Saturday, January 1, 2011

Chocolate Banquet 2010 Awards

Chocolate Banquet 2010 Awards                                  

Each year I try hundreds of different chocolates. Below are favorites from 2010.

Best Dark Chocolate Bar (U.S.)
1.) Patric Chocolate - 70% Rio Caribe Superior Venezuela bar - June 30, 2010
2.) Trader Joe's - Dark Chocolate Lover's 85% bar (Columbia) - July 4, 2010
3.) Kim's Chocolates - Cachet Peru 64% dark bar (criollo and trinitario) - Jan. 14, 2010

Best Chocolate Bar with flavors (U.S.)
1.) Michael Mischer - Toffee and Murray River Salt bars - Sept. 22-23, 2010
2.) Chocolate Visions - Crimson Cranberry 61% dark bar - Aug. 22, 2010
3.) Alter Eco Americas - Dark Chocolate bar with crystallized orange peel - Oct. 14, 2010

Best International Chocolates (outside the U.S.)
1.) Michel Cluizel - Dark 67% Plantation Los Anacones bar - Sept. 18, 2010
2.) Momotombo - Banana Whiskey chilled chocolates; several others - Nov., 2010
3.) Hotel Chocolat, Ltd. - Purist 50% "Touch of Milk" bar from Santa Lucia - Nov. 1, 2010
4.) Rococo Chocolates - Orange and Geranium organic dark chocolate bar - March 4, 2010

Best chocolate dessert or beverage in a restaurant
1.) Eiffel Tower Restaurant, Las Vegas, NV; Grand Marnier Souffle with chocolate sauce - Oct. 13, '10
2.) Schellville Grill, Schellville, CA; Flourless Chocolate Cake - July 10, 2010
3.) The Grand Mayan Resort, Mexico; homemade hot chocolate - Aug. 31, 2010

Most Original Truffle Flavors
1.) Modern Dwellers Chocolate Lounge - Salmon Surprise and Anchovy Amour - May 14, 2010
2.) Vosges Buddha's Leaf (Pandan leaf) truffle - April 22, 2010
3.) Vice Chocolates - "Slayer" (with garlic, balsamic) - Nov. 2010
4.) The Xocolate Bar - Kalamata Olive Caramel chocolate - Aug. 7, 2010

Best Filled Chocolates (U.S.)
1.) Michael Mischer Chocolates - Barbeque filled chocolate  - Aug. 2, 2010
2.) Michael Mischer Chocolates - Espresso filled chocolate - July 21, 2010
3.) Michael Mischer Chocolates - Lavender and Honey filled chocolate - Aug. 17, 2010

Best Chocolate and Bacon Items
1.) Luca Chocolate - Chocolate dipped bacon pieces - Feb. 18, 2010
2.) Posh Chocolat - Bacon Caramel with Apple wood smoked salt - March 24, 2010
3.) chocri - Sizzling Bacon Breakfast bar - June 8, 2010

Best Chocolate and Fruit Items
1.) Cafe Madeleine - Chocolate covered strawberries - Feb. 14, 2010
2.) Recchiuti - Key Lime Apples - Feb. 28, 2010
3.) Poco Dolce - Raspberry Bunnies (dark) - April 4, 2010
4.) Ococoa - Cashew Apricot Cup - April 21, 2010

Best Homemade Chocolate Dessert/Mix 
1.) Amy's Kitchen Chocolate (gluten free) Cake - Aug. 16, 2010

ChocolateBet: January 1, 2011

Chocolate of the Day:
1 piece
Tropical Chocolate Company
Tahitian Vanilla Lavender Caramel
Very Good
Weight: .4 oz. (11.7 g.) (estimate)
Calories: 58 calories (estimate)
Cost: $N/A - gift (thank you Alec and Ardis)
Purchased from: N/A - gift (purchased from Tropical Chocolate, San Luis Obispo, CA

Happy New Year, and welcome to Day #2 of Chocolate and Flowers Theme Week.

Tropical Chocolate Company is based in San Luis Obispo, in the Central Coast region of California. Chocolatiers Roger and Pam Marshall make their chocolates by hand, in relatively small batches, and incorporate exotic flavors and ingredients in many of their chocolates. Chocolate is almost tropical by definition -- since cacao is grown in zones closer to the equator. But, as today's Tahitian Vanilla Lavender Caramel chocolate illustrates, many flavorings, such as vanilla from Tahiti, also come from far away. I'm not sure where the lavender came from, but, it's nicely blended with the milk chocolate, vanilla and caramel flavors.

Note: Image and description of Tahitian Vanilla Lavender Caramel, above right, was taken from Tropical Chocolate Company's brochure.
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