Sunday, August 31, 2014

Amazing Grass - Cafe Mocha bar - August 31, 2014

Chocolate of the Day:

Amazing Grass
Green Superfood - Cafe Mocha bar
Good
Weight: 2.1 oz. (60 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 240 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $3.79 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

The Green Superfood - Cafe Mocha nutrition bar from Amazing Grass (Newport Beach, CA) was relatively high in protein (12 grams) and had more vitamins and minerals than most chocolate bars. The slightly chewy, chocolate covered "green" bar had a sweet, fruity flavor, with substantial texture (from rice protein, almonds, pumpkin seed butter, greens, organic flax, etc.). The chocolate and coffee flavors were relatively mild.


This bar helped revive me after a day of walking up and down stairs in San Francisco. Lovely, sunny day up for a decorative stairway and park-to-park hike, with a clear view across the Golden Gate to Marin County and Mount Tamalpais.

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





Saturday, August 30, 2014

Lonohana - Cafe au Lait bar - August 30, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Lonohana Estate Chocolate
Cafe Au Lait bar
Good + - Very Good
Weight: .766 oz. (21.6 g.) / 2.3 oz. (65 g.) in total bar
Calories: 115 calories (estimate) in 1/3 bar
Cost: $14.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Chocolate Garage, Palo Alto, CA

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

The Cafe Au Lait bar from Lonohana Estate Chocolate (Honolulu, HI) was crafted from Hawaiian ingredients -- including Lonohana Estate cacao, and made in Honolulu.

Control over the whole tree-to-bar experience gives a maker the opportunity to coax flavors out at different points in the production cycle. It also is a daunting responsibility, in that there are so many points where things can go wrong.

Happily the milk chocolate bar -- made with Maui cane sugar, and adorned with a representation of the Hawaiian islands -- was smooth, rich and quite good, and was full of Ka'u coffee flavor. No coffee grit, but it tasted like finely ground coffee). A bit of Big Island vanilla rounded this out.

You could fly to the islands to pick up one of these bars. Fortunately, I was able to drive a few miles to The Chocolate Garage (in Palo Alto, CA) -- one of the few outlets to carry this line -- to pick one up!


Friday, August 29, 2014

Giraudi - Cremino al Caffe - August 29, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Giraudi
Cremino al Caffe
Very Good
Weight: .7 oz. (19.8 g.) (estimate) for 2 pieces
Calories: 105 calories (estimate) for 2 pieces
Cost: N/A - sample
Purchased from: Cafe Venetia, Palo Alto, CA


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

I don't drink coffee anymore; but if I did, it would taste like these heavenly Cremino al Caffe squares from Giraudi (Torino, Italy).

Cremino al Caffe is an Italian dessert -- a thicker, richer, creamier version of a latte -- with added egg yolks and cream. More whipped dessert than liquid beverage, it is also commonly infused with sweet nutty flavor of hazelnut.

Today's two-layered, Giraudi Cremino al Caffe chocolate squares, true to their name, embodied some of the same characteristics as this Italian dessert. Each square had a luscious, buttery melt and consisted of a wonderfully well balanced blend of chocolate, hazelnut and coffee flavors.

I can't decide which bright orange and royal blue color scheme I liked best today: this Giraudi foil wrapped square, or the beautiful sunset this evening. Both were beautiful.

Thursday, August 28, 2014

Alter Eco - Dark Brown Butter bar - Aug. 28, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Alter Eco
Dark Salted Brown Butter bar
Good +
Weight: .564 oz. (16 g.) / 2.82 oz. (80 g.) in total bar
Calories: 91 calories in 1/5 bar
Cost: $4.99 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Whole Foods Market

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

This Dark Chocolate Salted Brown Butter bar from Alter Eco (San Francisco, CA*) was made with 70% organic, Fair Trade certified (Nacional Forastero) Ecuadorian cacao beans and sweet pastured butter.

It had a slight candy caramel corn aroma. It was, as expected, buttery and silky smooth, and a touch of fleur de sel de Guerande gave this chocolate helped balance the sweetness. I might even try this bar with some additional salt next time, in the form of toasted, savory (garlic rosemary or smoked salt) nuts.

The bar was soy free, gluten free, "No GMO" and contained no artificial flavors, and no emulsifiers.

*Made in Switzerland, Distributed by Alter Eco (Americas) 

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Chocolat Bonnat - Equateur bar - Aug. 27, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Chocolat Bonnat / Bonnat Chocolatier
Dark Chocolate Equateur bar
Good ++ - Very Good
Weight: 1.16 oz. (33 g.) / 3.5 oz. (99 g.) in total bar
Calories: 174 calories (estimate) in 1/3 bar
Cost: $14.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Chocolate Garage, Palo Alto, CA

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

This Equateur bar from Bonnat (Voiron, Isere, France) had a pleasing deep chocolate aroma, and the pieces broke off with a well-tempered, hard snap.

This three-ingredient (cocoa, cocoa butter and sugar) dark chocolate (75% cocoa) bar had an exceptionally buttery smooth texture and melt, and maintained a very consistent, well balanced acid-earth, classic dark chocolate flavor, with a light hint of floral honey, throughout the tasting experience.

Chocolat Bonnat is one of the oldest chocolate companies operating today in France. The company still produces its signature praline chocolates (as well as bars), and has been passed from "father to son since 1884" -- an impressive feat for any business.




Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Ritual Chocolate - Balao 75 percent sample - August 25, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Ritual Chocolate
Balao 75% (Ecuador)
Good++
Weight: .3 oz. (8.5 g.) (estimate) for 1 sample packet
Calories: 45 calories (estimate) for 1 packet
Cost: N/A - sample packet
Purchased from: N/A - sample packet

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

www.ritualchocolate.com
I love the naturally occurring floral flavor notes in cacao from Ecuador. This Balao 75 percent sample, crafted with cacao from the Camino Verde farm in Ecuador, by Ritual Chocolate (Denver, CO), had it.

Today's dark chocolate wafer-thin sample round, the perfect shape and thickness for accessing/tasting flavors, was quite mild otherwise, and had a delicious almost buttery smoothness and melt.

Dark chocolate bars with only two or three ingredients -- this one was made with cacao and organic cane sugar, that's it -- spotlight a chocolate makers skills (or inexperience) like nothing else. There is nowhere to hide if the ferment or the temper went awry. Happily, this chocolate just left me full of appreciation. Some may like a more robust flavor profile and there are plenty of other dark bars that would be happy to oblige; however, floral notes, should they be present, will most likely be lost with these chocolate bars.

Pictured at right is the official Balao 75 percent bar available online, from www.ritualchocolate.com.

Monday, August 25, 2014

Pacari - Piura Quemazon bar - Aug. 25, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Pacari Chocolate
Piura Quemazon - Single Region bar
Good + - Very Good
Weight: .352 oz. (10 g.) / 1.76 oz. (50 g.) total bar
Calories: 60 calories (estimate, per label) in 1/5 bar
Cost: N/A - sample
Purchased from: N/A - sample

Bienvenidos (Welcome) to Day #4 of Chocolate and Ecuador Theme Week.

I would be remiss if I had an Ecuador-themed chocolate week and didn't include an offering from Pacari Chocolate (Quito, Ecuador), a family-owned business that makes chocolate from tree-to-bar in Ecuador -- with one or two intriguing exceptions, such as today's bar.

This dark chocolate (70% cacao) bar was made by Pacari, with Piura Quemazon cacao from the Piura region of northwest Peru, adjacent to Ecuador. This bar was also an International Chocolate Awards winner (Americas Gold in 2012 and World Gold in 2013).

The bar had a hard snap and smooth texture. It was a lighter, reddish brown in color (almost closer to a milk chocolate bar in appearance). It possessed a seductively complex and subtle flavor profile, with fruit, floral, earth/forest and smoke notes, and a very faint hint of pleasant licorice at the end in one bite I sampled. (This latter note disappeared in later bites.) The bar was soy free (it contained sunflower lecithin rather than soy lecithin), gluten free and certified organic and kosher.

Sunday, August 24, 2014

Ritter Sport - Fine Extra Dark Chocolate bar - Aug. 24, 2014

Chocolate of the Day:

Alfred E. Ritter GmbH
Ritter Sport - Fine Extra Dark Chocolate bar
Good
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) total bar
Calories: 138 calories (estimate) in 4 squares
Cost: $2.95 for 1 bar
Purchased from: (information lost)


Willkommen (Welcome) to Day #3 of Chocolate and Ecuador Theme Week.

The Ritter Sport line of chocolate bars from Germany, available with hazelnuts, corn flakes, marzipan, praline, yogurt, and other flavors, are sold in many stores in the U.S. I'd had several of these bars before in previous years.

Today, however, I thought I'd shake things up (fitting, as I was woken up by an earthquake this morning), and went back to basics. I enjoyed a Ritter Sport dark chocolate bar, without flavor inclusions, made "with fine cacao from Ecuador." This bar had been squirreled away in my chocolate vault for just this occasion.

This "Noir Extra fin" chocolate was smooth, dark and bittersweet, a good basic dark bar.

Saturday, August 23, 2014

cacao7 - Skinny Dark Chocolate - August 23, 2014

Chocolate of the Day:

cacao7
Skinny Dark Chocolate - cocoa pods
Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) (estimate) for 1 package
Calories: 120 calories (estimate) in 1 package (3 pieces)
Cost: $3.25 total package of 3 pieces
Purchased from: SweetE Organic, Mill Valley, CA

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

These cacao pod shaped Skinny Dark Chocolates were from cacao7 (Singapore).

The chocolate maker(s) at cacao7 use a unique sweetener -- "Whey Low" Type D (a sugar, made from whey, but apparently without lactose). Known as "skinny sugar" Whey Low apparently has greater sweetening power (i.e. not as much is needed and it is, therefore, less caloric than sugar; and it has a lower glycemic index (GI) rating).

The attractive, solid pod-shaped chocolates had a slight caramelized milk flavor (likely due to the sweetener(s) used). Despite a rich, complex, slightly bitter, dark flavor arc from Ecuadorian Arriba cacao, the texture had a very slight graininess to it. (In fairness, I had stored this chocolate in my chocolate vault for two months before eating this today.)

This product was developed for special diets, and the following attributes were listed on the company's website: "Low sweetener GI of 12, Low carb, Diabetic-friendly, Soy-Free, Gluten-Free, Preservative-Free and Non-GMO."

The company's product description also suggested pairing these 70% cacao dark chocolates with coffee, tea, wine or whisky.




Friday, August 22, 2014

Good Cacao - Coconut Omega-3 bar - Aug. 22, 2014

Chocolate of the Day:

Good Superfood LLC
Good Cacao - Coconut Omega-3 Superfood Chocolate bar
Good + - Very Good
Weight: 1.16 oz. (33.3 g.) / 1.75 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 189 calories in 2/3 bar
Cost: $ N/A - free evaluation bar
Purchased from: N/A sent from Good Superfood, Garden City, ID

Today was Day #8 of Chocolate, Coconut and Vanilla Theme Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate and Ecuador Theme Week.

The Coconut Omega-3 Superfood 72% dark chocolate bar from Good Superfood LLC ( was crafted with several interesting ingredients, including Organic, Rainforest Certified, Heirloom Ecuadorian cacao, Peruvian Lucuma and Maca, Brazilian Cupuacu (a relative of cacao), African Boabab and Madagascar vanilla oil as well as organic vanilla beans.

The coconut flavor was present but much more subtle than the macaroons and pressed health bars with shredded coconut featured earlier this week. I must admit, it was wonderful to taste good Ecuadorian chocolate again. And it's not really fair to compare this chocolate-forward bar with other snack/health bar offerings containing cacao powder.

This Good Cacao Coconut bar (part of a line-up of similar bars) also contained evidence-based and patented nutraceuticals" such as FloraGlo Lutein, Fuji AstroREAL, DSM life'sDHA, Biothera Wellmune, Nutrogenesis WellTrim and Ganeden BC30 Probiotic.

I'm not a biologist, so I can't elaborate on the pros of these nutraceuticals; however, if you're interested, more information about these compounds is available on the company's website. The result was a great-tasting "health" bar with complex, single origin chocolate flavor, and what the company called "socially responsible, functional chocolate."

Thursday, August 21, 2014

Raw Energy And Life - Superfood Macaroons - Aug. 21, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Raw Energy And Life

1.) Superfood Chocolate Macaroon
Good
Weight: 2 oz. (56 g.) total package
Calories: 320 calories in 1 package
Cost: $3.59 for 1 package
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

2.) Superfood Blonde Macaroon
Good
Weight: 2 oz. (56 g.) total package
Calories: 320 calories in 1 package
Cost: $3.59 for 1 package
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

These two Superfood Macaroons from Raw Energy and Life were made from unsweetened coconut, agave nectar, cacao, vanilla extract, goji berries and a touch of sea salt.

The Superfood Blonde Macaroon contained ground almonds, cacao nibs, and mesquite pod powder which gave it a smoother, almost smoky flavor. It seemed less acidic and sweet than its Chocolate sibling -- that contained a bit more cocoa powder (and no almonds).

Yes, both raw, vegan pressed rounds were fun to try; however, the Blonde Macaroon with almonds and cacao nibs was my favorite of the two.

Today was Day #7 of Chocolate, Coconut and Vanilla Theme Week.

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Wonderfully Raw Cacao Nib Coco-Roons - Aug. 20, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Wonderfully Raw
Cacao Nib Coco-Roons
Good
Weight: 1.8 oz. (51 g.) / 6 oz. (170 g.) in total package
Calories: 261 calories in 3 pieces
Cost: $3.49 for 1 package of 8 pieces
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #6 of Chocolate, Coconut and Vanilla Theme Week, and an opportunity to try a few Cacao Nib Coco-Roons from Wonderfully Raw (Watsonville, CA).

Wonderfully Raw offers several flavors of Coco-Roons. (I sampled these Cacao Nib Coco-Roons with Vanilla Maple and Brownie Coco-Roons.) The company uses maple syrup in all their Coco-Roons instead of agave, believing that maple syrup has more health benefits.

Coconut is a strong flavor that does well when either served fresh off the tree (by itself) -- or balanced by other elements (in this case, cacao nibs, nuts and vanilla). I liked the fact that these Cacao Nib Coco-Roons were not too sweet, and the crunchiness from a generous helping of cacao nibs inside this gluten- and dairy-free cookie further balanced the coconut sweet flavor and chewy texture. Almond flour also helped balance the coconut; and the organic vanilla extract added a nice well-rounded, mellow touch of flavor as well.

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Blue Mountain Organics - Coco Joy - August 19, 2014

Chocolate of the Day:

Blue Mountain Organics
Coco Joy
Good - Good +
Weight: 2 oz. (57 g.) in 1 package
Calories: 240 calories in 1 package
Cost: $6.59 for 1 package
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #6 of Chocolate, Coconut and Vanilla Theme Week.

This Coco Joy organic, raw, sprouted superfood bar from Blue Mountain Organics (Floyd, VA) was Non-GMO, Kosher and Vegan. Also, while not nut free (cashew butter was the first ingredient listed), this bar was produced in a peanut free facility.

In addition to the cashew butter, this candy bar alternative contained dates, agave, coconut, cacao, golden flax and, last but not least, vanilla. (I'm rooting for you vanilla; don't get lost in the shuffle.)

The bar was satisfying without being too sweet -- a combination I always appreciate. Flavors were well balanced. The coconut was the dominant flavor, with the outer cacao layer taking a close second. The cashew butter and dates helped keep the bar integrated, moist and chewy. The addition of nuts to coconut and chocolate also seems to mellow coconut flavor -- in a good way.



Monday, August 18, 2014

Eating Right - Chocolate Vanilla cookies - Aug. 18, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Lucerne Foods (Safeway)
Eating Right (for gluten free)
Chocolate Vanilla Flavored Creme Sandwich
Good - Good+
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) 10.6 oz. (300 g.) in total package
Calories: 140 calories in 2 cookies
Cost: (lost information)
Purchased from: Safeway, Palo Alto, CA

I've been writing about a range of chocolate items with coconut and vanilla this week. When these three flavors are combined, chocolate or coconut flavors generally dominate. Very rarely, the vanilla speaks up loudly enough to be heard -- but more often this orchid derivative acts as a soothing peacemaker, bringing some harmony to/between the two stronger flavors, as in today's case.

Today's Eating Right brand Chocolate Vanilla creme sandwich cookies were a gluten-free twist on the traditional chocolate and vanilla sandwich cookie. Happily these gluten-free cookies (made in Germany for Lucerne Foods, part of Safeway) contained natural bourbon vanilla flavor and natural vanilla flavor, and not artificial flavoring.

The vanilla centers were soft and light, and the outside chocolate cookies tasted fresh and crunchy. All in all, the best chocolate and vanilla sandwich cookie I remember tasting.

I enjoyed a non-traditional "milk" with my cookies, made with a blend of iced coconut milk and vanilla yogurt instead. And, while refreshing, the coconut did dominate the vanilla in this blend, despite my best efforts.

Today was Day #4 of Chocolate, Coconut and Vanilla Theme Week.

Sunday, August 17, 2014

Baba Joon's - Coconut Chocolate Chewies - Aug. 17, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Baba Joon's Chocolate Chewies
Coconut
Good
Weight: .53 oz. (14.9 g.) (estimate) in 1 piece / 7.5 oz. (212 g.) in total package
Calories: 60 calories in 1 piece
Cost: $6.50 for 1 package
Purchased from: Baba Joon's Chocolate Chewies website

Today was Day #3 of Chocolate, Coconut and Vanilla Theme Week.

These small, gluten- and dairy- free, Coconut cookies from Baba Joon's* Chocolate Chewies (Morgan Hill, CA) were bursting with fresh and chewy chocolate and coconut flavor. They were sweet, without being overly so.

Made with a short list of ingredients, including cane sugar, organic unsweetened coconut, egg whites, cocoa, pure, gluten-free vanilla, and salt -- these "little chocolate miracles" also came in 19 other flavors. (I'd previously tried the Coconut and Almond flavor earlier this year.)

I paired a Coconut Chocolate Chewie with a dish of all natural, strained vanilla yogurt and fresh fruit.

*And yes, there really is a Baba Joon (Dear Father in Farsi) behind this family business.




Saturday, August 16, 2014

GoodOnYa - Superhero bar - August 16, 2014

Chocolate of the Day:

GoodOnYa
Superhero bar
Good ++
Weight: 2 oz. (57 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 283 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $4.39 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #2 of Chocolate, Coconut and Vanilla Theme Week.

There are many bars now made with raw, organic, gluten free and other natural ingredients. Coconut oil/butter, and shredded or toasted coconut*; cacao nibs or dark chocolate; and vanilla, are popular inclusions.

It's hard to put a name to this growing category of all natural bars that has encompassed energy bars, health or healthy snack bars, protein bars and granola bars in the past. The newest generation of bars often offer more nutrient dense ingredients (often raw or less processed, with no/fewer preservatives) and gluten-free formulations that also taste good. (All welcome trends for someone like me who wants to eat whole foods and can't tolerate gluten.)

I'm thankful for bars like today's Superhero bar from GoodOnYa (Encinitas, CA); it seemed very satisfying to me. Made with raw ingredients, this gluten-, dairy- and soy-free, Non-GMO bar contained cashew butter, honey, coconut flakes, chia seeds, goji berries, and lucuma, as well as ground vanilla pods and maca. (Yes, whole vanilla pods in the mix!) It was the kind of bar I'd feel confident eating during a long hike on a hot (or cold) day.

And speaking of "kind," I paired this GoodOnYa bar with an Almond and Coconut bar from Kind LLC (New York). While this bar packed a sweeter, coconut crunch, this Non-GMO, gluten and dairy free bar was made with whole, identifiable ingredients (I didn't need a label; I could see the ingredients); and it was marketed as very low sodium, and low-glycemic. Again, not your father's candy bar. (Note: There was no chocolate in this fruit and nut bar; but dipping pieces of this bar into chocolate fondue is not out of the question.)

*Note: In fact, this is third coconut-related theme week this year (2014) on ChocolateBanquet.com


Friday, August 15, 2014

Timothy Adams - Coconut Bonbons - Aug. 15, 2014

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

Guppy's Chocolates
Dark Chocolate with a hint of Raspberry bar
(See yesterday's entry)

Timothy Adams Chocolates
Coconut
Good +
Weight: .4 oz. (11.32 g.) (estimate) in 1 piece
Calories: 60 calories in 1 piece
Cost: $2.25 (estimate) for 1 bonbon
Purchased from: Timothy Adams Chocolates

Coconut Caramel
Good ++ - Very Good
Weight: .4 oz. (11.32 g.) (estimate) in 1 piece
Calories: 60 calories in 1 piece
Cost: $2.25 for 1 bonbon
Purchased from: Timothy Adams Chocolates

Today was the last day of Chocolates of Northern Yorkshire Theme Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate, Coconut and Vanilla Theme Week.

Guppy's Chocolates, Yorkshire Puddings
I used yesterday's Guppy's Chocolates (York, Northern Yorkshire, U.K.) dark raspberry bar as the basis for a chocolate sauce over gluten-free Yorkshire puddings. I added smoke-infused olive oil and sea salt to the puddings. And to the chocolate pieces I melted for the sauce, I added fresh English lavender buds, lemon infused olive oil and butter, to this chocolate to make a fruit and floral warm chocolate sauce. Apologies to those who find this California deviation from the original Yorkshire puddings offensive. But, they did taste good.

Timothy Adams Chocolates
And now, I move on to chocolate, coconut and vanilla. A holy trinity to some, and not so much to others (who dislike coconut). Timothy Adams Chocolates, a new shop in Palo Alto, CA, had on display several interesting chocolate covered bonbons.

Two coconut flavors caught my eye. The Coconut bonbon, drizzled with a slender thread of white (vanilla?) icing offered a concentrated tasty burst of finely shredded tropical coconut flavor and texture.

And the Coconut Caramel chocolate had a wonderful layering of fresh caramel, chocolate and coconut flavors. I commented to Timothy Woods (the "Timothy" in Timothy Adams) that I loved the layering of these flavors and he mentioned his background as a chef. No surprise then. I look forward to trying other flavors soon.

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