Monday, April 30, 2012

ChocolateBet: April 30, 2012

Chocolate of the Day: 

ShaSha Co.
Cocoa and Vanilla Buckwheat Snack
Good - Good +
Weight: 1.5 oz. (42 g.) / 6 oz. (170 g.) total package/bag
Calories: 170 calories in 1.5 oz. serving
Cost: $4.99 total package/bag
Purchased from: Gluten Free Grocery, San Francisco, CA


This cocoa and vanilla flavored, probiotic and prebiotic, raw snack with buckwheat groats, almonds, sunflower seeds and dried fruits, was also gluten free.

The cocoa (organic cocoa powder) flavor in this mix from ShaSha Co. (Toronto, Canada) was subtle. These bite-sized pieces offered just the right blend of crunchy and chewy, and were surprisingly satisfying.

Sunday, April 29, 2012

ChocolateBet: April 29, 2012

Chocolate of the Day: 

Starbucks
Hot Cocoa - Toasted Marshmallow
Good - Good +
Weight: .1 oz. (2.8 g.) 1 sip/1 oz. (28 g.) single serving/total box of 8 envelopes
Calories: 11 calories (estimate) in 1 sip
Cost: $4.99 total box (sale price)
Purchased from: Safeway, Santa Clara, CA

Today was Day #7 of Chocolate Beverage Theme Week.

Starbucks sells a line of flavored hot cocoas, made "with ethically sourced cocoa." Good to know. Today's flavor: Toasted Marshmallow. The tiny, dehydrated, "handcrafted" marshmallow pieces plinked into my glass as I emptied the single-serving envelope. These bits revived with hot water (I did not use milk); however, I wasn't able to reanimate to their former, golden-brown toasted selves that were pictured on the box.

While the cocoa mix contained sugar as a first ingredient, it did not seem overly sweet -- a plus in my book. And the resulting cocoa was relatively rich and smooth as advertised, even without milk.

Saturday, April 28, 2012

ChocolateBet: April 28, 2012

Chocolate of the Day: 

Vosges
La Parisienne Couture Cocoa
Good +
Weight: 1.5 oz. (43 g.) total packet
Calories: 120 calories (estimate)
Cost: $ information not available
Purchased from: Vosges, Las Vegas, NV

Today was Day #6 of Chocolate Beverage Theme Week.

This single-serving packet of "pure dark chocolate" (65% cacao) and Madagascar vanilla bean pieces from Vosges (Chicago, IL).

This deep brown, silky brew was smooth and satisfying. The first ingredient listed on the mix: dark chocolate shavings. I refrained from gussying this cocoa up with a cinnamon stick or orange peel (suggestions on the packet), and sipped it straight up. 

Friday, April 27, 2012

ChocolateBet: April 27, 2012

Chocolate of the Day: 

Trader Joe's
Cocoa Powder - Unsweetened
Good - Good +
Weight: .26 oz. (7.5 g.) in 1.5 Tb. / 9 oz. (255 g.) total container
Calories: 30 calories in 1.5 Tablespoons
Cost: $2.29 total container
Purchased from: Trader Joe's, in Mountain View, CA

Today was Day #5 of Chocolate Beverage Week. I've been cutting back on sugar lately, so I opted to make a cocoa beverage from Trader Joe's unsweetened cocoa powder.

Provided you are patient and spend the required time stirring and dissolving this powder into your liquid or milk of choice, you should have minimal cocoa "sludge" at the bottom of your cup or mug. This cocoa powder was made from "100 percent Tamaco Cocoa beans," and had a slightly bitter taste; however, a swizzle of agave syrup can help transform this bittersweet beverage, into something just right -- not too sweet, but sweet enough.

Thursday, April 26, 2012

ChocolateBet: April 26, 2012


Chocolate of the Day: 

Mink Chocolates
Chai (bar)
Good + - Very Good
Weight: .176 oz. (5 g.) / 1.76 oz. (50 g.) total bar
Calories: 25 calories for 1/10th of a bar
Cost: $7.00 (estimate), including tax, shipping
Purchased from: Mink Chocolates, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Today was Day #4 of Chocolate Beverage Theme Week.

And today's beverage was a hot cup of chocolate chai, and a bite of  "Chai"- a dark chocolate bar from Mink Chocolates (Vancouver, B.C.), flavored with black tea, ginger, cinnamon, black pepper, cardamom, clove and star anise, in a dark chocolate ganache. No one flavor dominated; it was a very pleasing chai tea blend. The tea and spices in this 70% cacao bar were organically grown.

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

ChocolateBet: April 25, 2012

Chocolate of the Day:

Guayaki S.R.P.
Mate Chocolatte
Good +
Weight: 4 oz. cup; 1.41 oz. (40 g.) box of 16 bags
Calories: 54 calories (estimate)
Cost: $ info not available
Purchased from: Safeway

Today was Day #12 of Chocolate and Coconut Theme Week, and Day #3 of Chocolate Beverage Theme Week.

I made a hot cup of Guayaki Mate Chocolatte (Sebastopol, CA) -- with coconut milk -- from one of 16 tea bags in this box of organic, fair trade blend of rain forest grown yerba mate leaves; cocoa ("seed"), and spices (nutmeg, cinnamon, clove and stevia leaf). This Mate cacao offering contained some caffeine, theobromine and theophylline. But, it was interesting to try something different; and, I'm embarrassed to say, I enjoyed the pictures of the monkeys on the box.





Tuesday, April 24, 2012

ChocolateBet: April 24, 2012

Chocolate of the Day: 

Good Earth
Cocoa Chai Tea
+
Blue Diamond
Breeze - Almond Milk Coconut Milk Blend

Good + - Very Good
Weight: 6 fl. oz. (180 mL) cup
Calories: 34 calories
Cost: $ Multiple Items - $4.49 for box of tea
Purchased from: Piazza's Fine Foods, in Palo Alto, CA ; and Good Earth teas (online)

Today was Day #11 of Chocolate and Coconut Theme Week, and Day #2 of Chocolate Beverage Theme Week.

Is it possible to have milk and cookies, if you can't have dairy products or conventional wheat flour? Well, yes it is. The milk in this case was an Almond Coconut milk blend flavored with Good Earth Cocoa Chai Tea. And the cookies were gluten-free chocolate chip shortbread cookies (that will be featured in a future post). And all was right with the world. Milk and cookies are very reassuring comfort food items.


Monday, April 23, 2012

ChocolateBet: April 23, 2012

Chocolate of the Day:

Zico
Zico Chocolate - coconut water
Good - Good +
Weight: 1 fl. oz. (29 mL)/ 14 fl. oz. (414 mL) total bottle
Calories: 8 calories in 1 oz.
Cost: info not available
Purchased from: info not available


This gluten-free, dairy-free chocolate "milk" from Zico (El Segundo, CA) may fool you. It has a sweet, rich taste, but is lower in calories, fat and sugar than you'd think. Coconut milk also contains more iron and minerals than many other milk substitutes.

Today was Day #10 of Chocolate and Coconut Theme Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate Beverage Theme Week.


Sunday, April 22, 2012

ChocolateBet: April 22, 2012


Chocolate of the Day: 

Manischewitz
Mint Chocolate Macaroons
OK + - Good
Weight: .44 oz. (12.5 g.)/ 10 oz. (284 g.) total container
Calories: 55 calories for 1 small macaroon
Cost: $ information not available
Purchased from: Safeway, in Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #9 of Chocolate and Coconut Theme Week.

Made with unsulfured coconut, and a heavy dose of sugar, these cocoa-colored gems represented the last in a series of new macaroon flavor trials this week. When I lifted open the foil tab on this container, I was greeted with a mint smell, with hint of cocoa and coconut, that was a bit stronger/more manufactured than what I'd expect from natural mint. However, these Manischewitz Mint Chocolate Macaroons were clearly labeled "Artificially Flavored," so this was not a great surprise.

Tomorrow: a coconut and cocoa drink -- to usher in Chocolate Beverage Theme Week.


Saturday, April 21, 2012

ChocolateBet: April 21, 2012


Chocolate of the Day:


Gefen
Chip de Chocolate
Macaroon Classics
Good - Good +
Weight: .5 oz. (14.1 g.) / 10 oz. (284 g.) total container
Calories: 70 calories for 1 macaroon
Cost: $ info not available
Purchased from: Safeway, in Palo Alto, CA

Some theme week ideas on this site bubble over beyond a seven-day week. Thus, it was the case for this chocolate and coconut themed week. Who knew there were this many different flavors/permutations of macaroons? Today was Day #8 of Chocolate and Coconut Theme Week.

These gluten-free, Gefen Chip de Chocolate macaroons (Brooklyn, NY) were made from sulfite free coconut, invert sugar, and more sugar, egg whites, potato starch and chocolate chips. While these were, like many macaroons, on the sweet side, I did enjoy biting into the chocolate chips.


Friday, April 20, 2012

ChocolateBet: April 20, 2012

Chocolate of the Day:

Manischewitz
Rocky Road Macaroons
Good+
Weight: 1.76 oz. (50 g.)/ 10 oz. (284 g.) total container
Calories: 220 calories in 4 small macaroons
Cost: $ info not available
Purchased from: Safeway, in Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #7 of Chocolate and Coconut Theme Week. This means....more macaroons! These little coconut cookies seem to be available in many more flavors recently.

Today's sugar sweet, lactose free, Rocky Road Macaroons from Manischewitz (Newark, NJ) were made from (unsulphured) coconut, chocolate chips, cashews, and dutched cocoa, with tiny bits of what looked to be marshmallow bits.



Thursday, April 19, 2012

ChocolateBet: April 19, 2012


Chocolate of the Day: 

Edna's
Triple Chocolate Coconut Macaroons
Good +
Weight: 1.33 oz. (37.6 g.)/ 8 oz. (226 g.) total container
Calories: 172 calories (estimate) in 1 macaroon
Cost: $6.99 total container of 6 macaroons
Purchased from: Piazza's Fine Foods, in Palo Alto, CA

The fantasies of coconut palm populated islands, surrounded by impossibly white sand and turquoise blue water continued today, with Edna's Triple Chocolate Coconut Macaroons. Generous in size, and large on (unsulphured) flaked coconut taste, these macs contained semi-sweet chocolate chips, cocoa, and a drizzle of semisweet chocolate topping.

ChocolateBet: April 18, 2012

 Chocolate of the Day:

Tropical Valley Foods
Next Organics
Dark Chocolate Coconut
Good +
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) / 4 oz. (113 g.) total package
Calories: 125 calories (estimate)
Cost: $5.99 total package
Purchased from: Gluten Free Grocery, in San Francisco, CA

These thick strips of coconut (from Haiti), covered in (70% cacao) dark chocolate, from Tropical Valley Foods (Plattsburgh, NY), maintained a strong sense of original coconut flavor, shape and chewy texture.

These organic, smile-shaped treats were made with no additives or preservatives, although the chocolate did have some soy lecithin -- likely used to give the chocolate a smooth texture.

Today was Day #5 of Chocolate and Coconut Theme Week.

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

ChocolateBet: April 17, 2012


Chocolate of the Day:

Food On Purpose
Choco Roonies
Good
Weight: .5 oz. (14.1 g.) (estimate)/ 3 oz. (85 g.) total package
Calories: 70 calories (estimate)
Cost: $6.99 total package/bag
Purchased from: Gluten Free Grocery, in San Francisco, CA

Today was Day #4 of Chocolate and Coconut Theme Week.
Since I believe in a balanced diet, I had one Choco Roonie and one "Bird In The Nest" -- both diminutive raw macaroons from Food On Purpose (Santa Fe, New Mexico). These mostly organic, gluten free, dairy free bite-sized coconut treats were sweetened using agave rather than refined sugars.

The Choco Roonie macaroon was a wee bit dry, but good; and it contained a barely detectable pinch of maca powder and Celtic sea salt.

The Bird in the Nest macaroon (seen stacked on top of the Choco Roonie in picture at right) was made with raspberries and coconut, and contained no chocolate. It was quite good -- not too sweet, a quality I always appreciate.


Monday, April 16, 2012

ChocolateBet: April 16, 2012

Chocolate of the Day: 

Alter Eco
Dark Coconut Toffee Organic Chocolate bar
Good + - Very Good
Weight: 1.128 oz. (32 g.)/ 2.82 oz. (80 g.) total bar
Calories: 168 calories
Cost: $3.99 total bar
Purchased from: Whole Foods, in Los Altos, CA

This Dark Coconut Toffee (47% cocoa) Organic Chocolate bar from Alter Eco (San Francisco, CA) was well liked by friends and family. Made with bits of dried coconut, raw cane sugar, and a touch of butter and sea salt rounded off things nicely.


I gave extra points to Alter Eco's work with cacao cooperatives in South America. This chocolate originated from "organic trees in the Peruvian Amazon." This Fair Trade, GMO free bar was made with milk, but "no soy or gluten ingredients," artificial flavors or emulsifiers.

Also extra points for the monkey hanging onto the UPC code on the back of the package because, what the heck, I just like monkeys.

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


Sunday, April 15, 2012

ChocolateBet: April 15, 2012

Chocolate of the Day: 

Jennies Gluten Free Bakery
Chocolate Sugar Free Macaroons
Good++
Weight: .56 oz. (16 g.) / 8 oz. (226 g.) total container
Calories: 70 calories in 1 macaroon
Cost: $ close-out sale price
Purchased from: Andronicos, Palo Alto, CA (now closed)

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

These Chocolate Sugar Free Macaroons, from Jennies Gluten Free Bakery (Moosic, PA), were free of a number of things (lactose, wheat, gluten, casein, soy), but packed with surprisingly good taste and texture.

I enjoyed the fresh coconut taste of these macaroons, and a slight, but very appealing, crunchiness from flax seeds/meal. Sweetened with maltitol (a type of sugar alcohol), I detected no artificial flavor that I've experienced with some other sugar free products.


Saturday, April 14, 2012

ChocolateBet: April 14, 2012

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

1.) Mars, Incorporated
Dark Chocolate MandM's - Bunny Mix
Good
Weight: .5 oz. (14.1 g.) / 12.6 oz. (357.2 g.) total package
Calories: 69.3 calories
Cost: Alas, this information is lost to history
Purchased from: ...this info bit also remains unfound 

Today's chocolates evoke Spring holidays of yesterweek.

First, unearthed just in time from the chocolate vault, were these Easter-leaning dark chocolate, Bunny MandM's from Mars, festively dressed in pastel-colored shells. Some were decorated with tiny sheep, chicks and rabbits using the famous "m" as part of the motif.

Oops, not quite. Easter was last weekend, and these were from last Easter. But, no matter. This "Bunny Mix" was well preserved. A cautionary note: to those wanting to avoid extra helpings of milk sugar, these dark chocolate MandM's do contain lactose, and milkfat.

And now, a word from the cacao ghost of Passover past. In a word: macaroons.

2.) Manischewitz
Chocolate Almond Macaroons
Good +
Weight: .1 oz. (2.8 g.) / 10 oz. (284 g.) total container
Calories: 12 calories (estimate)
Cost: ?
Purchased from: Safeway, in Palo Alto, CA

For the second chocolate of the day, I indulged in more big M and Ms -- in the form of Manischewitz Macaroons -- Chocolate Almond (unsulfured coconut) macaroons, to be precise. L'Chaim! (To Life!). Yes! However, please note: this batch of macaroons contained gluten (matzo meal), so I was limited to tasting a very tiny bite. I'm assuming the "almond" flavoring may have been added, since there were no visible pieces of almond in these tiny, chocolate-hued treats.

Today was Day #1 of Chocolate and Coconut Theme Week.


Friday, April 13, 2012

ChocolateBet: April 13, 2012

Chocolate of the Day:

Xocolatl de David
Olive Oil bar
Good + - Very Good
Weight: 2.2 oz. (62 g.) total bar
Calories: 330 calories (estimate)
Cost: $8.95 total bar
Purchased from: Fog City News, in San Francisco, CA

Chocolate is highly mixable. Olive oil is another great mixer. Combine the two, and what do you get?

The result may not quite as popular as peanut butter + chocolate, but it's still smooth and satisfying. Xocolatl de David (Portland, OR) has blended a darkish chocolate 68% cacao (Bolivia) bar with extra virgin olive oil, and a touch of butter and fleur de sel (salt). What's not to like?

Now, if only the company's Chicharrones bar wasn't out of stock...


Thursday, April 12, 2012

ChocolateBet: April 12, 2012


Chocolate of the Day: 

Askinosie Chocolate
San Jose Del Tombo bar
Good +
Weight: .5 oz. (14.1 g.)/ 3 oz. (85 g.) total bar
Calories: 72 calories
Cost: $9.00 total bar
Purchased from: The Chocolate Garage, in Palo Alto, CA

This farmer-forward, 70% dark chocolate bar from Askinosie Chocolate (Springfield, Missouri), broke with a hard snap. And chocolate was smooth and rich, with a relatively tame flavor arc -- without any strong acidic, or harsh notes.

Askinosie Chocolate founder and chocolate maker, Shawn Askinosie, stresses "real people, real places" -- and the picture you'll see on this package is a likeness of Vitaliano Saravia, who "helped gather and ferment the cocoa beans" in Ecuador for this bar (Lot #052511, made with Arriba Nacional variety cacao beans).

Last, but not least, I do like the letter tile mold for Askinosie bars. One day I'll purchase enough bars to play a game of chocolate scrabble with a few fellow chocolate lovers.

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

ChocolateBet: April 11, 2012

Chocolate of the Day:

Donnelly Chocolates
Chinese Five Spice bar
Good - Good +
Weight: .4 oz. (11.25 g.) / 1.6 oz. (45 g.) total bar
Calories: 58 calories (estimate)
Cost: $6.25 total bar (estimate)
Purchased from: Fog City News, San Francisco, CA


This beautifully wrapped Five Spice bar with a hard snap was crafted by Donnelly Chocolates (Santa Cruz, CA). Chinese Five Spice is a combination of, you guessed it, five spices, typically: powdered star anise, cloves, cinnamon, Sichuan pepper and ground fennel seeds (with occasional variations that might include anise seed, ginger root, or cassia bark).

I'd like to fiddle around with the spices to see if I could come up with a favorite blend of two or more of these. Five different flavors made for an interesting mix with this dark chocolate bar, but was almost too much.

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

ChocolateBet: April 10, 2012

Chocolate of the Day: 

Kika's Treats
Dark Chocolate Covered Rice Cake Bites
Good+
Weight: 2 oz. (56 g.) / 4 oz. (113 g.)/ total package
Calories: 200 calories (estimate)

Cost: $6.00 total container
Purchased from: Kika's Treats, in San Francisco, CA

These glossy, dark chocolate covered, gluten-free beauties from Kika's Treats (San Francisco) were some of the better rice cakes I've eaten lately. Dark chocolate can do that.

 

ChocolateBet: April 9, 2012

Chocolate of the Day: 

The Plant Cafe Organic
Raw Brownie Bite
Very Good
Weight: .5 oz. (14.1 g.) (estimate)
Calories: 75 calories (estimate)
Cost: $1.75?
Purchased from: The Plant Cafe Organic, Embarcadero location, San Francisco, CA

As part of a walk along the waterfront in San Francisco today, I stopped at TCHO (S.F. chocolate maker) and also at The Plant Cafe Organic.

The Plant Cafe specializes in healthy, and local, organic food. Their menu offered several gluten-free items -- including a raw brownie, and its diminutive cousin, the raw brownie bit/bite-sized square. Thank you to the staff member who pointed out the smaller version. It was the perfect dessert item to follow a great chicken salad I picked up there.

This smooth, creamy, bite-sized chocolatey square, that was sweetened with agave, and also contained finely chopped dates, had a slight coconut taste, and was very satisfying.

Sunday, April 8, 2012

The Granada Chocolate Company - Salty-Licious bar - April 8, 2012

Chocolate of the Day: 

The Grenada Chocolate Company
Salty-Licious bar - Himalayan salt in 71% chocolate
Very Good
Weight: .5 oz. (14.1 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.)/ total bar
Calories: 72 calories
Cost: $6.00 total bar
Purchased from: The Chocolate Garage, in Palo Alto, CA

Today's organic dark chocolate "Salty-Licious" bar from The Grenada Chocolate Company (Hermitage, St. Patrick, Grenada) was rich, and almost sparkled with complex flavors -- with notes including what I can only describe as "jungle" and light, fragrant tobacco.

Made with Himalayan salt -- a version of this bar made with Caribbean sea salt may be available in the future.

The Salty-Licious bar was made from Grenadian Trinitario cocoa beans -- tree to bar -- in country, by a cooperative of farmers. Solar energy helps power the factory.

Today was Day #9 of Chocolate and Salt Theme Week. 

ChocolateBet: April 7, 2012

Chocolate of the Day:

Petits Carres au Chocolat/P'tit Carre au Chocolat
(Imported by Desirs de Provence)
Chocolat au Lait - Fleur de Sel de Guerande
Good - Good +
Weight: .31 oz. (8.8 g.) / 2.82 oz. (80 g.) total bar
Calories: 46.5 calories (estimate)
Cost: $9.95 total bar
Purchased from: TWG Tea, Vancouver, B.C., Canada

Today was Day #8 of Chocolate and Salt Week. This Petits Carres au Chocolat, milk chocolate (33%) with Guerande sea salt* bar from France, was attractively packaged and designed -- with a wrapped in burlap look. Salt was sprinkled on the back of the bar. The chocolate itself was smooth, but the cacao flavor(s) were diluted a bit from the powdered milk, soy lecithin, vanilla and aroma ingredients.

*Guerande sea salt comes from a salt marsh region in Western France (peninsula area on Atlantic coast), in a protected area, where salt has been collected centuries.
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