Grand Bakery
Almond Logs
Very Good
Weight: 2.5 oz. (71 g.)/7.5 oz. (212 g.) total for package of 6 logs
Calories: 312 calories (estimate) for 2 logs
Cost: $7.99 for package of 6 logs
Purchased from: Piazzas, in Palo Alto, CA

Day #5 of Chocolate and Tree Theme Week had me searching high and low for more tree-themed chocolates. I was hoping to find some dark chocolates with a tree flavoring or component (or chocsimile) of some sort. (I may have to make something like this on my own, once I find some kind of food-quality pine or other tree flavoring.)  These "logs" were the closest I could find, and I was happy to see them after stopping at several stores this afternoon. These (wheat and dairy free) almond logs were also kosher.

Another happy discovery today involved visiting Monique's Chocolates, a new shop in downtown Palo Alto. I will be back to sample more dark, single-origin chocolates. Thank you to Mark West for allowing us to sample the house chocolate (a very nice mixture of milk and dark), and homemade marshmallows.

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

ChocolateBet: January 19, 2010


Chocolate of the Day:
1 serving
Godiva
Caramel Pecan Bark
Good + - Very Good
Weight: 1.5 oz. (42.5 g.)/12 oz. (340 g.) total tin
Calories: 230 calories
Cost: N/A - gift
Purchased from: N/A - gift

Today was Day #4 of Chocolate and Tree Theme Week. I admit I'm stretching this concept with the choice of a chocolate "bark" - but this term was inspired by tree bark. Yes, I think it was. And, pecans come from trees. Yes, I think they do. Thank you to Lisa and family for this gift.

Monday, January 18, 2010

ChocolateBet: January 18, 2010



Chocolate of the Day:
4 pieces
Maison Bouche 
Caramel Praline Logs
Very Good
Weight1.4 oz. (39 g.)/2.8 oz. (78 g.) total package, clear box of 8 pcs. (estimate)
Calories: 261 calories for 4 small log pieces
Cost: $?
Purchased from: Miette Bakery, Ferry Building, San Francisco, CA

I found a very sweet caramel filling when I bit into these log-shaped dark chocolates. I couldn't find a gluten-free buche de noel (yule log cake) in time for the Christmas holidays last month, so these were the next best thing. (Note: These seasonal caramel logs are no longer available.)

Day #3 of Chocolate and Tree Theme Week


Sunday, January 17, 2010

ChocolateBet: January 17, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:
3 pieces/acorns
Maison Bouche
Acorns
Very Good
Weight: 1.8 oz. (51 g.) total package/clear box of 3 (estimate)
Calories: 261 calories (estimate)
Cost: $6.00
Purchased from: Miette Bakery, Ferry Building, in San Francisco, CA

The squirrels outside are probably jealous. Alas, for those of you desiring solid dark chocolate acorns to see you through the winter, I think these were seasonal items, which may be gone by now.

Today was Day #2 of Chocolate and Tree Theme Week.

Saturday, January 16, 2010

ChocolateBet: January 16, 2010


Chocolate of the Day:
4 pieces
Maison Bouche
Rose Marzipan Pine Cones
Very Good - Very Good +
Weight: 2.4 oz. (67.92 g.)/3.6 oz. (101.88 g.) total clear plastic box (estimates)
Calories: 324 calories (estimate) for 4 pine cones
Cost: $14.00 for a set of 6
Purchased from: Miette Bakery, Ferry Building, in San Francisco, CA

I've been doing a lot of walking outside, admiring trees and the new green shoots of spring. In honor of  trees, I'm thematically mixing chocolate with tree and plant parts this week. If you like dark chocolate, marzipan/almond, and rose flavoring, this pine cone is for you. Unfortunately, these were seasonal items, and may be all sold out now.

Friday, January 15, 2010

ChocolateBet: January 15, 2010


Chocolate of the Day:
1 piece
Anthon Berg
Danzka Cranberyraz Vodka of Denmark
Very Good
Weight: .6 oz. (17 g.) (estimate)
Calories: 82 calories (estimate)
Cost: $1.00
Purchased from: Venice Gourmet Delicatessen, in Sausalito, CA

A tiny chocolate bottle filled with an even smaller amount of cranberry vodka infused syrup. It was a fun start to a gloomy day, and week, outside. This vodka-inspired chocolate, from a Scandinavian country well acquainted with long winters, was from Anthon Berg. Over the past few years, I've been making my way through a variety of liquor chocsimiles from Anthon Berg, Turin and a few other manufacturers. While a fine dark chocolate is best appreciated all by its lonesome, I enjoy mixing chocolate with other flavors. And, after trying more than 1,200 chocolates in as many days, I've concluded that I'm not alone here.

Thursday, January 14, 2010

ChocolateBet: January 14, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:
1/2 bar
Kim's Chocolates
Cachet - Peru 64% dark chocolate bar
Very Good +
Weight: 1.75 oz. (50 g.)/3.5 oz. (100 g.) total bar
Calories: 263 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $2.99 (sale)
Purchased from: Venice Gourmet Delicatessen, in Sausalito, CA

In deepest, darkest Peru....Actually this is part of the origin story of Paddington Bear (but, I digress, once again). This dark bar, made with a mix of criollo and trinitario cacao beans, was very rich, smooth, and tasty. I discovered it, not in Peru, but, when I was walking the San Francisco Bay Trail in Sausalito, CA - a beautiful city by the water - when I stopped at the Venice Gourmet Delicatessen for some dinner.

ChocolateBet: January 13, 2010


Chocolate of the Day:
2 pieces
Blue Frog Chocolates
Louisiana Seafood
Good + - Very Good
Weight: .46 oz. (13 g.)/4.6 oz. (130 g.) total package/clear plastic box
Calories: 69 calories (1 crab, 1 crawfish)

Cost: $8.00 (plus shipping for online orders)
Purchased from: Blue Frog Chocolates, in New Orleans, LA

Imagine fishing for chocolate seafood. If this were possible, you might haul up a box of these milk chocolate crabs and crawfish from Louisiana, which are "always in season," according to the Blue Frog Chocolates label.

Blue Frog also made something called the Hurricane Katrina trashpile, and a FEMA chocolate house. (I did have a chance to taste the house, but not the Katrina trashpile, which was discontinued.) Humor is often the best medicine.

Today was Day #7 of Chocolate and Animal Theme Week.

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

ChocolateBet: January 12, 2010

Chocolate(s) of the Day:
The Huckleberry People
1.) 1 bag Montana Deer Poop (Chocolate Panned Peanuts) Very Good
2.) 1 bag Montana Cow Patties (Chocolate Covered Praline Peanuts) Very Good
Weight: 1.) 4 oz. (113 g.), and 2.) 4 oz. (113 g.)
Calories: 1,200 calories in 2 (4-oz.) bags
Cost: N/A - gift from Megan (approx. $4.99 per bag)
Purchased from: N/A gift from Megan (bought in Montana)

Day #6 of chocolate animal theme week. Technically these bags of Deer Poop and Cow Patties could be considered animal chocolate (by-products). The concept may not sound appetizing, but these chocolates were very good. Thank you to Megan for picking these up in Montana.

Monday, January 11, 2010

ChocolateBet: January 11, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:

1 piece/head
Vanishing Creatures Chocolates
Chocolate Hippo head
Good + - Very Good
Weight: 2.65 oz. (75 g) / 7.95 oz. (225 g.) (estimate) total box of 3 heads
Calories: 397 calories (estimate) in one head
Cost: $N/A - gift
Purchased from: N/A - gift; thank you Alec

Today was Day #5 of Chocolate Animal theme week.

Today's chocolate creature was a finely crafted, 3D hippopotamus (hippo) head. (See image above from box; the hippo is the middle of the three animals pictured.)

ChocolateBet: January 10, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:
1/2 piece/head
Vanishing Creatures
Gorilla Head
Very Good
Weight: 1.32 oz. (37 g)/7.95 oz. (225 g.) (estim.) total round white box of 3 heads
Calories: 198 calories (estimate)
Cost: N/A - gift 
Purchased from: N/A - gift from Alec

The chocolate gorilla head was carefully cut in half and served in bowls. I split this with Alec - who I can thank for this gift. Again, like the koala head (yesterday's chocolate of the day), I gave this extra points for the design. The molding of the face was very detailed and realistic. While these chocolates were designed to benefit wildlife; however, the wall trophy-style backing was a bit strange.

Day #4 of chocolate animal theme week.

Saturday, January 9, 2010

ChocolateBet: January 9, 2010


Chocolate of the Day:
1 piece/head
Vanishing Creatures Chocolates
Koala head
Very Good
Weight: 2.65 oz. (75 g)/7.95 oz. (225 g.) (estimate) total round white box of 3 heads
Calories: 397 calories in 1 head (estimate)
Cost: $ N/A - gift from Alec
Purchased from: N/A - gift from Alec

The Vanishing Creatures molded chocolate koala head looked fairly real. It was even "mounted" on a wall plaque-like backing. Yes, I was contributing to a good cause I thought, as I was gnawing the face and ear off the poor chocolate animal. I munched on some greens afterward. This leaf was for you Mr. or Mrs. koala.

Day #3 of chocolate animal theme week.

Friday, January 8, 2010

ChocolateBet: January 8, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:
1 mouse
Bissinger's
Milk Chocolate Mice
Good - Good +
Weight: .5 oz. (14.3 g.)/3 oz. (85 g.) in box of 6 pieces
Calories: 80 calories in 1 mouse
Cost: $?
Purchased from: Miette Bakery, Ferry Building, San Francisco, CA

These milk chocolate mice were cleverly designed so that they could be hung on a tree (their tails double back in a loop, making a hole through which you could run some string, ribbon, or a hook). I missed the opportunity to decorate a Christmas tree with these cute little rodents, since I just opened the box today. However, they're just in time for chocolate animal theme week. Yesterday featured cats, today mice. Tomorrow: monkeys perhaps? (Note: mice do not include tiny Santa hats.)

Day #2 of chocolate animal theme week.

Thursday, January 7, 2010

ChocolateBet: January 7, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:
6 pieces
Heilemann Confiserie
Katzenzungen Zartbitter
Very Good
Weight: .95 oz. (27 g.)/ 2.65 oz. (75 g.) in total package
Calories: 138 calories (estimate)
Cost: $?
Purchased from: Miette Bakery, Ferry Building, San Francisco, CA

Who could resist kittens? How about kitten tongues? These dark chocolates were, in fact, quite good. I am afraid to ask what might come after chocolate cats tongues. Chocolate pig ears? Chocolate turkey beaks? Chocolate dog tails anyone? Something tells me that at least one of these might already exist somewhere in the world. And if I continue on my search for different chocolates, I will find one of these other items in the future. Until then, I recommend these katzenzungen. So, if someone asks you "Has the cat got your tongue?" you'll have an opportunity to give them an interesting reply.

Day #1 of chocolate animal theme week.

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

ChocolateBet: January 6, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:
3 pieces
Cadbury
Snow Bites
Good +
Weight: .35 oz. (10 g.)/3.5 oz. (100 g.) total package
Calories: 50 calories in 3 pieces
Cost: N/A - gift - Thank you to Megan
Purchased from: N/A - gift

Continuing this month's winter theme, today's edibles could have been found in a candy snowdrift (perhaps in Minnesota). Cadbury's Snow Bites (chocolate balls "in a crispy white dusted shell") were combined with (black licorice) snowman "buttons." I'd wanted to combine chocolate with licorice for awhile. These licorice buttons were made with soy instead of wheat (which I can't eat); so I jumped at the chance to buy these last month.

Hats off to those shoveling cars out of real snow drifts somewhere east of here, and best wishes to Cadbury in the U.K. The company continues to make news this month as the subject of a bidding war/takeover battle -- with Kraft, Ferrera, and Hershey as suitors.

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

ChocolateBet: January 5, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:
3/4 bar
Klondike
Ice Cream Bar Made with Heath English Toffee
Good +
Weight: 3 fl. oz. (88.5 mL, 55.5 g.) for 3/4 bar/ (total package of six 4-fl oz. bars)
Calories: 173 calories in 3/4 bar
Cost: $3.99 (estimate) for package of 6 bars
Purchased from: Safeway, in Palo Alto, CA

I like chocolate, ice cream, and Heath bars....However, I wasn't quite in the mood for an ice cream bar for breakfast, in January. It's a "hardship" I endured as part of this silly chocolate bet I made more than three years ago. And then I bundled up to go out into the California winter. I won't be running into any polar bears (see Klondike logo) where I'm hiking today, but I look almost as ridiculous as one with all the layers I'm wearing. I'm more likely to see palm trees than snow and ice.

Monday, January 4, 2010

ChocolateBet: Janury 4, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:
1 serving
Blue Frog Chocolates
Monday's Fare - NOLA Red Beans & Rice
Very Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.)/ 6 oz. (170 g.) (estim.) in total package
Calories: 145 calories (estimate)
Cost: $6.00 (plus any shipping, handling)
Purchased from: Blue Frog Chocolates, in New Orleans, LA

Lunch today started with a healthy portion of these chocolate legumes (Milkies - "lentils") and rice (chocolate-covered sunflower seeds). According to Wikipedia, eating red beans and rice on Mondays "is an old custom from the time when ham was a Sunday meal and Monday was washday. A pot of beans" (maybe with a little leftover ham from the previous day) "could sit on the stove and simmer while the women were busy scrubbing clothes." 

Sunday, January 3, 2010

ChocolateBet: January 3, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:
1 bar
Eclipse Chocolat
Orange Peel Anise (bar)
Very Good - Very Good +
Weight: 3 oz. (84 g.) in total bar
Calories: 450 calories (estimate)
Cost: $5.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bi-Rite Market, in San Francisco, CA

This orange peel infused dark chocolate (61% cacao) bar was "spiced with star anise."
Yes, 3 ounces of chocolate is a lot. My justification: this bar helped fortify my walk across the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco today.

ChocolateBet: January 2, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:
1 cup
TCHO
Hot Chocolate
Very Good +
Weight: 10-oz. cup
Calories: ~ 250 calories (guesstimate)
Cost: $3.50 for 1 cup
Purchased from: TCHO, Pier 17, in San Francisco, CA

Time to rejoice. TCHO makes a hot chocolate with high-quality chocolate, that is not overly sweet. It's worth making a trip to the source, TCHO's shop on the waterfront. There were no TCHO tours, but some of their chocolates were available for tasting. The chocolate sign along the Embarcadero helped point the way. I stopped at here today as part of my walk-around-San Francisco-Bay I'm doing. (See also http://walkingthebay.blogspot.com.) Walking is a great way to discover new places and get some exercise. That, and I can justify eating a few more chocolates.

Friday, January 1, 2010

ChocolateBet: January 1, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:

1/8 bar
Patisserie Chocolaterie Pralus s.a.s.
Le 100% Criollo
Very Good
Weight: .437 oz. (12.5 g.)/3.5 oz. (100 g.) total bar
Calories: 63 calories (estimate)
Cost: $8.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bi-Rite Market, in San Francisco, CA

Why not start 2010 with a full commitment to cacao? This 100% cacao bar, known simply and factually as "Le 100%," does not waste space on any added sugar or other sweeteners, milk products or fancy flavorings or fillers. Here you simply get to taste what Criollo cacao beans are all about. A little bit of olive and earth, and a slightly acidic taste. Or, as my sister said about a preview taste during Christmas dinner last week: "It tastes like dirt." Yes, but in a good way.
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