John and Kira's - Chocolate Figs - Oct. 30, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

John and Kira's
Chocolate Figs
Very Good +
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) total box of 6 figs
Calories: 135 calories (estimate) for 2 figs
Cost: $ N/A - part of larger "tower" (combination of boxes)
Purchased from: John and Kira's (online order)

Today was Day #5 of Chocolate, Date and/or Fig Theme Week.

Any dessert item that blends figs + chocolate + cream + whiskey (or sherry, or port) is one I'd hasten to try. (Add a pinch or either vanilla or cinnamon, and I might float away into the heavens momentarily.) So, no surprise, I loved these Chocolate Figs from John and Kira's (Philadelphia, PA).

The company started with imported, organic dried Calabacita (little pumpkin) figs from a small family farm in Spain, and filled them with a smooth chocolate, whiskey-infused dark chocolate (Valrhona) ganache (filling). The final step: figs were dipped up to their necks in 62% dark chocolate. Just two of these were surprisingly rich and satisfying and would make a great end-of-meal dessert.

JohnAndKiras.com

These pumpkin shaped chocolate figs also reminded me of all the pumpkins and carved jack-o-lanterns I've been seeing in my neighborhood this week. Tomorrow is Halloween, one of the biggest chocolate holidays of the year in the U.S. Happy Halloween Eve to all.

Note: John and Kira's was also selling a box of seasonal chocolate pumpkin caramels this month -- one option was to order a box of these in a coach (reminiscent of Cinderella's enchanted coach that turned into a pumpkin at midnight). Image at left, from John and Kira's website.

Kimmie - DateMe's chocolates - Oct. 29, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Kimmie Candy Company
DateMe's
OK+ - Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2.7 oz. (76.5 g.) total container
Calories: 150 calories (estimate) in 1 oz. (28.3 g.) serving
Cost: $2.50 for 1 container
Purchased from: Visitors Center, Incline Village, NV

Today was Day #4 of Chocolate, Date and/or Fig Theme Week.

These DateMe's -- chocolatey covered, candy-coated, date pieces -- from Kimmie Candy Company (Reno, NV) were "Made in Nevada" proud. I bought these at a visitor's center in Lake Tahoe recently.

Gluten-free, these DateMe's were crunchy and crisp in a way that most wheat-free/wafer-free chocolate candy items usually aren't, which was nice. The dates provided a bit of extra fruity sweetness, making this candy a bit too sweet overall for me; however, this will be fine for some.

The glossy, beige rounds were attractively speckled with brown (like little round eggs), and might look attractive in a small serving dish, or an edible nest.