Compartes Chocolatier - Meyer Lemon Lavender truffle - Nov. 24, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Compartes Chocolatier
Meyer Lemon Lavender
Good + - Very Good
Weight: unknown
Calories: 58 calories (estimate) for 1 truffle
Cost: $25.00 for 10-piece assortment box
Purchased from: Compartes Chocolatier, Los Angeles, CA

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

Chocolate is an "alpha" flavor that can bury timid tasting playmates. So, I celebrated Jonathan Grahm's bold but balanced truffles. Timid they are not. Grahm is the chocolatier behind Compartes Chocolatier (Los Angeles, CA).

Jonathan's 10-piece Signature Collection is a good introduction to Compartes Chocolatier's bright and beautiful line-up. Today's Meyer Lemon Lavender truffle, stenciled across the top with lavender-colored butterflies, had just the natural tasting Meyer lemon + lavender floral punch I wanted.

My only quibble: the 10-piece Signature Collection box was a good sampler, but I would have liked the option to pick my own flavors. (Also, understandably, some intriguing flavors are seasonal and/or may not be available year-round.) I do hope to try the Cactus and other truffles in the future. I'm betting an in-person visit to the company's storefront shop in L.A. might allow for some of these options.

Flour Craft Bakery - Nov. 23, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Flour Craft Bakery
Flourless Chocolate Walnut Fudgies
Good +
Weight: unknown
Calories: unknown
Cost: $6.00 for 1 bag of 2 cookies
Purchased from: Flour Craft Bakery, San Anselmo, CA

Today was Day #1 of Chocolate and Flower Theme Week -- in which I had some fun with flourless, flours, and flowers.

Flour Craft Bakery (San Anselmo, CA) makes gluten-free baked goods, and I picked up some of their fresh-baked Flourless Chocolate Walnut Fudgies (cookies) and their gluten-free Lemon and Lavender madeleines at the Marin Civic Center Farmers Market recently. (I'm saving the Salted Butter Chocolate Chip cookies for next week.) These treats made a great cookie plate with tea.

The Flourless Fudgies were especially good -- a fudgier, richer version of a chocolate meringue cookie. Fresh-tasting, baked walnut pieces provided delicious nutty taste and texture and helped balance the sweetness.

The Lemon and Lavender madeleines were subtlely flavored and fun. It was the first time I'd seen gluten-free versions of these traditional shell-shaped, not-quite cakes not-quite cookies. They were wonderful with Lemon and Earl Grey Lavender teas (and I suspect they would make great companions with any tea).