Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Ethereal - Black Cherry Lemonade bar - Dec. 31, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Ethereal Confections
66% Cacao Black Cherry Lemonade bar
Good +
Weight:  1.155 oz. (33 g.) / 3.5 oz. (99 g.) in total bar
Calories: 174 calories (estimate) in 1/3 bar
Cost: $7.50 for 1 bar
Purchased from: online order (from Ethereal Confections)

Happy New Year's Eve to all.

Today was Day #7 of Chocolate and Lemon Theme Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate and Cherry Theme Week. Flavor additions like cherry and lemon are perfect to perk up the colder, grayer days of winter. (This week I'm hoping that our freezing temperatures don't damage Meyer Lemon and other fruit trees in the area.)

The 66% Cacao "Filled with Black Cherry Lemonade Creamy Center" bar from Ethereal Confections (Woodstock, IL) contained just enough tart fruit flavor to give this bar a subtle lift, without any sugar overload.

The way ingredients were incorporated in this dairy and gluten-free, handcrafted "meltaway" bar showed why Ethereal chocolate makers and chocolatiers, Mary and Sara Ervin, deserve a little extra praise.

The black cherry notes came from black cherry balsamic vinegar, and the hint of subtle citrus was from lemon olive oil.

A bit of added coconut oil helped boost the already creamy smoothness of the base chocolate. (The organic chocolate base was made from cocoa beans, cane sugar, cocoa butter and soy lecithin. )






Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Madecasse - 70% dark chocolate bar - Dec. 30, 2014

Chocolate of the Day:

Madecasse
75% dark chocolate bar
Good
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 132 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $ part of a larger order
Purchased from: (online order, part of pack of bars)

Today was Day #7 of Chocolate and Lemon Theme Week, in which I'm pairing two opposites: a small, dark chocolate bar with three tiny lemon macaroons.

The dark chocolate in question was a 75% cocoa bar made "bean-to-bar in Madagascar" from Madecasse (with locations in Ambanja and Antananarivo in Madagascar, and in Brooklyn, NY).  It was a bar I'd had in my chocolate vault for a while, part of a Madecasse, single origin small bar assortment.

This bar had bold dark, earthy fermented flavor -- an unlikely partner for the sunny, but not too sweet, Mini Lemon Pie Coco-Roons from Wonderfully Raw (Watsonville, CA). One could melt chocolate and drizzle over said little lemon beauties (made with coconut and almond flours and lightly sweetened with maple syrup); however, this dark and light coupling seemed to work best when the two were eaten in alternating bites.

I would liken this pairing experience to adding a bit of lemon peel to a shot of espresso. It works in an unexpected, complementary way.


Monday, December 29, 2014

Spicely Organics - Lemon Tarragon chocolate - Dec. 29, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Spicely Organics
Lemon Tarragon
Good
Weight: 1.415 oz. (20 g.) / 3 oz. (84 g.) in total container
Calories: 209 calories (estimate) in 20 g. serving
Cost: $11.00 (estimate) for 1 tin of chocolates
Purchased from: Country Sun, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate and Lemon Theme Week.

Today's tin of Lemon Tarragon disc-shaped, 60% dark chocolates from Spicely Organics (Fremont, CA) seemed like a natural outgrowth of the company's core business -- spices and herbs.

Smooth, almost creamy, dark, organic, kosher and gluten-free chocolate discs were infused with a blend of organic tarragon (described as having a "peppery anise" flavor) and organic lemon peel to add a hint of bright citrus.

I only wish I could've tasted the tarragon or the lemon. For those wanting only very subtle flavor infusions, this chocolate might be fine. However, I might be hard pressed to identify anything but chocolate in a blind taste test; and I was really looking forward to these flavor notes.

Other spice-infused chocolates in the Spicely Organic Chocolate line-up include allspice, mint, chai and Herbs de Provence flavored chocolates.



Sunday, December 28, 2014

Caffarel - Cioccolato e Limoncello - Dec. 28, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Caffarel
Cioccolato e Limoncello
Good
Weight: 1.13 oz. (32 g.) (estimate) in 2 pieces
Calories: 169 calories (estimate) in 2 pieces
Cost: $2.60 for 2 pieces
Purchased from: Jacuzzi Family Vineyards, Sonoma, CA

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

These Cioccolato e Limoncello liqueur chocolates from Caffarel (Italy) came attractively packaged -- individually wrapped with a twist. A dark chocolate shell contained a soft, sunny yellow, Limoncello filling.

The limoncello (an Italian lemon infused liqueur) filling was fairly authentic tasting, but without a strong alcohol flavor.





Saturday, December 27, 2014

Charles Chocolates - Candied Lemon Hazelnut bar - Dec. 27, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Charles Chocolates
Candied Lemon and Hazelnut bar
Good +
Weight: 1.41 oz. (40 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 209 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: N/A - gift
Purchased from: N/A - gift

This chunky, small Candied Lemon and Hazelnut bar from Charles Chocolates (San Francisco, CA) was made with 41% milk chocolate, hazelnuts, generous strips of candied lemon -- and pistachios, sultanas and pine nuts for extra nut and fruit flavor.

The Candied Lemon bar is part of Charles Chocolates' Mendiant Bar Collection. (There is also a Candied Valencia (orange) and Almond bar.)

Today was Day #4 of Chocolate and Lemon Theme Week.




Friday, December 26, 2014

Lemon Lavender Bar, Giraudi Nugatelli - Dec. 26, 2014

Chocolates of the Day:

(Homemade bar)
Lemon Lavender chocolate bar
Good +
Weight: 3 oz. (84.9 g.) (estimate) in 1 bar
Calories: 450 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $ N/A - various
Purchased from: N/A - various

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

This homemade, lemon lavender bar was made from 4 chocolate sources (3 dark + 1 milk) and poured into a Christmas holiday mold (thus the Season's Greetings and other word imprints).

The bar contained small chunks of gluten-free lemon cookie crumbs, lemon infused sugar, lemon zest, and crushed lavender buds -- lemon products recently made using a friend's giant lemons. (Thank you Elisa!)

Interestingly enough, the sugar crystals stayed intact and sunk to the bottom (or top) depending on your view/preference. I developed a respect for the ability to evenly distributed inclusions with this bar. It is not as easy as it looks.

I really liked the lemon and lavender flavor, but the texture left something to be desired. Very edible, but might have been smoother if precise tempering rules had been applied.

Because this bar was composed of chocolates I'd already tried recently, I also chose two pieces of Giraudi (Italy) Nugatelli chocolate that I had not tasted yet.

Giraudi
Cioccolatini Nugatelli
1.) Gold foil - Good ++
2.) Red foil - Good ++ - Very Good

These gold and red-foil wrapped Giraudi (Italian) Cioccolatini Nugatelli come in 4 different flavors: torroncino (nougat), gianduja (gianduja), nocciola (nutty), and croccantino al rhum (crunchy rum). Covered with dark chocolate, the creamy-crumbly centers contained bits of hazelnut and/or cookie and other flavorings.

I took only small bites, as it was unclear which flavor was which, and whether the "crispy" portion contained wheat (which I can't eat) or not. However, I enjoyed flavorful bites of both flavors very much.

Consumption of these items was followed by a walk, to help compensate for lots of great holiday food this week.

Ritter Sport - Coffee and Hazelnuts bar - Dec. 25, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Ritter Sport
Coffee and Hazelnuts bar
Good ++
Weight: .875 oz. (25 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 131 calories (estimate) in 1/4 bar
Cost: $2.99 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Crossroads Specialty Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Merry Christmas to all who celebrate this festive Winter holiday.

Today was the last of Chocolate and Hazelnut Theme Week, and as I transitioned to Day #2 of Chocolate and Lemon Theme Week.

I enjoy a small shot of decaf espresso with lemon peel now and then. Lemon + Chocolate + Coffee can be great together in the right proportions. I tested that theory with today's holiday "Winter Edition" Coffee and Hazelnuts bar from Ritter Sport (Germany), with the picture of the white sugar cube "snowman" on the front.

No snow here in California where I live, but we do have lemon trees and access to gluten free lemon baked goods. So I paired this bar with a tasty, gluten-free Limoncello cupcake (from Ginger and Fox Bake Shop, Valencia, CA), and some hot lemon leaf tea.

One could also try melting part of this smooth, coffee infused chocolate bar with chopped hazelnut bits into cup shapes and fill said cups with lemon different fillings (lemon curd, lemon panna cotta, lemon zest, etc.).

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Moonstruck Chocolate - Dark Chocolate Rocky Road Santa - Dec. 24, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Moonstruck Chocolate Co.
Dark Chocolate Rocky Road Santa Claus
Good ++
Weight: 2.5 oz. (70.75 g.) / 3.35 oz. (95 g.) in total package
Calories: 375 calories (estimate) in 2.5 oz. (70.75 g.) portion
Cost: N/A - gift (thank you Toni!)
Purchased from: N/A - gift



Today was Day #7 of Chocolate and Hazelnut Theme Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate and Lemon Theme Week. (My theme weeks often overlap, especially when/if there is a promising seasonal or flavor triad like today.)

A red night shirt I used to have many years ago read: "Dear Santa, I want it all." Well, when it comes to chocolate, and many other things, I certainly have an abundant life indeed and feel very grateful this year to be able to celebrate this holiday season with friends and family.

The fresh-tasting, Dark Chocolate Rocky Road Santa Claus from Moonstruck Chocolate Co. (Portland, OR) was a perfect centerpiece for the lemon and hazelnut cookie plate to be left out near the fireplace for the Big Man to arrive this evening. It was loaded with little marshmallows and bits of pecan, as could be seen from the back view (pictured at right).

Happy Christmas Eve to all who celebrate. Hope you're all snug and warm.


Schogetten - Milk Chocolate with Hazelnuts - Dec. 23, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Ludwig Schokolade GmbH and Co. KG
(a member of the Kruger Group)
Schogetten - Alpine Milk Chocolate with Hazelnuts
Good ++
Weight: 1.378 oz. (39 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total package of 18 pieces
Calories: 224 calories in 7-piece serving
Cost: $ unknown (lost receipt)
Purchased from: Crossroads Specialty Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #6 of Chocolate and Hazelnut Theme Week, and time for a German chocolate + hazelnut blend.

This "Schogetten - Alpine Milk Chocolate with Hazelnuts" offering was from Ludwig Schokolade (a member of the Kruger Group, based in Germany).

Unlike many bars that are scored in a rectangular pattern that can be broken off into rectangular pieces, this milk chocolate with hazelnut product came packaged as 18 separate squares tightly nestled together in a bar shaped wrapper, making it easier to share with others.

The milk chocolate squares were smooth and quite good; bits of hazelnuts added the right amount of crunchy texture and flavor.





Monday, December 22, 2014

Charles Chocolates - Salty-Sweet Hazelnut bar - Dec. 22, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Charles Chocolates
Salty-Sweet Hazelnut bar
Good + - Very Good
Weight: .975 oz. (28 g.) / 3.9 oz. (112 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 146 calories (estimate) in 1/4 bar
Cost: $7.95 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Calafia Cafe and Market A-Go-Go, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate and Hazelnut Theme Week.

Charles Chocolates founder, Chuck (Charles) Siegel, used to have a location in Emeryville, CA, where I visited about four years ago. I remember the filled chocolate butterflies and a great tea-infused chocolate collection. The newer location is in the Mission district of San Francisco. I look forward to trying new chocolates there soon.

In the meantime, I was was able to purchase today's smartphone-sized, Salty-Sweet Hazelnut Bar - 65% Bittersweet Chocolate bar, that was nice and fresh, from a local Cafe and Market, that carries a small, high-turnover inventory of chocolates.

Freshness is very important for all foods, and because chocolate bars can have a long shelf life, some bars with inclusions lose their freshness if they sit too long; or nuts can taste stale. Not true with this bar. Whole hazelnuts were perfectly roasted and covered with a "meringue of Fleur de Sel and sugar," helping to seal in fresh nut taste and crunchy texture, and giving them an extra burst of salty and sweet flavor.

The 65% chocolate base that covered the nuts had a slightly creamy texture and authentic, smooth bittersweet flavor.

Sunday, December 21, 2014

Roshen - Dark Chocolate with Hazelnuts bar - Dec. 21, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Roshen Confectionery Corporation
Extra Dark Chocolate with Hazel-Nuts bar
Good - Good +
Weight: 1.48 oz. (42 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 239 calories (estimate) in 5 "bars"/pieces of bar
Cost: $2.19 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Crossroads Specialty Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #4 of Chocolate and Hazelnut Theme Week.

Thanks to the Crossroads Specialty Foods market in our area, that carries foodstuffs from Eastern Europe, I found an Extra Dark Chocolate with Whole Hazelnuts bar from Roshen Confectionery Corporation (Ukraine).

This bar contained whole roasted hazelnuts in a dark chocolate bar base: a simple and compelling flavor combination whether in the Ukraine of the U.S.A.


Saturday, December 20, 2014

Caffarel - Nocciolotto bar - Dec. 20, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Caffarel
(a subsidiary of Lindt and Sprungli)
Nocciolotto bar
Good ++
Weight: 1.4 oz. (40 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 210 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $3.50 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Jacuzzi Family Vineyards, Sonoma, CA

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

I enjoyed this "curvy" Nocciolotto bar from Caffarel (Luserna San Giovanni, Italy) with
"whole crunchy hazelnuts covered with... Gianduia chocolate."

Gianduia or gianduja is a creamy chocolate and hazelnut blend that evolved into spreads and fillings for chocolates and confections.

Caffarel ("Eccellenza Piemontese") was founded in the 1800s in Turin -- in the piedmont (foot of the mountains) region of northern Italy. This is the area where great gianduja* was born. And Caffarel helped make it so. More recently Caffarel became a subsidiary of Lindt and Sprungli (Switzerland).






Friday, December 19, 2014

La Suissa - Cioccolato Nocciole bar - Dec. 19, 2014

Chocolate of the Day:

La Suissa s.r.l.
Cioccolato puro al Latte con pregiate Nocciole
(Milk Chocolate Hazelnut bar)
Good +
Weight: 1.16 oz. (33 g.) in 2 "bars" / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 180 calories (estimate) in 2 "bars" of bar
Cost: $4.95 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Jacuzzi Family Vineyards, Sonoma, CA

Today was Day #2 of Chocolate and Hazelnut Theme Week. Last week was Chocolates in Toyland Week -- a good match for the holidays, filled with chocolates snug in their seasonal foils*.

However, I've been looking forward to this natural pairing of chocolate with these round, wonderful nuts.

Some of the best hazelnut chocolates come from Italy, (piedmont region?). This Milk Chocolate Hazelnut bar from La Suissa (Arquata Scrivia (AL), Italy) had a sweet aroma and contained chopped hazelnut bits, creating a slight crunch inside a creamy milk chocolate base.

*"Seasonal foils" is English translation for the holiday/novelty chocolates category on the La Suissa website. 





Thursday, December 18, 2014

The Oakland Chocolate Co. - Hazelnut Bar - Dec. 18, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

The Oakland Chocolate Co.
Milk Chocolate Hazelnut Bar
Good++
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 150 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $2.50 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Oakland Chocolate Co., Oakland, CA

Welcome to Day #1 of Chocolate and Hazelnut Theme Week.

We kicked off this week with a Milk Chocolate Hazelnut Bar from The Oakland Chocolate Co. (Oakland, CA), with rows of whole hazelnuts pressed into the back of this single origin bar.

Chocolate maker Nancy Nadel offers a line of bonbons and bars that she crafts using cacao beans from the Parish of St. Mary in Jamaica. Most of her chocolates are made with 70% cacao; but she also makes extra dark (85%) and milk chocolate (45%) bars -- today's Hazelnut bar being in the latter category. The 45% milk chocolate has a slight caramel flavor that pairs nicely with the hazelnuts.








Riegelein Confiserie - Rocking Horse - Dec. 17, 2014

Chocolate of the Day:

Riegelein Confiserie
Rocking Horse
Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 5.12 oz. (145 g.) in one package/horse
Calories: 150 calories (estimate) in 1 oz. (28.3 g.) piece
Cost: $3.79 for 1 horse
Purchased from: Crossroads Specialty Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #7 of Chocolates in Toyland Theme Week.

The chocolate of the day was this red and gold foil wrapped Rocking Horse from Riegelein Chocolate (Cadolzburg, Germany)

Chocolates with natural ingredients (i.e. made without artificial flavors or colors) just taste better. And this milk chocolate (30% cocoa, 14% milk solids) rocking horse was no exception. The inclusion of cocoa butter rather than hydrogenated vegetable oils, e.g. was an improvement over some novelty milk chocolates.

Granted higher quality chocolates tend to be a bit more expensive; but I will happily pay a bit more for better chocolate, especially if these chocolate toys are for children.

Ingredients for today's sweet, smooth rocking equine: Sugar, cocoa butter, whole milk powder, cocoa mass, sweet whey powder, emulsifier: soy lecithin, natural vanilla.

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Santa's Treats - Fun 'n Games maze; Venchi cigar - Dec. 16, 2014

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

Santa's Treats
Fun 'n Games Double Crisp
OK+ - Good
Weight: .25 oz. (7 g.) / 2.5 oz. (71 g.) in total package
Calories: 37 calories (estimate) in 1/4 oz. piece
Cost: $0.49 for 1 item
Purchased from: lost receipt (CVS?)

Today was Day #6 of Chocolate in Toyland Theme Week, and I celebrated with two chocolates: one for all ages, and one for grown-ups.

The first chocolate was a Fun 'n Games Double Crisp -- a 30% milk chocolate rectangular, edible maze from Santa's Treats (distributed by CVS Pharmacy, Inc.).

The second chocolate today was a chocsimile of a Venchi Cuba, Cacao Aromatico, cigar, made in Italy.

Venchi S.p.A.
Venchi Cuba, Cacao Aromatico chocolate cigar
Good ++ - Very Good
Weight: 1.17 oz. (33.3 g.) / 3.52 oz. (100 g.) total cigar
Calories: 176 calories (estimate) in 1/3 cigar
Cost: $8.79 for 1 cigar
Purchased from: Crossroads market, Palo Alto, CA

I'm not a smoker, but I made an exception for today's "toy" chocolate cigar from Venchi S.p.A. (Italy).

Today I hit a home mortgage pay-off milestone. Hurray. This called for celebrating with a generously sized, fine-flavored dark chocolate "Cuban" cigar made with cacao from New Guinea and ground Piedmont hazelnuts. It was dark, nutty, slightly fudgey and smoky, and entirely delicious.









Monday, December 15, 2014

Santa's Treats - Tuff Trucks - Dec. 15, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Santa's Treats
(distributed by CVS Pharmacy, Inc.)
Tuff Trucks
OK - Good
Weight: .3 oz. (8.49 g.) / 2.5 oz. (71 g.) in total package
Calories: 45 calories (estimate) in 1 small bite of truck
Cost: $0.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: CVS Pharmacy, Mountain View, CA

Today was Day #5 of Chocolate in Toyland Theme Week.

The Santa's Treats* front loader style novelty truck in this Tuff Trucks package was "Hard at Work Making Candy Fun."

This milk chocolate flavored truck would be a fun toy to play with for a day or two; however, as for eating it... It was awfully sweet. (Cocoa was the fourth ingredient listed, after sugar, hydrogenated vegetable oil and whey.)

*This Santa's Treats item was distributed by CVS Pharmacy, Inc.



Sunday, December 14, 2014

Lindt - Milk Chocolate bear - Dec. 14, 2014

Chocolate of the Day:

Lindt and Sprungli
Lindt Milk Chocolate (Chocolat au lait) - bear
Good
Weight: 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total bear
Calories: 525 calories (estimate) in 1 bear
Cost: $3.99 for 1 bear
Purchased from: CVS Pharmacy, Mountain View, CA

Today was Day #4 of Chocolate in Toyland Theme Week.

Teddy bears and other toy bears are popular year-round. Today's Lindt Teddy bear from Lindt and Sprungli (Switzerland) was all dressed up for the holidays.

It looked similar* to a large Haribo Goldbaren (German for golden bear), but was wrapped in gold foil with a red ribbon around its neck.

And instead of a Haribo fruit-flavored gummy bear, this friendly-looking bear was hollow and made of 30% milk chocolate. It was sweet, smooth and flavorful. And soon, one bite led to another, and the bear wasn't there anymore.

*In fact Haribo complained that the similarity between the Lindt Teddies (first produced a few years ago) and the Haribo bears would be confusing to customers; a court, in the end, cited with Lindt.

Saturday, December 13, 2014

Milk Chocolate Trivial Pursuit; Niagara Tools - Dec. 13, 2014

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

Choc-In-The-Box
Trivial Pursuit (chocolate cards)
Good
Weight: .3 oz. (8.5 g.) / 4.8 oz. (136 g.) in total package/box
Calories:  44 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: $4.99 for 1 box/package
Purchased from: CVS Pharmacy, Mountain View, CA

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolates in Toyland Theme Week, where I scout out possible chocolate holiday gifts.

These chocsimiles* of Trivial Pursuit cards include actual trivia questions (with answers on the flip side). And, after everyone is familiar with the questions, and you grow bored with them, you can eat them. Very practical.

Know someone who likes carpentry or making things? Another potential stocking stuffer might included the following tool set:

Milk Chocolate Took Kit
Niagara Chocolates
Good
Weight: .75 oz. (21.2 g.) / 3.75 oz. (106 g.) total package
Calories: 110 calories (estimate) in 1 tool (saw)/piece
Cost: $3.19 for 1 package of 5 pieces/tools
Purchased from: Orchard Supply Hardware, Mountain View, CA

This Milk Chocolate Tool Kit made by Niagara Chocolates (Cheektowaga, NY), a SweetWorks Company (Buffalo, NY). included a milk chocolate hammer, saw, screwdriver, wrench and pliers. I tried the milk chocolate saw.

Most popular commercial milk chocolates are fairly sweet with a consistent chocolate or chocolatey flavor; I would say this about both today's chocolates. Fun replicas and clever package design are the primary attributes with almost all chocolate games and toys I've found so far.

*Chocsimiles are chocolate facsimiles of people, animals, places or things.


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