Pascha - 55% bar with Nibs - Feb. 28, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Pascha Chocolate Company
55% Cacao with Cocoa Nibs bar
Good
Weight: .875 oz. (25 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 140 calories (estimate) in 1/4 bar
Cost: $3.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: New Leaf Community Markets, Santa Cruz, CA

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

This 55% Cacao with Cacao Nibs bar was made in Peru, for Pascha Chocolate Company (Toronto, ON, Canada), reflecting the company's "bean-to-bar close to the source," philosophy, and making it easier to trace each ingredient.

The base chocolate was smooth, but was a little too sweet for me. Adding some crunchy, unsweetened nibs to a sweeter, milk chocolate base has produced good results for other similar bars I've tasted.

Made in a dedicated allergen free facility, this vegan bar contained no genetically modified ingredients and was free of wheat, peanuts, nuts, soy, dairy, egg, and gluten. (Having been around someone suffering from a life-threatening allergic reaction to peanuts yesterday, I want to extend my thanks for Pascha Chocolate and other vendors who go the extra mile to prevent accidental exposures like this in their products.)

Steve DeVries - Nibs Cluster - Feb. 27, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Steve DeVries
Nib Cluster(s)
Good+
Weight: .29 oz. (8.25 g.) / 1.16 oz. (33 g.) (estimate) total package of 4 pieces
Calories: 43 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: $4.00 for 1 package of 4 pieces
Purchased from: The Chocolate Garage, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #1 of Chocolate and Nibs Theme Week.

Steve DeVries was one of the early craft (bean-to-bar), chocolate makers in the U.S. this century.

I was intrigued by a small unmarked plastic bag on a counter during a recent trip to The Chocolate Garage (Palo Alto, CA); and was delighted find out that these were Steve DeVries Nib Clusters.

The small dark chocolate rounds made from 80% cacao from Costa Rica were topped with caramelized cacao nibs (also from Costa Rica) -- a recipe for fine dark, complex flavors and textures if executed correctly, and it was.

Cacao Atlanta - Aztec Aphrodisiac bar - Feb. 26, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Aztec Aphrodisiac bar
Good - Good +
Weight: .75 oz. (21.5 g.) / 1.5 oz. (43 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 170 calories (listed on label)
Cost: $6.95 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: SweetE Organic, Mill Valley, CA

Today was Day #7 of Chocolate and Chili Theme Week, and we're going out with a bang.

This 60% dark chocolate, Aztec Aphrodisiac bar, incorporated a "secret mix of chilis and spices." It registered somewhere in the medium spicy range, with evenly distributed and well-balanced heat and flavor.

The dark chocolate base was rich-tasting, and could easily pass for 70% (a higher) cacao percentage -- another example of where cacao percentages are just a starting point. Dark fans, don't skip over a bar just because of this % number. Try it first. 

Montezuma's - Great Balls of Fire - Feb. 25, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Montezuma's Chocolates
Great Balls of Fire
Good
Weight: 1.147 oz. (32.5 g.) / 4.59 oz. (130 g.) total container
Calories: 172 calories (estimate) in 3 pieces
Cost: $13.00 total container
Purchased from: Abe's Market, online order

Today was Day #6 Chocolate and Chili Theme Week.

The Great Balls of Fire were spicy little numbers, from Montezuma's (West Sussex, U.K.), cleverly packaged in a container looked like a coffee cup and lid.

These chocolate-covered caramels came in three flavors: 1.) "Halley's" (white chocolate caramel, flavored with mango, lime and chili); 2.) "Swift" (milk chocolate with strawberry and peppercorn flavored caramel; and 3.) "Shoemaker" (dark chocolate covered salt, pepper and chili flavored caramel). These were, as stated on the package, "Flavours inspired by madmen and names inspired by space..."

Wild Ophelia - Smoked Chipotle bar - Feb. 24, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Wild Ophelia (Vosges Haut-Chocolat)
Smoked Chipotle Chili and Milk Chocolate bar
OK +
Weight: 2 oz. (56.6 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 300 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $3.00 (sale price)
Purchased from: Safeway, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #5 of Chocolate and Chili Theme Week, and the chocolate of the day was a Smoked Chipotle Chili Milk Chocolate bar from Wild Ophelia (part of Vosges Haut-Chocolat, based in Chicago, IL).

The bar's smoked chipotle chili powder and alder smoked salt were infused into a 41% cacao milk chocolate base. The flavors were balanced, and not overwhelming. My only quibble was that the milk chocolate itself seemed a bit bland, and slightly gummy once bitten off and chewed.

The flavor for this bar was inspired by "Hunger Games: Catching Fire" (book/movie), and was part of a series of Wild Ophelia branded bars designed with tie-ins to this story. Today's Smoked Chipotle Chili bar was dubbed (to be from) "District 7: Lumber" -- calling to mind (if you stretch the analogy) the wood-fired taste of smoked chili in this bar.

Rescue Chocolate - Pick Me! Pepper bar - Feb. 23, 2014

Chocolate of the Day:

Rescue Chocolate
Pick Me! Pepper bar
Good +
Weight: 2 oz. (56.6 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 320 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $6.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Abe's Market, online order

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

The Pick Me! Pepper bar from Rescue Chocolate (made by Tumbador Chocolate in Brooklyn, NY) was made with flavorful and creamy 66% Organic and Fairly Traded (vegan) dark chocolate, and contained pasilla and mulato chili pepper, spices and fleur de sel.

However, no need to be afraid of the heat, as the savory and spicy notes were well balanced, and the slightly salty flavor seemed just right.

The "Pick Me!" in the title refers to dogs who would be happy to be adopted, sponsored or rescued. 100% of the net proceeds from this line of Rescue Chocolate bars go to animal rescue groups.

Fittingly, I spent today leading a Chocolate Walk in the "Dogpatch" neighborhood of San Francisco, an area with several chocolatiers (as well as craft breweries, wine bars, and great little cafes). Dog images were everywhere (including dog paintings/drawings at Recchiuti's Little Nib and theLab Cafe). It was a beautiful day, and thank you to the great group who participated.

Kind - Dark Chocolate Chili Almond bar - Feb. 22, 2014

Chocolate of the Day:

KIND, LLC
Dark Chocolate Chili Almond bar
Good
Weight: 1.41 oz. (40 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 200 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $1.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Piazza's Fine Foods, San Mateo, CA

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

Dark chocolate and chili are good partners. Both can stand up to each other without wiping each other out. My favorite products apply a less combustible application of chili. This Dark Chocolate Chili Almond bar from Kind, LLC (New York, NY) employed such an approach. The blend of cascabel, ancho and habanero chilis was well balanced, with pleasant, slightly smokey, chili flavor notes.

I've enjoyed the gluten-free, dried fruit and nut bars from this company. They're crunchy and naturally sweet, and taste more satisfyingly substantial to me than others in this category. I also love nuts, and Kind bars I've tasted have contained large chunks of nuts -- in this case almonds, peanuts and cashews, with rice crisps adding a bit of extra crunch.

Theo Chocolate - Cinnamon Love Crunch bar - Feb. 21, 2014

Chocolate of the Day:

Theo Chocolate
Cinnamon Love Crunch bar
Good - Good +
Weight: 1.5 oz. (42.5 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) total bar
Calories: 200 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $6.95 (estimate) 
Purchased from: SweetE Organic, Mill Valley, CA

Today's 70% Dark Chocolate, Cinnamon Love Crunch bar from Theo Chocolate (Seattle, WA) looked bright pink, sassy, and sweet.

This limited edition bar was created for Valentines Day this month. The bar, made with organic ingredients, also packed a complex, spicy flavor punch -- from cinnamon leaf oil, nutmeg and clove oils, cayenne*, and black pepper oil.

The flavorful bits of cinnamon brittle embedded in the smooth dark chocolate offered a refreshingly different take on cinnamon red-hots or more traditional crunchy candy bits.

*Cayenne and the Scoville Scale
What is the Scoville Scale, and what does it have to do with my chocolate? The Scoville Scale measures the level of capsaicin in chili peppers and hot, spicy foods. Bright red Cayenne peppers (named for the city, Cayenne, in French Guiana) rank a 3 out of 5 on the Scoville Scale. 

Love Bites - Mayan Heat - Feb. 20, 2014

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

Love Bites Raw Confections

Mayan Heat
Good
Weight: .33 oz. (9.3 g.) (estimate) for 1 piece
Calories: 49 calories (estimate) for 1 piece
Cost: N/A - gift
Purchased from: N/A - gift

Vegan Milk Chocolate
Good +
Weight: .4 oz. (11.32 g.) (estimate) for 1 piece
Calories: 60 calories (estimate) for 1 piece
Cost: N/A - gift
Purchased from: N/A - gift

Today was Day #1 of Chocolate and Chili Theme Week.

The combination of cacao and chili peppers is as old as the hills -- if by "old" you mean thousands of years ago, and if by "hills" you mean the Maya Mountains in Central America.

So, it seemed only right to start this theme week with a piece of dark chocolate bark, dubbed 'Mayan Heat" by Merissa, the creator of Love Bites Raw Confections (Thousand Oaks, CA). Each piece of bark was peppered with warm, colorful specks of cayenne and paprika -- adding interest, but not too much heat.

I also sampled the star-shaped Vegan Milk Chocolate, made with cashews. As claimed, this piece was creamy and wonderful.

Today's two Love Bites Raw Confections were free of gluten, soy, corn and milk, and were sweetened with organic maple sugar. While not a chocolate-maker who starts with whole cacao beans from growers, Merissa is clearly focused on providing consumers with healthy end-products, and sources her ingredients carefully. (The company used cacao products from David Wolfe's Longevity Warehouse to make these raw chocolates.)

Thank you Katy for sending these chocolates from Southern California!

Chocolate Breakfast - Yes! - Feb. 19, 2014

Chocolate(s) of the Day:

1.) The Yes Bar Co.
The Yes Bar - Coffee Cayenne
Good +
Weight: 1.4 oz. (40 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 200 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $N/A
Purchased from: SweetE Organic, Mill Valley, CA

2.) Hammond's Candies
Pigs N' Taters Bar
Good
Weight: .375 oz. (10.6 g.) / 2.25 oz. (64 g.) total bar
Calories: 55 cals. in 1/6 bar
Cost: N/A
Purchased from: N/A

Why eat bacon, hash browns and coffee, why you can have two different "breakfast" chocolates instead? Today's Chocolate Breakfast served as a transition between Chocolate and Cherries Theme Week, and Chocolate and Chilis Theme Week.

The Coffee Cayenne Yes Bar contained a healthy mix of nuts, seeds, coconut, chocolate chips, ground espresso and dried cherry bits. This gluten-free, GMO free bar from The Yes Bar Co. (Los Angeles, CA) did have a hint of cayenne, but it was very faint. So, there's no danger of burning yourself on this cup of java.

The cleverly named "Pigs N' Taters" Bar from Hammond's Candies (Denver, CO) incorporated (soy) bacon bits and flecks of potato chips into a smooth, milk chocolate bar base.

NewTree - Cherry Dark Chocolate Spread - Feb. 18, 2014

Chocolate of the Day:

NewTree America Inc.
Cherry - Dark Chocolate Spread
Good - Good +
Weight: 2 Tbsp. serving / 8.8 oz. (250 g.) in 1 jar
Calories: 136 calories in 2 Tb serving
Cost: $8.45 (estimate) for 1 jar
Purchased from: NewTree Cafe/store, San Francisco, CA

Today was Day #14 of Chocolate and Cherries Theme Week.

For a double cherry and chocolate experience, I heated and drizzled Cherry Dark Chocolate Spread from NewTree America (San Anselmo, CA -- with offices in Belgium) on black cherry gelato. Topped off with chopped almonds and a cherry, my dessert sundae was complete.

NewTree makes their chocolate spreads with organic and fair trade ingredients, and with less fat (no oils) and sugar than most other commercial brands, something I really appreciated. This particular jar was made with a minimum of 62% cocoa solids.

The first American President, George Washington, was born on February 11, 1731. (The date was "moved" to later dates in February in subsequent years.) Regardless, happy birthday to all our Presidents celebrating birthdays this month. One tale depicted a young George Washington as so honest that he confessed having chopped down a cherry tree to his father. True, or not, cherry and fruit trees are in bloom now where I live, and we've enjoyed celebrating chocolate + cherries this month.

Endangered Species - Dark Chocolate Cherries bar - Feb. 17, 2014

Chocolate of the Day:

Endangered Species Chocolate, LLC
Dark Chocolate with Cherries bar
Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total bar
Calories: 160 calories (estimate) in 1/3 bar
Cost: $3.49 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Piazza's, San Mateo, CA

Today was Day #13 of Chocolate and Cherries Theme Weeks.

Eating this relatively new Dark Chocolate (72% cocoa) with Cherries bar from Endangered Species Chocolate (Indianapolis, IN) reminded me of drinking a dark cup of hot chocolate around a campfire. That is to say, there was a very subtle flavor note that reminded me of wood burning in a campfire. This faint flavor, neither good nor bard, could have been introduced in the drying, roasting, or other, phase of the chocolate-making process.

The bits of dried cherry were natural tasting, relatively small and non-intrusive, allowing the main focus to be on the dark chocolate.

Endangered Species highlights a given bird or animal as part of each bar they create, to help raise awareness. A story about Puffins, or "Sea Parrots," accompanied this bar (printed inside the wrapper). The company has dedicated 10% of their net profits to organizations that promote species conservation, habitat preservation and humanitarian efforts. Best wishes to the puffins; may your numbers and colonies be restored/protected.

Mariette - Cherry chocolates - Feb. 16, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Mariette Chocolates
1.) Cherry Jubilee
2.) Cordial Cherry
3.) Sour Cherry Cluster
Good
Weight: 1.6 oz. (45.2 g.) (estimate) for 1 piece
Calories: 240 calories (estimate) for 3 pieces
Cost: $5.25 total purchase
Purchased from: Mariette Chocolates, San Jose, CA

Today was Day #12 of Chocolate and Cherries Theme Week.

What amazes me most about eating more than 2,700 different chocolate items in the past 7 1/2 years? The fact that I am still finding 100s of new chocolates every year, where I live in the San Francisco Bay Area still surprises me.

The bustling and innovative metropolis that is Silicon Valley is fertile ground for a high number of new products being introduced each year, for technology and chocolate. So, I wasn't surprised to find two more new chocolate sources this weekend while on a walk through the Willow Glen neighborhood of San Jose, CA, with my friend Laurie.

Mariette Chocolates (San Jose, CA) had several chocolates with cherries in their display case. So, I picked up four of them, and sampled three of them today.

The Cherry Jubilee was a generously sized domed truffle, with a cute cherry stem "pigtail." The chocolate ganache (filling) contained a red cherry, reminiscent of the kind you'd pluck out of a Shirley Temple (non-alcoholic drink) as a child.

I bit carefully into the Cordial Cherry; the center was a deep red pool of cherry liquid. (Eat with caution or you may end of with cherry cordial spillage on your clothes.)

The Sour Cherry Cluster was an irregular shaped chocolate with small chunks of natural tasting, dried sour cherry.

I also picked up some (red coated) chocolate covered cherries at Mariette's; however I'll wait to feature those later.

Barlovento - 80% bar with dried cherries - Feb. 15, 2014

Chocolate of the Day:

Barlovento Chocolates
80% Extra Dark Chocolate Bar with Dried Cherries
Good +
Weight: .7 oz. (19.8 g.) / 3.5 oz. (99 g.) in total bar
Calories: 105 calories in 1/5 bar
Cost: $7.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Barlovento Chocolates, Palo Alto Farmers Market

Today was Day #11 of Chocolate and Cherries Theme Weeks.

This extra dark beauty from Barlovento Chocolates (Oakland, CA) was crafted from 80% Venezuelan chocolate.

The back side of this bar was covered with neat rows of dried, moist cherries from Hidden Star Orchards (Clements, CA). I could smell the rich, natural aromas from this bar as soon as I lifted up the gold foil wrapping. Each square packed in satisfying chocolate and cherry flavor.

Bixby - Heart's Delight bar - Feb. 14, 2014

Chocolate(s) of the Day:

Chocolate Cherry Cocktail
Made with: Talenti Black Cherry gelato

Bixby and Co.
Heart's Delight
Good
Weight: .75 oz. (21.2 g.) / 1.5 oz. (42.45 g.) total bar
Calories: 110 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $4.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Abe's Market (online order)

Hope you all had a great Valentines Day. I decided to keep it simple -- a modified Chocolate Gatail (cocktail with dark rum, cherry brandy and creme de cacao) and 1/2 of a Heart's Delight bar from Bixby and Co. (Belfast, ME).

The Heart's Delight bar was jammed with large pieces of dried strawberries, and bits of almond, giving the dark chocolate (72%) bar, with a very mild hint of Ceylon Cinnamon, a slightly chewy texture.

Today was Day #10 of Chocolate and Cherries Theme Weeks, and the sight of cherry and other fruit tree blossoms against blue sky was a lovely reminder that Spring was already waiting in the wings.

Kind - Dark Chocolate Cherry Cashew bar - Feb. 13, 2014

Chocolate of the Day:

Kind, LLC
Dark Chocolate Cherry Cashew bar
Good + - Very Good
Weight: 1.4 oz. (40 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 180 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $1.49 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Whole Foods Market, Los Altos, CA

Today was Day #9 of Chocolate and Cherries Theme Week.

The Dark Chocolate Cherry Cashew bar from Kind, LLC (New York, NY) was a perfect choice for Valentines Day Eve. It was a healthy amalgam of dark chocolate, sweet/tart dried cherries, crunchy nuts (almonds, cashews and peanuts), and all good. The gluten free, low sodium bar was also a welcome break from solid chocolate and candy hearts.

Sugar, a touch of honey, glucose, and a few raisins and dried cranberries sweetened up this bar, and yet, surprisingly, it didn't seem overly so. The nuts and fiber helped balance the sweetness level.

Not all the Kind bars are drizzled with dark chocolate, but I've relished all the company's fruit and nut bars I've tasted so far. These gluten-free, Non-GMO bars were easy to tuck into a pocket, or pocketbook, for a snack on the go.

Theo Chocolate - My Cherry Baby bar - Feb. 12, 2014

Chocolate of the Day:

Theo Chocolate
My Cherry Baby bar
Good + - Very Good
Weight: 3 oz. (85 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 440 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $3.69 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Whole Foods Market, Los Altos, CA

Today was Day #8 of Chocolate and Cherries Theme Weeks.

Two great Limited Edition bars for Valentines Day from Theo Chocolate (Seattle, WA):

1.) Today's My Cherry Baby 45% Milk Chocolate bar
2.) The Cinnamon Love Crunch 70% Dark Chocolate bar (that I'll feature later)

Both bars were made from organic and fair trade ingredients.

The Cherry Baby bar was devilishly good. The kind of creamy, tasty milk chocolate, enhanced with natural cherry bits, that gets gobbled up gleefully and quickly. So beware all virtual eaters, and dieters out there. You may be tempted to fall off the wagon, just a little.

Happy Valentines Day Week to all.

Bohme - Cherry and Brandy Filled Chocolates - Feb. 11, 2014

Chocolate of the Day:

Delitzscher Schokoladenfabrik GmbH
Weinbrand Kirschen
Good+
Weight: .353 oz. (10 g.) / 5.3 oz. (150 g.) total box of 15 pieces
Calories: 42.5 calories in 1 piece
Cost: $3.90 for 1 box of 15 pieces
Purchased from: Gourmet Haus Staudt (store), Redwood City, CA

Today was Day #7 of Chocolate and Cherries Theme Weeks.

It was cold this evening -- a good opportunity for a hot brandy with Kirsch (cherry brandy), and a German Bohme Weinbrand Kirschen -- a Cherry and Brandy Filled Chocolate.

A simple drink + dessert, with a pleasing flavor combination.