Monday, June 20, 2011

ChocolateBet: June 20, 2011

Chocolate of the Day: 

1 serving
Villa Dolce Gelato
Italian Kiss - Chocolate Hazelnut
Good + - Very Good
Weight: 1/2 cup (100 g.)/ 1 Quart total container
Calories: 200 calories
Cost: $ unavailable
Purchased from: Whole Foods, in Los Altos, CA

Today was Day #4 of Chocolate and Mediterranean Theme Week; and it was also very hot outside. Something cold was in order. Villa Dolce Gelato's (gluten free) Italian Kiss Chocolate Hazelnut gelato was a good choice.

The packaging for this plastic tub of gelato -- decorated on top with bits of hazelnut and a light drizzling of chocolate syrup -- was reminiscent of displays you'd see in a gelato shop (with side-by-side stainless steel rectangular pans filled with your favorite flavors of this frozen dessert). It was no surprise then to see that Villa Dolce, based in Van Nuys, CA, also sells gelato pans and other supplies.


ChocolateBet: June 19, 2011

Chocolate of the Day:

1 piece
Nosh This
Meyer Lemon Salted Caramel
Very Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) (estimate)
Calories: 150 calories (estimate)
Cost: 2 for $4; or box of 8 for $14
Purchased from: Nosh This, in San Francisco, CA

Today was Day #3 of Chocolate and Mediterranean Theme Week.

Citrus fruits are part of Mediterranean cuisine. And Meyer lemons are available in many parts of California, the state where I live. Nosh This (San Francisco) offers a Meyer Lemon Salted Caramel with tiny bits of what I'm fairly sure are lemon rind. These bits of rind provided wonderful lemon taste and texture to these salt caramels enveloped in chocolate.

I'm very grateful to live in an area with a Mediterranean-like climate; I have rosemary, lavender, citrus and other edible wonders in my small yard. Thank you also to neighbors who have generously offered to share some of their Meyer lemons over the years. 

ChocolateBet: June 18, 2011

Chocolate of the Day:

1/4 bar
Michael Mischer Chocolates
Pistachios (bar)
Very Good - Very Good +
Weight: .75 oz. (21.25 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) total bar
Calories:
Cost: $10.95 total bar
Purchased from: Michael Mischer Chocolates, Oakland, CA

Today was Day #2 of Chocolate and Mediterranean Theme Week, part 2.  (This past week there was a brief intermission between Mediterranean Week part 1 and part 2 -- in order to have a Chocolate and Bacon Theme Week.)

And, now we return to lovely items such as green pistachio nuts, that pair well with deep milk and darker chocolates in bar or bark form. The pistachios in this Michael Mischer bar are set into a smooth base of single origin Criollo 65% dark chocolate.

Several of Michael Mischer's line of designer bars are studded with nuts -- others contain salt, toffee or nibs and other flavors. If you visit Mischer's Oakland store, you can browse a long line of these bars (see photo above).
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