Sunday, November 30, 2014

Lindt Strawberry bar + Rose berry Shrub - Nov. 30, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Lindt and Sprungli
Strawberry Dark bar
OK+ - Good
Weight: .35 oz. (10 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 50 calories in 1 square
Cost: $2.50 (sale) for 1 bar
Purchased from: CVS Pharmacy, Los Altos, CA

Today was Day #4 of Chocolate, Rose and Strawberry Theme Week.

This Strawberry dark bar was a relative newcomer in the line of "Excellence" premium chocolate bars from Lindt and Sprungli (based in Switzerland; with manufacturing in France and operations in the U.S.).

I had a similar strawberry chocolate bar yesterday with excellent, natural-tasting pieces of organic, freeze-dried strawberries embedded in dark chocolate. Today's Lindt Strawberry dark (47%) bar was fine but the tiny strawberry bits in today's bar seemed to have an artificially pumped up flavor and aroma. I would have liked to try this bar with just natural strawberry flavoring.

Rose Strawberry "Shrub"
To accompany today's Strawberry chocolate bar I made a non-alcoholic version of a shrub (a cocktail made with a bit of fruit vinegar syrup). Rosewater, strawberry syrup, framboise (raspberry) vinegar, and a dash of berry anti-oxidant juice went into this virgin Rose Strawberry* Shrub, along with water and ice. It was very refreshing, and I look forward to trying this drink with other chocolate desserts in the future.

*As noted in a previous post, the rose family is quite large, and includes strawberries, raspberries, and other berries and fruits.

Saturday, November 29, 2014

Cocoa Parlor - Strawberry Mermaid Bar - Nov. 29, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Cocoa Parlor Chocolaterie
(a division of Tonic Scene)
Strawberry Mermaid 67% Cacao bar
Weight: .705 (20 g.) / 2.82 oz. (80 g.) in total bar
Calories: 109 calories in 1/4 bar
Cost: $4.99 in 1 bar
Purchased from: Piazza's Fine Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #3 of Chocolate, Rose and Strawberry Theme Week.

Strawberries (raspberries, apples and many other fruits) are all relatives of the rose family, and all these tend to add some pleasingly complementary tart sweetness, or sweet floral flavor, to chocolate. And a glass of rosewater flavored iced tea was a good match for this bar.

The Strawberry Mermaid bar from Cocoa Parlor Chocolaterie (a division of Tonic Scene, Dana Point, CA) was made with 67% Peruvian cacao. Bursts of authentic flavor from freeze-dried, organic, strawberry bits gave this dark bar was a big plus.

This bar was vegan, soy-free and gluten-free, and made with dark chocolate that was sustainably grown, responsibly harvested and traded.



Friday, November 28, 2014

3,000 Chocolates - An Ethereal Celebration - Nov. 28, 2014

Chocolate(s) of the Day:

Today, the day after Thanksgiving, was a special day. It had to do with the number 3 -- or more specifically the number 3,000.

And, no, I didn't spend "Black Friday" buying a chocolate diamond ring for $3,000, or ordering the Snoozy Sleeper Chocolate 3000 (a chocolate colored fur rug, for dogs actually). I did not watch a B-movie about chocolate as part of a Mystery Science Theater 3000 re-run. Nor did I have lunch with musical star Andre 3000 (of Outkast) to propose a new chocolate song for him.

I did, however, eat my 3,000th different chocolate today -- a daily habit that began in 2006.
And, in keeping with today's numerical theme, I enjoyed three chocolates, from three different makers/vendors, from three different places, at different times today.

Restaurant 3000
I wanted to incorporate the number 3000 into a chocolate today. But, it's not like I could just find a place like "The 3000 Restaurant," right? Well, after a search, suggestion (Thanks John!), I found the "Restaurant 3000" -- a Bay Area establishment that focuses on fresh and local foods.

And, for breakfast, I enjoyed a rich, creamy and delicious chocolate panna cotta dessert from Restaurant 3000 (Menlo Park, CA).

Restaurant 3000
Chocolate Pot de Creme style dessert (in a mason jar)
Very Good
Weight: unknown
Calories: unknown
Cost: $6.00 for 1 dessert/jar
Purchased from: Restaurant 3000, Menlo Park, CA

Restaurant 3000, located in Silicon Valley, specializes in local fare, fresh produce, and has a full menu for lunches as well as catered events.

Ethereal Bar - SweetE Organic
For lunch, I had the pleasure of sharing with family a great three inclusion bar: the Strawberries + Rose Petals + Pink Peppercorn bar from Ethereal Confections (Woodstock, IL). I picked up this bar at SweetE Organic (Mill Valley, CA), and part of Chocolate and Rose Theme Week.

Ethereal Confections
Strawberries + Rose Petals + Pink Peppercorn bar
Very Good
Weight: 1.5 oz. (42.45 g.) / 2.25 oz. (63.6 g.) in total bar
Calories: 225 calories (estimate) in 1.5 oz. (42.45 g.)
Cost: $6.00 (estimate)
Purchased from: SweetE Organic, Mill Valley, CA

This 66% cacao, bean-to-bar, dark chocolate bar was occupied by a shower of very pretty, pink inclusions; and it had well-balanced hints of strawberry and rose/floral flavor. The pink peppercorn was very subtle, allowing the more subtle flavors to shine. Thank you to Elana at SweetE Organic for pointing out these hand-crafted bars from the Chicago area.

Triple Ginger Bar - The Chocolate Garage
Last, but not least, I stopped by The Chocolate Garage (Palo Alto, CA) -- the home of many favorite chocolates. No, there was no Austin Healey 3000 sports car with a two-tone chocolate paint job in this garage. Just wonderful, great tasting chocolates with a happy supply chain. It was here that I picked up a Limited Edition Triple Ginger Bar from Patric Chocolate to celebrate another of today's "3"-related milestone. (I've already featured the Triple Ginger Bar earlier this month, but it was worth re-tasting and buying a few for gifts.)

I was also introduced to a great trio of chocolates from Franceschi Chocolate (Caracas, Venezuela) by chocolate curator extraordinaire, Sunita de Tourreil. Look forward to featuring these in a future Chocolate and Venezuela Theme Week.

Other Flights of Fancy x 3,000
If I'd had time, I might have flown to Paris or, more likely given time constraints, the Paris hotel and casino in Las Vegas, for a chocolate souffle. Or, I might have gone to the Bellagio (Las Vegas, NV) to see three chocolate items: 1.) the floor-to-ceiling chocolate fountain at Jean-Philippe Patisserie, or 2.) their chocolate holiday display -- like the giant gingerbread house (made with 1,000 pounds of (3,000) chocolate logs) that was created in November 2012. Or, 3.) perhaps, in a gluten-free world, I could have had a slice of a beautiful 3,000 calorie chocolate "ribbons and roses" celebration cake.

So many chocolates left to try. Perhaps I'll work in another chocolate fantasy trip for the next major milestone on my chocolate odometer -- my 4,000th chocolate, in August 2017.




Thursday, November 27, 2014

Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate + Fig + Rose - Nov. 27, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Trader Joe's
Organic Dark Chocolate 73% Cacao Super Dark bar
Good ++ - Very Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 158 calories for 1 oz. (14.1 g.) piece of chocolate
Cost: $1.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Trader Joe's, Palo Alto, CA

Happy Thanksgiving to all in the U.S. I'm thankful for time spent with family, and for all the people growing cacao and making great chocolate.

Today was the last day of Chocolate and Fig Theme Week, and the first day of Chocolate and Rose Theme Week.

With this many food and chocolate flavors intersecting today (I'm giving pumpkin a rest this year), I decided to make a trio of small shotglass desserts with chocolate. What's better than one dessert? Desserts that are so tiny, you can have more than one.

All three of these desserts incorporated chocolate from today's Organic 73% Super Dark bar from Trader Joe's (Monrovia, CA).

The first dessert, served warm, consisted of brandy-marinated figs, atop a layer of chopped bacon, topped with a layer of melted dark chocolate in a shotglass.

The second tiny dessert was a fig bread pudding -- with chopped figs and gluten-free raisin cinnamon toast, topped with chopped pecans, cinnamon, freshly grated nutmeg, and chocolate shavings.

Last but not least, the third small glass was filled with greek yogurt flavored with rosehip jam, rosewater and cardamom, and topped with chopped, roasted and salted pistachio nuts. and chocolate shavings.

The Trader Joe's Super Dark bar was smooth, dark fun, with fudgy and nutty flavors. This organic bar was perfect by itself, or for livening up a dessert.

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Sapore Messo Chocolate Balsamic Vinegar + figs - Nov. 26, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Sapore Messo Foods
Dark Chocolate Balsamic Vinegar
Good++
Weight: 1 teaspoon / 375 mL (12.07 oz.) in total bottle
Calories: 6 calories (estimate) in 1 teaspoon
Cost: $12.00 (estimate)
Purchased from: Sapore Messo Foods table, Farmers Market, OFJCC, Palo Alto, CA

The days are growing shorter, and it's time to turn to the dark side. By that, I mean Dark Chocolate Balsamic Vinegar -- that can be used to liven up all sorts of dishes.

Drizzle this Sapore Messo (San Jose, CA) balsamic over some figs on gluten-free toast with some great olive oil, and you have a great sweet and savory tapas plate. Or create a fig bruschetta. (The company also offers several other flavored olive oils and balsamic vinegars, including a fig balsamic. The balsamic vinegar they work with is from Modena, Italy.)

A small amount of this dark chocolate balsamic vinegar imparts powerful flavor, so use sparingly on lighter dishes, such as fruit salads. This type of product invites experimentation. And, I'm going to experiment next with a small shake of this balsamic vinegar on a mango, blackberry and sage salad for the upcoming Thanksgiving long weekend.

Any fruits or berries that pair well with dark chocolate (strawberries, raspberries, orange, etc.) would likely work well also. Add a dollop of greek yogurt and grate a little dark chocolate over the top and you have a fruit salad that could easily serve as dessert.

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



Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Blanxart Dark Chocolate + Figgies and Jammies - Nov. 25, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Blanxart
Chocolate Negro (Dark Chocolate)
Good - Good +
Weight: .5 oz. (14.1 g.) / 1.7 oz. (48 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 79 calories (estimate) in .5 oz. (14.1 g.) piece of bar
Cost: $2.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: (unknown, lost information)

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

When I think of figs and chocolate, I think about Spain and other Mediterranean countries and the many wonderful ways to enjoy figs (with goat cheese; with sherry, port and various liqueurs; in savory dishes or in salads; etc.).

Today's 62% cocoa Chocolate Negro (Dark Chocolate) bar from Blanxart (Barcelona, Spain) was wrapped in gold foil and a brown paper outer wrapper with a hand block-printed image look from centuries past. This bar would likely have harmonized nicely with figs and sherry, then as now.

If you're in dessert snack mode, and prefer to skip the sherry, try a piece of this chocolate bar with a Mission Fig "Figgies and Jammies" cookie from Pamela's Products (Ukiah, CA). These gluten-free cookies had a cake-like exterior that enveloped a jam-like fig and fruit filling. Or you could melt the chocolate and use it as a fondue to dip your cookie or pieces of cut up fresh figs, peaches, apples, berries or other fruit.

There are days when it's easy to get carried away with pairings -- like today. This smooth, relatively sweet, dark chocolate bar was also perfectly fine all by itself.



DOTI Berry Allure - Figs in Chocolate - Nov. 24, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

DOTI (Chocolate Manufacturer)
(Chicago Importing Co.)
Berry Allure - Figs in Chocolate
Good ++ - Very Good
Weight: 1.41 oz. (40 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total package
Calories: 150 calories (estimate) in 7 pieces
Cost: $6.95 for 1 package/bag
Purchased from: Draegers - San Mateo, CA

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

The Berry Allure brand Figs In Chocolate were from DOTI (a Polish chocolate manufacturer). The company specializes in European chocolate covered fruits and nuts.

Chewy pieces of fig had a hint of butterscotch brown sugar flavor and were coated with Belgian chocolate. I found them somewhat addictive. Not too much sugar, but just the right amount of natural fig sweetness.





Sunday, November 23, 2014

3D Candies - Blue Cheese White Fig caramels - Nov. 23, 2014

Chocolate of the Day:

3D Candies
Blue Cheese White Fig chocolate caramels
Good - Good +
Weight: .672 oz. (19 g.) / 3.36 oz. (95 g.) in total package
Calories: 100 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: $14.99 for 1 package of 5 pieces
Purchased from: Draegers, San Mateo, CA

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

3D Candies (Sacramento, CA) offers several caramels, and has developed successful relationships with wineries over time -- which likely leads to fun and interesting food and chocolate taste test research with wine.

Today's 3D Blue Cheese and White Fig, non-GMO, chocolate-covered caramels might pair well with some wines. (Perhaps port or sherry and some savory, roasted walnuts would make an interesting trio?)

Each of the five pieces in this package were decorated with a slice of dried white fig. I didn't taste any blue cheese flavor in these caramels. While some will revel in the generous sweet caramel filling, I might be tempted to add a few grains of sea sea salt or savory flavor to balance the sweetness.

As with any caramel or filled chocolate, make sure you buy a fresh package.



Saturday, November 22, 2014

The Oakland Chocolate Co. - Fig Butter Bar - Nov. 22, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

The Oakland Chocolate Co.
Fig Butter Bar
Good +
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 149 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $3.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Oakland Chocolate Co., Oakland, CA

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

This dark chocolate Fig Butter Bar was hand-crafted by Nancy Nadel at The Oakland Chocolate Co. (Oakland, CA). The chocolate was made from scratch using single origin, Jamaican cacao beans. And the tiny filling cavities were bursting with dried chopped fig, and hints of orange zest, lemon and sea, salt yielding a small bar that was full of concentrated flavor.






Friday, November 21, 2014

The Oakland Chocolate Co. - 85% Fig, Pumpkin seed bark - Nov. 21, 2014

Chocolate of the Day:

The Oakland Chocolate Co.
85% Cacao Chocolate Bark - Fig, Pumpkin and Hemp Seeds
Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2.5 oz. (70.75 g.) in total bag/package
Calories: 149 calories (estimate) in 1 oz. piece of bark
Cost: $5.50 for 1 bag/package
Purchased from: The Oakland Chocolate Co., Oakland, CA

Welcome to Day #1 of Chocolate and Fig Theme Week. Cold weather tends to enhance my appreciation of rich, concentrated flavors, like those found in dried fruits. So, while fresh figs are wonderful, I'm focusing on great chocolates made with dried figs this week.

Today's dark chocolate and fig offering from The Oakland Chocolate Co. (Oakland, CA) came in the form of thin shards of 85% (Jamaican) cacao bark, adorned with small slices of dried figs. Green pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds and small, sparkling crystals of sea salt added great, well-balanced texture and flavor.

When so many other holiday barks are loaded with sugar, this one stands out as a less-sweet, tasty, dark alternative. 

Thursday, November 20, 2014

The Oakland Chocolate Co. - Chipotle Lime Bar - Nov. 20, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

The Oakland Chocolate Co.
Chipotle Lime Bar
Good ++ - Very Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 149 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $2.50 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Oakland Chocolate Co., Oakland, CA

I do like citrus flavors, and they stand up well when blended with dark chocolate. Today's Chipotle Lime Bar with Fleur de Sel was a fun and well-balanced bar -- with just the right amount of candied lime zest, fleur de sel, and a hint of chipotle pepper.

Created by chocolate maker, Nancy Nadel, owner of The Oakland Chocolate Co. (Oakland, CA), this 70% dark chocolate bar was crafted from single origin cacao beans from Saint Mary Parish in Northeast Jamaica.

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

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

The Oakland Chocolate Co. - One Love Very Dark Bar - Nov. 19, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

The Oakland Chocolate Co.
"One Love" Very Dark Bar
Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28.35 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 149 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $2.25 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Oakland Chocolate Co., Oakland, CA

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

For a pure Jamaican dark chocolate experience you might try the "One Love" Very Dark Bar from The Oakland Chocolate Co. (Oakland, CA).

This smaller sized bar (just the right size for me) was smooth in texture, and had a robust, Jamaican Origin 85% cacao flavor profile.






Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Jamaican Chocolate Tea, Turtle Square - Nov. 18, 2014

Chocolate(s) of the Day:

Jamaican Hot Chocolate Tea
(made with grated bean-to-bar chocolate, cinnamon, other)
Good ++ - Very Good
Weight: 9 oz. (estimate) serving
Calories: 300 calories (estimate) in 1 serving
Cost: $ (various sources)
Purchased from: (various sources)

The Best Chocolate in Town
Turtle Square
Good
Weight: 1.75 oz. (49.5 g.) (estimate) for 1 piece
Calories: 262 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: $ N/A - gift from a friend - Thank you Toni!
Purchased from:  N/A - gift from a friend

Today was Day #5 of Chocolate and Jamaica Theme Week. Our warm California sun disappeared today behind the clouds and a cooler weather front. So, I searched for recipes for a hot Jamaican Chocolate Tea that I'd read about.

This Jamaican style chocolate beverage, or my facsimile thereof, was close to what we call hot chocolate in the U.S., although more flavorful than our hot cocoa. Ingredients include: grated chocolate (not cocoa powder), water, and cinnamon (leaves and/or bark) carefully brewed together, and sweetened with condensed milk, sugar, and sometimes a dash of salt.

I enjoyed the Jamaica hot chocolate tea with a chocolate Turtle Square from The Best Chocolate in Town shop (Indianapolis, IN) that I received from a friend. This generously sized square-shaped turtle was filled with chewy chopped nuts and caramel.

After this warm, cinnamon-spiced chocolate and hearty square, it made it easier to imagine being on a beach in Jamaica, maybe watching some turtles in the sea.

Monday, November 17, 2014

The Oakland Chocolate Co. - Black Pepper Cherry Bar - Nov. 17, '14



Chocolate of the Day: 

The Oakland Chocolate Co.
Black Pepper Sweet Cherry Bar
Good ++ - Very Good 
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 149 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $2.50 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Oakland Chocolate Co., Oakland, CA

Dried sweet cherries harmonized with dark chocolate, in today's slightly earthy, Black Pepper Sweet Cherry Bar from The Oakland Chocolate Co. (Oakland, CA). A light sprinkle of black pepper and sea salt gave this 70% cacao bar a balanced, complementary flavor zing.

Chocolate maker, Nancy Nadel, sources cacao beans from a single Parish (Saint Mary) in Jamaica to craft her bean-to-bar (or bonbon) chocolate that serves as a base for her offerings.

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

The Oakland Chocolate Co. - One Love - Nov. 16, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

The Oakland Chocolate Co.
One Love Pineapple Bar
Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) in total package
Calories: 149 calories (estimate) in 1 package
Cost: $2.50 for 1 package
Purchased from: The Oakland Chocolate Co., Oakland, CA

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

The One Love Pineapple Bar from The Oakland Chocolate Co. (Oakland, CA) was the perfect size for a single serving of dark chocolate.

Small pieces of embedded dried pineapple imparted sweet, tropical fruit flavor in this 70% bar made from Jamaican cacao beans. 

Saturday, November 15, 2014

Rogue - Jamaica 75% bar - Nov. 15, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Rogue Chocolatier Inc.
Jamaica 75% chocolate bar
Good ++  - Very Good
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 2.12 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 159 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $16.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Chocolate Garage, Palo Alto, CA

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

This Jamaica 75% dark chocolate bar from Rogue Chocolatier (Three Rivers, MA) was crafted from two ingredients: 75% cacao from Bachelor's Hall Estate in Jamaica + 25% organic cane sugar from the Green Cane Project in Brazil.

Picking quality ingredients is a great first step, but doesn't guarantee success when making chocolate from scratch. Technical excellence and consistent execution are important during each step when making bean-to-bar chocolate.

A glossy, well-tempered bar will break with a hard snap and will look like this Rogue Jamaica bar. It will also have a complex, smooth dark flavor.

The tasting, or profile, notes on the packaging for this chocolate mentions notes of star fruit, tobacco and spices. Perhaps. The flavor profile was indeed rich in cacao flavor, but I found it was generally more subtle and smooth than these notes suggested. And, it's important to note that a well-executed bar doesn't necessarily require any extra acrobatic flavor handsprings to be really great.





Friday, November 14, 2014

The Oakland Chocolate Co. - Chocolate Caramel Graham Cookie - Nov. 14, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

The Oakland Chocolate Co., LLC
Chocolate Covered Caramel Graham Cookie
Good ++
Weight: 3 oz. (85 g.) (estimate) in 1 package
Calories: 398 calories (estimate) in 1 package
Cost: $3.00 for 1 package
Purchased from: The Oakland Chocolate Co., Oakland, CA

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

What a treat to have a gluten free version of a caramel cookie confection like this. This Chocolate Covered Caramel Graham Cookie was created by Nancy Nadel at The Oakland Chocolate Co. (Oakland, CA).

Inside this confection was a crunchy, gluten-free graham style cookie square topped with a thin luscious layer of soft, coconut palm sugar caramel. The cookie was covered with single origin, bean-to-bonbon, Jamaican dark chocolate (+ a dark chocolate heart shape "drawn" across the top). And it was gone in no time.






Thursday, November 13, 2014

Dick Taylor - Dominican Finca Elvesia bar - Nov. 13, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Dick Taylor Craft Chocolate
Dominican Finca Elvesia bar
Good ++ - Very Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2 oz. (56.6 g.) in total bar
Calories: 150 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $8.50 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: N/A - gift from a friend

Today was the last day (Day #7) of Chocolate and Dominican Republic Theme Week.

Dark chocolate single origin bars showcase nuanced flavors from a given region, or even a single farm (finca) or plantation.

Today's 74% Dominican Republic Finca Elvesia bar from Dick Taylor Craft Chocolate (Arcata, CA) was no exception.

Made with only two ingredients (organic cacao and cane sugar), this DR bar was pure, unadulterated, finely concentrated, rich (subtlely smoky and earthy) dark flavor.

Co-founders Dustin Taylor and Adam Dick put the "craft" in craft chocolate -- from the chocolate itself (and latticed bar molds), to the careful graphic, printing and packaging design. You get the idea these two makers enjoy mastering the art and science of creating and building...just about anything that interests them.






Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Salazon - Sea Salt and Pepper Bar - Nov. 12, 2014

Chocolate of the Day:

Salazon Chocolate Co., LLC
Organic Dark Chocolate with Sea Salt and crushed Black Pepper
Good - Good +
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total bar
Calories: 140 calories in 1/3 bar
Cost: $4.00 (estimate)
Purchased from: (information lost)

Today was Day #6 of Chocolate and Dominican Republic Theme Week.

Chocolate and salt have become popular partners. Today's Organic Dark Chocolate bar with sea salt from Salazon Chocolate Co. (Eldersburg, MD) goes one step further by adding a light sprinkle of organic finely ground black pepper (from India).

The company founders have built their product line around single origins dark bars with salt and other inclusions. In addition to today's Dominican Republic Sea Salt and Black Pepper bar, other sea salt bars are paired with caramel, coffee, sugar, almonds, coconut and cayenne, respectively.

I enjoyed reading the origin story printed on the bar's packaging:

Origin Story:
"Sitting around a campfire during a backpacking trip in 2009, we were struck with the idea that a salted-dark chocolate bar would be the perfect energy food. So, after visiting organic cacao farms in the Dominican Republic and perfecting the recipe, we launched Salazon Chocolate Co.

Our single-origin (Dominican Republic) organic chocolate is made using only the famous Hispaniola cacao beans, which have been fermented and sun-dried. Then each bar is hand-sprinkled with natural, solar-evaporated sea salt."

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Organic Nirvana - Dark Crispy Rice Coconut bar - Nov. 11, 2014

Chocolate of the Day:

Organic Nirvana
72% Dark Chocolate with Crispy Rice and Coconut bar
Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 154 calories (estimate) in 2/7 bar (per label)
Cost: $5.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate and Dominican Republic Theme Week.

Today's "Made with love in Belgium*" Organic Nirvana, 72% dark chocolate bar was made with organic and fair trade certified cacao from the Dominican Republic. (Trinitario beans were used for this smooth dark bar.)

Filled with tiny bits of crispy brown rice and coconut, the bar was evenly infused with coconut flavor and a slightly crunchy texture. The coconut flavor was just strong enough that it was difficult to detect more subtle notes in the chocolate; although there was certainly nothing objectionable.

*This gluten-free, Non-GMO bar was made in Belgium for Belgium's Chocolate Source (Wellesley, MA).


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