Have a Ball Chocolate Factory
1.) Numb Nuts - Hot Buffalo
Good
Weight: 0.10 oz. (2.8 g.) / 4 oz. (114 g.) total package
Calories: 15 calories (estimate)
Cost: $6.99 for 1 packagePurchased from: Have a Ball Chocolate Factory, Kealakekua, HI
2.) Numb Nuts - Wassssssabi
Good +
Weight: 0.10 oz. (2.8 g.) / 4 oz. (114 g.) total package
Calories: 15 calories (estimate)
Cost: $6.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: Have a Ball Chocolate Factory, Kealakekua, HI
Today was Day #4 of Chocolate and Umami or Bacon Theme Week, and this afternoon I focused on a range of umami-rich nut and spicy seasoning combinations from the Kona, Hawaii area.
The first two items came from the Have a Ball Chocolate Factory (that also carries coffee, Donkey Balls, Boar Balls, Monkey Balls, and, well you get the picture). I was excited about this company's dark chocolate covered peanuts with wasabi. Part of a "Numb Nuts" spicy chocolate covered nut line, today's two Numb Nuts packages were adorned with a crazed-looking squirrel, holding a flaming nut.
I enjoyed the wasabi and peanut flavors. However, after the first bite, I realized these contained wheat flour, something I can't eat.
So I moved on to the second flavor of Numb Nuts that I purchased: Hot Buffalo -- dark chocolate covered peanuts with Buffalo sauce. These were off-the-chart spicy hot. I suggest taking a small bite first. (Note: Warning sticker on the front of the package read: "Up to 350,000 Scoville Units.") Translation: very hot.
Four Seasons Inspired Bar Nuts
The Four Seasons in Hualalai on the Big Island of Hawaii is worth a visit. The offerings (including specially made bread) on their gluten free menu were the best I've ever tasted. With this recent visit in mind, I loved finding a recipe purported to be for the bar nuts at this resort.
I made my own version of this recipe with smoked macadamia nuts, and coated these (as well as pecans, cashews, almonds, walnuts, etc.) with butter, brown sugar, cajun seasoning, salt, smoked cumin, paprika, chili powder, and cayenne pepper.Probably unwise to mess with a wonderful bar nut recipe like this, but if you're feeling creative:
Add a pinch of Hawaiian cacao nibs for a bittersweet accent. Or, for an umami-rich topping, try shreds of seaweed (nori) with brown sugar (from Annie Chun).
