Monday, February 21, 2011

ChocolateBet: February 21, 2011

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 
Sweet Earth Chocolates

1.) Rum Raisin Truffle(s) 
2 truffles
Good - Good +
Weight: .8 oz. (22 g.) (estimate) for 2 truffles
Calories: 120 calories (estimate)
Cost: $3.50 (estimate)
Purchased from: Sweet Earth Chocolates, San Luis Obispo, CA

2.) Bananas Foster Truffle
1 truffle
Good +
Weight: .4 oz. (11 g.) (estimate)
Calories: 60 calories (estimate)
Cost: $1.75 (estimate)
Purchased from: Sweet Earth Chocolates, San Luis Obispo, CA

Today I'm kicking off a theme week (Day #1) in honor of chocolate and rum/spirits. These two truffles from Sweet Earth Chocolates were both inspired by dishes flavored with rum. Rum raisin ice cream is an occasional favorite of mine.

Bananas Foster is a flambe dish that was the 1951 creation of Chef Paul at Brennan's restaurant in New Orleans -- according to the Brennan's website. The recipe calls for bananas, butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, banana liqueur, dark rum and vanilla ice cream. Sweet Earth's Bananas Foster truffle does a good job of approximating these flavors in a chocolate coated truffle. The banana flavoring tastes natural.

Rum is typically made from sugar cane, often grown in Caribbean or "warm weather" tropical islands. And, since it's a cold wintery day today, warm tropical islands sound good to me now. Rum does blend nicely with chocolate items under the right conditions. Unfortunately, there are restrictions on the use of alcohol in products that are sold to the public, leading chocolatiers to substitute rum extracts or flavorings in place of the real thing. This may impact the flavor of the finished item. So, I will also feature a few items this week with "real" spirits.

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