Monday, March 31, 2014

Zing - Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bar - March 31, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Zing
Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bar
Good
Weight: 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 210 calories for 1 bar
Cost: $2.49 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Piazza's Fine Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #9 of Chocolate and Cranberry Theme Week. A secondary suffix to this theme has been "... and Oats/Oatmeal." In keeping with that fact, I paired two Certified Gluten-Free and Soy Free items from Zing Bars (Seattle, WA): an Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bar and a Cashew Cranberry Orange Bar.

These held together nicely, with the help of cashew nut butter -- the #1 ingredient listed for both bars. (Zing also makes bars with peanut butter.)

Each bar contained 10 grams of protein (from nuts, oats and seeds and whey protein/rice protein). Dark chocolate chips added tiny bursts of chocolate flavor in the Oatmeal Chocolate Chip bar. And, dried cranberries and Organic orange oil flavor gave the second bar a subtle, uplifting fruit zing.






Sunday, March 30, 2014

Safeway - Almond Berry Medley - March 30, 2014

Chocolate of the Day:

Safeway
Almond Berry Medley Trail Mix
Good
Weight: 1/4 cup, 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 14 oz. (397 g.) total package/bag
Calories: 150 calories in 1/4 cup serving
Cost: $ various
Purchased from: items 3 different Safeway stores

Today was Day #8 of Chocolate and Cranberry Theme Week. Once again, there were too many different chocolate items to fit into a conventional 7-day week.

The Almond Berry Medley Trail Mix from Safeway (Pleasanton, CA) had a good balance of sweet fruit (dried cranberries, blueberries), crunchy nuts (almonds) and chocolate covered soybeans.

I also bought some dried cranberries, chocolate covered walnuts, and a bag of Safeway Select Cranberry A-Go-Go Trail Mix (with almonds, cranberries and cashews), for a cranberry trail mix banquet for lunch today.

Saturday, March 29, 2014

Love Grown Foods - granolas - March 29, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Love Grown Foods
Oat Clusters toasted granola
cocoa goodness
Good 
Weight: 1/4 cup (30 g.) / 12 oz. (340 g.) in total package/bag
Calories: 130 calories in 1/4 cup serving
Cost: $4.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: Piazza's Fine Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #7 of Chocolate and Cranberry Theme Week.

I was surprised to find that so many gluten-free chocolate and cranberry items I found in stores also involved oats, or granola. Today was another oat-filled day.

My bowl of Oat Clusters toasted granola I enjoyed this morning was certainly the "smartest," toastiest and the crunchiest I've enjoyed this week. The founders of Love Grown Foods (Denver, CO), Alex and Maddy, are committed to creating "delicious and nutritious" foods and they offer several types of oatmeal and oat cereal.

If today's bowl of gluten-free, GMO-free cocoa goodness + sweet cranberry pecan clusters were any sharper I would've felt compelled to administer an IQ test.

The sweetness level was just about right for me. The oat clusters were very lightly sweetened with agave syrup and a bit of honey. The chocolate chips added little bursts of chocolate sweetness. I wasn't able to pick out cranberry or pecan flavors in the sweet cranberry pecan clusters I'd mixed in the same bowl, but that was OK. Both flavors tasted fresh and crunchy.

Friday, March 28, 2014

Udi's - Cranberry, Chocolate Granola - March 28, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Udi's Gluten Free Foods

1.) Soft n' Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bars
Good
Weight: 1.23 oz. (35 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 140 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $5.79 in 1 box of 5 bars
Purchased from: Piazza's Fine Foods, Palo Alto, CA

2.) Soft n' Chewy Cranberry Almonds Granola Bars
Good
Weight: 1.23 oz. (35 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 140 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $5.79 in 1 box of 5 bars
Purchased from: Piazza's Fine Foods, Palo Alto, CA

3.) Sweet and Fruity Cranberry Granola
Good - Good +
Weight: 1/4 cup serving / 12 oz. (340 g.) total package/bag
Calories: 140 calories in 1/4 cup serving
Cost: $3.99 (sale)
Purchased from: Piazza's Fine Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Granola products were the order of the day for Day #6 of Chocolate and Cranberry Theme Week.

I sampled Chocolate Chip and Cranberry Almond Granola Bars from Udi's Gluten Free Foods (Denver, CO), as well as Udi's Cranberry Granola with walnuts and wildflower honey. The latter, the Cranberry Granola, was my favorite of the three. You could certainly mix and match these, and other Udi's granola products, too.

Thursday, March 27, 2014

SunRidge - Milk Chocolate Cranberries - March 27, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

SunRidge Farms
Milk Chocolate Cranberries
Good - Good +
Weight: 1.4 oz. (40 g.) / 6.5 oz. (184 g.) in 1 package/bag
Calories: 180 calories (estimate) in one 20-piece serving
Cost: $4.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: Piazza's Fine Foods, Palo Alto, CA

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

Not too sweet, but enough fruit tartness at the center to be interesting, these milk chocolate covered cranberries from SunRidge Farms (Santa Cruz, CA) were well balanced and flavorful.

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Bovetti - Dark Chocolate Cranberries bar - March 26, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Bovetti Chocolats
Dark Chocolate with Cranberries bar
Good - Good+
Weight: .875 oz. (25 g.) 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in 1/4 bar
Calories: 144 calories (per label) in 1/4 bar (2 squares)
Cost: $9.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Draeger's, San Mateo, CA

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

This 73% cocoa Dark Chocolate with Cranberries bar from Bovetti Chocolats was made in Terrasson, France, and imported into the U.S.

The chocolate, was smooth, i.e. not terribly acidic given the relatively high percentage of cocoa solids and dark color. A very faint vanilla flavor note suffused the bar. Flashes of burgandy-colored, sweetened dried cranberry bits on one side added visual interest, and a wee bit of concentrated fruit flavor and texture.

KIND - Dark Chocolate Cranberry Clusters - March 25, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

KIND, LLC
Dark Chocolate and Cranberry Clusters
Good - Good +
Weight: 1.02 oz. (29 g.) / 11 oz. (312 g.) total package
Calories: 130 calories in 1/3 cup serving
Cost: $6.49 for 1 package
Purchased from: Piazza's Fine Foods, Palo Alto, CA

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

Until relatively recently, it's been difficult for me to find a gluten-free version of crunchy, granola-type cereal. Part of the challenge lay in finding gluten-free oats.

Fortunately, today's Dark Chocolate and Cranberry Clusters, from KIND, LLC (New York, NY), was not only gluten-free, but also great tasting as either a snack or cereal with milk. I enjoyed the latter.

A great beach walk today was powered by this cereal. Beach not included.

Monday, March 24, 2014

Hedonist - Cranberry Pecan - March 24, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Hedonist Artisan Chocolates
Cranberry Pecan
Very Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) (estimate) in 2 pieces/10-piece assortment box
Calories: 140 calories (estimate) in 2 pieces
Cost: $N/A - sample
Purchased from: Hedonist Artisan Chocolates, Rochester, NY

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

The Cranberry Pecan piece, pictured here, was part of a Fruit and Nut Clusters assortment box, from Hedonist Artisan Chocolates (Rochester, NY).

"Housemade sweet and salty candied pecans with dried cranberries" were nestled into a base of bittersweet 72% cacao dark chocolate.

I couldn't have asked for a better distillation of sugar, salt, chocolate, fresh fruit and crunchy nut flavor and texture into one bite than this.

I also tried the Apricot flavor, which captured the essence of a whole apricot and looked beautiful; however, the Cranberry Pecan won hands down in terms of flavor and texture.

Sunday, March 23, 2014

Divine - Cranberries and Hazelnuts bar - March 23, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Divine Chocolate
Dark Chocolate with Cranberries and Hazelnuts bar
Good
Weight: 1.16 oz. (33.3 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 190 calories (estimate) in 1/3 bar
Cost: $3.39 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Whole Foods Market, Los Altos, CA

Welcome to the first day of Chocolate and Cranberries Theme Week.

This Dark Chocolate (68% cocoa) bar from Divine Chocolate (Imported from Germany and distributed in the U.S.) incorporated dried, sweetened and chopped cranberries. Pieces of chopped hazelnut provided some crunchy texture, and paired well with bits of plump red cranberry.

The smooth, mild tasting dark chocolate was made from cocoa beans "from Kuapa Kokoo, a co-operative of small-holder farmers in Ghana."

Inside the bar wrapper, was more information about where the cocoa beans for this chocolate had been grown; a profile of one farmer; and a short explanation of the symbols adorning the outer red wrapper -- Adinkra symbols from Ghananian culture.

Lake Champlain - Hazelnut Praline squares - March 22, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Lake Champlain Chocolates
Hazelnut Praline Dark Chocolate squares
Weight: .8 oz. (22.6 g.) for 2 squares
Calories: 120 calories (estimate) in 2 squares
Cost: $1.38 for 2 squares
Purchased from: New Leaf Community Markets, Half Moon Bay, CA

Normally there are 7 days in 1 week. Unless it's a Chocolate Theme Week; and then a week can extend to 8 days, or more, if more wonderful chocolates need to be added. Today was Day #9 of Chocolate and Hazelnut Theme Week.

These snack-sized dark chocolate (54% cocoa) squares from Lake Champlain Chocolates (Burlington, VT) were infused with a subtle gianduja (ground hazelnut and dark chocolate) flavor.

Each dark square was wrapped in a fancy Italian stamped gold foil inner wrapper, making them suitable for party or wedding favors, or a spring celebration of any kind.

Friday, March 21, 2014

Sjaak's - Hazelnut Butter Bite - March 21, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Sjaak's Organic Chocolates
Hazelnut Butter Bite
Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) (estimate) for 2 pieces
Calories: 150 calories (estimate) for 2 pieces
Cost: $N/A - gift from friend
Purchased from: SweetE Organic, Mill Valley, CA

Today was Day #8 of Chocolate and Hazelnut Theme Week.

These individually wrapped, flower-shaped organic (and vegan) milk chocolates with hazelnut filling were created by Sjaak's Organic Chocolates (Petaluma, CA).

The filling was smooth but slightly less sweet than many other gianduja ganaches. It contained both ground hazelnuts and almonds; and retained some of the more substantial (and less sweet) texture of a freshly ground nut butter. 

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Taza - Hazelnut Butter bar - March 20, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Taza Chocolate
Hazelnut Butter bar
Good
Weight: .75 oz. (21.25 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total bar
Calories: 120 calories in 1/4 bar
Cost: $7.95 in 1 bar
Purchased from: SweetE Organic, Mill Valley, CA

Today's Factory Limited Hazelnut Butter bar from Taza Chocolate (Somerville, MA) contained Hazelnut Butter with 52% Dark Stone Ground Chocolate, a smidge of vanilla, and not much else.

The certifications list on the wrapper took up more space than the ingredients list -- in this case, a sign that makers care about quality, customers and the world around them. (These certifications/logos included USDA Organic, Taza Chocolate Direct Trade Certified Cacao, Certified Gluten-Free, Dairy and Soy Free, and the "U" that indicates Pareve.)

Adding hazelnut butter and cocoa butter to this bar helped smooth out "rough edges" (slightly gritty texture) often present with stoneground chocolate.

The upside with stone-ground: more volatile or delicate flavor elements aren't lost due to processing. With less grinding, conching and heating time -- flavors maintain their intensity. A strong, freshly ground cacao aroma wafts up when peeling back the foil inner wrapper of this bar (and other Taza bars) as a result.

Today was Day #7 of Chocolate and Hazelnut Theme Week, and Day #1 of Spring 2014. Happy Spring to all.


Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Hedonist - Hazelnut Truffle - March 19, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Hedonist Artisan Chocolates
Hazelnut Truffles
Very Good
Weight: .4 oz. (11.32 g.) (estimate) for 1 piece
Calories: 63 calories (estimate) for 1 piece
Cost: N/A - sample box
Purchased from: N/A - from Hedonist Chocolates

Today's Hazelnut Truffle from Hedonist Artisan Chocolates (Rochester, NY) would please any pleasure-seeking chocolate lover.

Melt in your mouth creamy gianduja (hazelnut and chocolate) centers were enveloped in dark chocolate and topped with a half hazelnut and a light sprinkle of sea salt crystals. Not overly sweet, just one of these rich-tasting, dairy-free beauties provided a wonderful, satisfying treat.

While difficult to do, I recommend eating chocolates like this slowly to fully enjoy.

Today was Day #6 of Chocolate and Hazelnut Theme Week.

Bliss - Chocolate Hazelnut Fudge - Mar. 18, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Bliss Unlimited, LLC
Luna and Larry's
Coconut Bliss - Chocolate Hazelnut Fudge
Good - Good +
Weight: 1/2 cup (97 g.) / 1 Pint (473 mL) total container
Calories: 240 calories in 1/2 cup serving
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

When I think of non-dairy frozen desserts, I don't always think of high-quality, natural ingredients. However, today's Luna and Larry's Coconut Bliss Chocolate Hazelnut Fudge frozen dessert, distributed by Bliss Unlimited, LLC (Eugene, OR) was different. This organic coconut milk-based chocolate "ice cream" was sweetened with organic agave syrup, chocolate fudge and hazelnuts. The dark fudge ribbon wound its way through this frozen dessert and had a slight mocha flavor to it (there was no coffee in this dessert).

For those who might not care that much for coconut, not to worry. The coconut flavor was subtle, and the texture of this frozen dessert was almost as creamy as, well, real dairy cream based ice cream. The Coconut Bliss product line would be a good substitute for those wanting an organic, vegan, gluten-free/soy-free alternative to traditional ice cream. The company also claims that their frozen desserts with agave provide a relatively low-glycemic option.

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

Monday, March 17, 2014

International Chocolate Salon - San Francisco, 3/15/14

International Chocolate Salon
March 15, 2014
Fort Mason, San Francisco

Fort Mason is home to several organizations; and it is a great site for meetings and conferences. Located on San Francisco Bay, one can watch sailboats during breaks. I felt sorry for the participants in the food addicts recovery group meeting last Saturday at Fort Mason. Not only might they have been tempted by Greens Restaurant, but in the nearby Festival Pavilion a day-long International Chocolate Salon (organized by TasteTV) was underway. And parked in front of the pavilion was the "Melt" food truck, oozing with grilled cheese goodness.

The Chocolate Salon was an amalgam of chocolatiers, chocolate makers, spirits and scent vendors, chocolate talks and demonstrations, under one large roof, that has become an annual Spring event. (The also have a similar Chocolate Salon event in the fall.)

For the price of admission, attendees were able to view chocolate art (chocolate shoes, chocolate skulls, and other items). More to the point, they could taste (and buy) chocolate truffles, bars, toffee, caramels, and much more. Several local Bay Area companies were there, including Socola Chocolatier (the company recently opened a retail space in San Francisco); Jade Chocolates; CocoTutti; and Saratoga Chocolates.

And, there were opportunities to hear more about chocolate-related topics from experts.

The first presenter I listened to was John Scharffenberger, a successful, serial food and beverage entrepreneur, whose first venture was sparkling wine. Later he switched to bean-to-bar chocolate, and co-founded Scharffen Berger Chocolate Maker with Robert Steinberg in San Francisco in 1997. I can still remember company's great factory tour in the East Bay. Hershey's (The Hershey Company) eventually bought Scharffen Berger for an estimated $50 million. The bars can still be found online and in specialty stores.

Advice columnist Joey Garcia passed on tips about love, comparing it to chocolate. Garcia was influenced by a wise, Maya grandmother from Belize, a country with a long cacao tradition; and she brought a few copies of her new book, When Your Heart Breaks, It's Opening to Love.

Jessica Ferraro, BarCacaco.com, gave a talk titled "Discovering Craft Chocolate: Beyond the Bon Bon."

Art Pollard, of Amano Artisan Chocolate (Orem, Utah), talked about his recent visits to cacao farmers in South America and the Dominican Republic -- all part of the quest to obtain the best beans for his bars. He also sampled some of his single origin bars. I enjoyed the floral notes in the Amano "Dos Rios" bar made with cacao from the Dominican Republic.









Schar - Chocolate Hazelnut bars - March 17, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Schar
Chocolate Hazelnut bars
Weight: 2.46 oz. (70 g.) in 1 bar / 3.7 oz. (105 g.) total package
Calories: 400 calories in 2 bars
Cost: $5.49 total package
Purchased from: Piazza's Fine Foods, Palo Alto, CA

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

Schar's gluten-free Chocolate Hazelnut bars were layered, wafer-style cookies covered in milk chocolate, from Schar (Germany/Lyndhurst, NJ). They were fairly light, crunchy, with a touch of authentic creamy hazelnut flavor; and they made for a sweet snack while hiking today.

Gluten-free cookies have come a long way, and these bars would be, I think, almost impossible to duplicate at home. I'm already thinking about how I might use these (crushed or whole) bars in other dessert items.

Sunday, March 16, 2014

TCHO TCHIunky TCHOtella bar - March 16, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

TCHO
TCHunky TCHOtella bar
Good + - Very Good
Weight: 1.4 oz. (40 g.) / 2.1 oz. (60 g.) total bar
Calories:  240 calories for 2/3 bar
Cost: $7.95 for 1 bar
Purchased from: SweetE Organic, Mill Valley, CA


Our chocolate for Day #3 of Chocolate and Hazelnut Theme Week was... from TCHO (San Francisco, CA). TCHO is pronounced (cho); the "T" is silent.

Today's TCHunky TCHOtella bar -- made from Organic and Fair Trade milk chocolate, hazelnuts, hazelnut butter and sea salt -- attained a degree of rich, creamy smoothness that only certain gianduja (ground hazelnut spread with milk chocolate) chocolates can offer. Not overly sweet, this Italian-inspired bar was a great, well-balanced bar. Roasted Piedmontese hazelnut bits added texture and nutty flavor. 

Saturday, March 15, 2014

Bixby Birdie bar with hazelnuts - March 15, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Bixby and Co.
Birdie Chocolate Bar
Good
Weight: .5 oz. (14.2 g.) / 1.5 oz. (43 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 70 calories in 1/3 bar
Cost: $ N/A - sample
Purchased from: N/A - sample

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

The Birdie Chocolate Bar from Bixby and Co. (Belfast, ME) was made with 72% dark chocolate (from Rainforest Alliance Certified Cocoa) and packed with hazelnuts, black currants, and a touch of sea salt.

The sepia-toned wrapper was adorned with an image of a woman in historic sportswoman attire about to putt in a golf ball into a hole for, presumably, a birdie -- a shot that earns the scorer one under par (a good thing).

This small, chunky, gluten-free, No GMO bar was also a good thing. It could be gently cut into slices and shared with friends or golf partners. 
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