Mango Chile bar - May 31, 2013

Chocolate of the Day:

Casa de Chocolates
Chile Mango (bar)
Good - Good +
Weight: .25 oz. (7.07 g.) / 1.1 oz. (29 g.) (estimate) for 1 "mini" bar
Calories: 35 calories (estimate) for 1/4 oz. (7 g.) piece
Cost: $2.66 for 1 mini bar (3 for $8.00)
Purchased from: Casa de Chocolates, Berkeley, CA

Today was Day #7 of Chocolate and Mango Theme Week, and Day #2 of Spicy Chocolate Theme Week. (Sometimes theme weeks do overlap.)

Not too long ago, I picked up a few Latin-inspired chocolates from Casa de Chocolates (Berkeley, CA), including today's Chile Mango "mini" bar (also available in a larger 3 oz. size bar). (Photo of bar at right from Casa de Chocolates.)

Made with bits of dried spicy mango, the bar's 61% cacao was just dark enough to be interesting, but close enough to the "deep milk chocolate" percentage pool so as not to overwhelm subtle hints of mango and chile.

Inspired by chocolatier Arcelia Gallardo's chocolate creations at Casa de Chocolates, I roasted some chicken with spicy mango chutney with a dash of spicy cocoa powder and smoked salt. Nothing like a sweet and rich spicy alternative to barbecue sauce now and then. 

Mango Red Chili truffle - May 30, 2013

Chocolate of the Day:

Marco Paolo Chocolates
Mango Red Chili Gelee (truffle)
Good + - Very Good
Weight: .5 oz. (14.1 g.) (estimate) for 1 truffle
Calories: 75 calories (estimate) in 1 truffle
Cost: $ part of larger $25 (sale price) 9-piece box
Purchased from: Marco Paolo Chocolates, Van Nuys, CA

Today was Day #6 of Chocolate and Mango Theme Week, and Day #1 of Spicy Chocolate Theme Week.


This lovely Mango Red Chili truffle was part of a beautifully packaged, 9-piece "Sense Venture" assortment from Marco Paolo Chocolates (Van Nuys, CA). All 9 truffles in the box were different and featured great, layered flavor combinations. Today's Mango truffle had a tasty, sweet and almost savory, dark chocolate ganache infused with lime and habanero pepper. A layer of mango red chili gelee sat atop the ganache.

Layering ingredients in a slightly larger (taller) truffle like this was a great way to enjoy a complex flavor ride -- particularly when ingredients are fresh and well balanced like this.