Ben and Jerry's - Triple Caramel Chunk Ice Cream - July 31, 2016

Chocolate of the Day: 

Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream
Triple Caramel Chunk Ice Cream
Good
Weight: 1/2 cup (85 g.) / 1 Pint (473 mL) in total container
Calories: 270 calories in 1/2 cup serving
Cost: $4.39 (estimate) for 1 container
Purchased from: Safeway, (missing info on location/city), CA

Welcome to Day #6 of Chilled Chocolate Theme Week.

I feel like a hypocrite. Most of the time, I find less sweet chocolate items to be far more likeable. However, occasionally sugar has its place, and sometimes that involves caramel or toffee flavors blended with chocolate. It takes a deft hand not to overplay the sweet, but today's entry managed to defy the odds.

Today's Triple Caramel Chunk Ice Cream from Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream (South Burlington, Vermont) had wonderful ribbons of authentic-tasting caramel running through a base of super creamy caramel ice cream. The rich (high-fat content of the) ice cream helped to balance out the first two aspects of sweet caramel.

The third "caramel" element in this triple play involved small fudge-covered "caramel chunks" that helped boost the caramel flavor, and introduced occasional bursts of chocolate texture and taste.

A small serving of today's ice cream will satisfy most sweet teeth.

Three Twins Ice Cream - Organic Chocolate Malt - July 30, 2016

Chocolate of the Day: 

Three Twins Ice Cream
Organic Chocolate Malt ice cream
Good +
Weight: 1/8 cup (21.25 g.) / 1 Pint (473 mL) in 1 container
Calories: 52.5 calories in 1/8 cup serving
Cost: $1.99 (estimate) for 1 pint container
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #5 of Chilled Chocolate Theme Week.

Today's Organic and Fair Trade Certified Chocolate Malt Ice Cream was from Three Twins (Petaluma, CA).

This chocolate ice cream was suffused with a classic and natural-tasting malt flavor. Malted milk and related malt shop offerings of childhood likely served as an inspiration for today's Organic Chocolate Malt Ice Cream; only this creamy dessert was implemented with a level of higher quality than I remember.

Technically, I haven't had malt anything for years*, but I made an exception here, and ate 1/4 of a typical serving. I've been a Three Twins ice cream fan for quite some time, so I couldn't resist.

*Malt is usually made from barley, and is not gluten free. Technically you could make malt from corn (using a similar process of soaking, sprouting, drying, etc.), but I have yet to do research into this area and which manufacturers might be using this process in conventional chocolate malt products.

G.S. Gelato - Chocolate Hazelnut Gelato - July 29, 2016

Chocolate of the Day: 

G.S. Gelato
Chocolate Hazelnut Gelato
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1/2 cup (70 g.) / 1 Pint (473 mL) in total container
Calories: 110 calories in 1/2 cup serving
Cost: $1.99 for 1 container
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #4 of Chilled Chocolate Theme Week.

Today's chilled chocolate dessert was a Chocolate Hazelnut Gelato from G.S. Gelato (Fort Walton Beach, FL)

This gelato had a light, smooth texture with a slightly bittersweet, nutty chocolate flavor.

True Italian gelato is often thought to have many of the advantages of ice cream but without all the fat, sugar and additives as can be found in many commercial ice creams in the U.S. (For example, there were only 110 calories in 1/2 cup serving of today's gelato, vs. 210-250 calories in 1/2 cup of many ice creams.) A certain amount of fat is necessary for a creamy mouthfeel and flavor, but I certainly don't miss the extra in well-made gelato.

The "G.S." in G.S. Gelato stands for Guido Tremolini and Simona Faroni. The company was formed "All because two people fell in love." Guido and Simona came to the U.S. in 1996 from Italy "with a dream to share our Passion for truly Authentic Italian gelato and sorbetto..."

This Chocolate Hazelnut Gelato was "Gluten Free, Vegan, Trans Fat Free, Hormone Free."

Petit Pot - Dark Chocolate Pot de Creme - July 28, 2016

Chocolate of the Day: 

Petit Pot
Dark Chocolate Pot de Creme
Good ++ - Very Good
Weight: 3.9 oz. (110 g.) in total serving/jar
Calories: 260 calories in one serving/jar
Cost: $4.49 for 1 serving/jar
Purchased from: Piazza's Fine Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Bienvenue (welcome) to Day #3 of Chilled Chocolate Theme Week.

Today's Dark Chocolate Pot de Creme from Petit Pot (San Francisco, CA) was made with organic milk, cream and sugar.

The small glass jar was full of creamy, silky chocolate texture and flavor. A good pot de creme is rich but also seems to have an almost angelic, uniformly spun lightness to it too. This creme had those qualities.

Petit Pot's Dark Chocolate Pot de Creme was part of a line of French-inspired, small chilled desserts (and packaged cookies).

The company is described as a "blend of age-old French pastry practice with modern California culinary flourishes." More specifically it's the creation of Max (a pastry chef) and Pierre (a food engineer) who both grew up in Southern France and now make their home in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Sweetaly Dolceria - Original Chocolate Mousse - July 27, 2016

Chocolate of the Day: 

Dolce USA LLC
Sweetaly Dolceria
Original Chocolate Mousse
Good+
Weight: 3 fl. oz. (89 g.) in total container/jar
Calories: 250 calories in 1 container/jar
Cost: $3.29 for 1 jar
Purchased from: Piazza's Fine Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Today's single serving jar of Original Chocolate Mousse from Sweetaly Dolceria (Oceanside, CA) was made with 100% dark chocolate, and "simple all natural ingredients."

This chocolate mousse, topped with small chocolate curls, was rich and creamy; and the small serving size was very satisfying and not overly sweet. (Thank you!)

Sweetaly Dolceria is powered by four Italian friends: Oliviero Colmignoli, Michele Sautono, Stefano Amelio and Gaetano Squillante, who joined forces in a kitchen in southern California to create Italy-inspired desserts such as this original chocolate mousse born from memories growing up in Rome.

Other Sweetaly desserts include: original tiramisu, cappuccino panna cotta and sea salted caramel panna cotta.

Today was Day #2 of Chilled Chocolate Theme Week.

Coolhaus - Chocolate Hazelnut AAlto-mond Ice Cream Bars - July 26, 2016

Chocolate of the Day: 

Coolhaus
Chocolate Hazelnut AAlto-mond ice cream bar
Good ++
Weight: 3 fl oz. (86.6 mL) / 9 fl. oz. (266 mL) in total box of 3 bars
Calories: 290 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $6.49 for 1 box of 3 bars
Purchased from: Piazza's Fine Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Hope you all are enjoying summer. This morning I found relief from the warm weather with the first of several cold chocolate items. It was Day #1 of Chilled Chocolate Week.

Today's box of 3 Chocolate Hazelnut AAlto-mond Ice Cream Bars from Coolhaus (Los Angeles, CA) was one of a mouth-watering array of custom-made and pre-packaged ice cream creations (sandwiches—aka sammies, bars, pints, etc.) from the company.

Co-founders (Natasha Case and Freya Estreller) create "architecturally inspired gourmet ice cream." Check out their website for a complete explanation.

Today's individually-wrapped bar started with a core of chocolate hazelnut ice cream that was dipped in salted milk chocolate, and then rolled in roasted almonds. Hard to go wrong there. The result was a well balanced blend of creamy, crunchy, chocolatey and nutty. And this rich bar was also gluten free.

Examples of what you might find in a Coolhaus Culver City (or other shop) included ice cream and cookie pies, where you select your favorite combination of cookie crust, ice cream filling and cookie crumbles (topping). Peanut Butter Captain Crunch ice cream pie anyone?

Udi's Chocolate Chia Muffin Tops - July 25, 2016

Chocolate of the Day: 

Udi's Gluten Free
Chocolate Chia Muffin Tops
Good + - Good++
Weight: 2 oz. (57 g.) / 8 oz. (228 g.) in total package of 4 muffin tops
Calories: 160 calories in 1 muffin top
Cost: $1.49 for 1 box of 4
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to the last day (Day #7) of Chocolate Brownie Theme Week.

What was brownie-like about today's "Moist and Tasty" Chocolate Chia Muffin Tops from Udi's (Boulder, CO)?

These were a cross between a brownie, a cookie and a muffin, with some nice added texture from the chia, and level of sugar that was just right, i.e. not excessive. (Thank you!)

These Chocolate Chia muffin tops were gluten free, and dairy, soy and nut free. They were also fortified with vitamins and minerals—something you'd see more in a breakfast food/cereal than a typical brownie.

Udi's Gluten Free, a Division of GFA Brands, Inc., also offers gluten free Soft and Chewy Dark Chocolate Brownie Bites and Double Chocolate Muffins.

Back to Nature - Double Chocolate Cherry Brownie Cookies - July 24, 2016

Chocolate of the Day: 

Back to Nature Foods Co., LLC
Double Chocolate Cherry Brownie Cookies
Good
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 8 oz. (226 g.) in total box
Calories: 130 calories in 2 cookies
Cost: $6.49 for 1 box of about 16 cookies
Purchased from: Piazza's Fine Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate Brownie Theme Week.

Today's Double Chocolate Cherry Brownie Cookies were from Back to Nature (Naples, FL).

These brownie cookies were made with "semisweet chocolate, agave syrup, sweetened dried cherries, (and) milled chia with white and brown rice flour."

The sweet and somewhat brownie-esque cookies were enlivened by bits of dried cherries. They were also Non-GMO Project Verified, Certified Gluten-Free, kosher, and dairy-free, egg-free and trans-fat free.

Back to Nature makes cookies, crackers, soups, cereals and other foods; and the company's history dates back to 1960.

Cup4Cup - Chocolate Brownie Mix with Gluten Free Flour - July 23, 2016

Chocolate of the Day: 

Cup4Cup, LLC
Chocolate Brownie Mix with Gluten Free Flour
Good+
Weight: .95 oz. (27 g.) for 1/15 dry mix / 14.25 oz. (404 g.) in total dry mix
Calories: 170 calories in 1 (baked) brownie (1/15 batch)
Cost: $9.89 for 1 box of mix
Purchased from: Draeger's Market, Los Altos, CA

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate Brownie Theme Week.

This batch of chocolate brownies was another entry in the gluten free mix category this week. The "Chocolate Brownie Mix with Gluten Free Flour" was made (in the U.S.) for Cup4Cup, LLC (Yountville, CA).

These brownies were slightly gooey in the middle and had a subtle flaky, crunchy layer on top (likely encouraged by the 1/2 cup butter). An optional egg would have made these brownies more cake-like, and I think I would have preferred this option.

Although I cooked these for over the recommended time and tested them with a toothpick (which came out clean), these tasted a bit underdone to me. But, if you like a moister, more gooey brownie, these may be for you.

Namaste - Gluten Free Brownie Mix - July 22, 2016

Chocolate of the Day: 

Namaste Foods, LLC
sans gluten Melange a Brownie
(Gluten Free Brownie Mix)
Good - Good +
Weight: 1/24 package (36 g.) / 30 oz. (850 g.) in total mix
Calories: 120 calories in 1/24 box dry mix (1 serving dry mix/brownie)
Cost: $8.99 for 1 box of mix
Purchased from: Draeger's Market, Los Altos, CA

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate Brownie Theme Week.

Today's sans gluten Melange a Brownie (gluten free brownie mix) from Namaste Foods, LLC (Coeur d'Alene, ID) had classic chocolate brownie flavor and texture.

This Non-GMO Verified, Certified Gluten Free and pareve (K) mix was free of 14 common allergens.*

*The mix contained no wheat, gluten, egg, dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, mustard, sulfites, sesame, casein(e), fish, crustaceans and shellfish. The directions called for the addition of egg, oil and hot water.

Anna's Allergen Free - Black Bean Brownies - July 21, 2016

Chocolate of the Day: 

Anna's Allergen Free, Inc.
Black Bean Brownie Mix from Anna
Good +
Weight: 3.5 oz. (99 g.) (estim.) / 14 oz. (396 g.) total box of dry mix
Calories: 285 calories for 1 finished brownie (1/12 of pan)
Cost: $9.79 for 1 box of brownie mix
Purchased from: Draeger's Market, Los Altos, CA

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate Brownie Theme Week.

What did Black Bean Brownies taste like? Well, I found out.

These brownies were evenly smooth, moist and cohesive. They had an interesting taste I couldn't quite nail down—with a very slight chocolate and olive note; and they were not too sweet (which I always like).

Anna's Allergen Free, Inc. (Iowa City, IA) makes certified gluten free baking mixes free of common allergens such as gluten, dairy, corn, soy, nuts and yeast.

Founder, Anna Sobaski, is a celiac and Type 1 diabetic and has a passion for helping people. Her mixes are also Non-GMO Certified and Kosher Certified.

Note: The brownies I made turned out a bit more cake-like due to use of a smaller pan and a slightly bigger egg.

Tin Pot Creamery - Gooey Brownie - July 20, 2016

Chocolate of the Day: 

Tin Pot Creamery
Gooey Brownie
Very Good
Weight: 3.9 oz. (110 g.) (estimate) in 1 brownie
Calories: 410 calories (estimate) in 1 brownie
Cost: $3.25 (estimate) for 1 brownie
Purchased from: Tin Pot Creamery, (Los Altos location), CA

Welcome to  Day #2 of Chocolate Brownie Theme Week.

It was another brownie for breakfast morning. This gluten free Gooey Brownie from the Tin Pot Creamery (Palo Alto, CA) managed to be perfectly firm on the outside and rich and gooey (as advertised) on the inside.

This brownie also kept well in the refrigerator, although nothing beats a fresh, right-out-of-the-oven brownie.

If you're local (to the SF Bay Area), I also recommend Tin Pot's gluten free Chocolate Walnut Cookie—which had a moist brownie quality to it.

de Young Museum - Hazelnut Brownie - July 19, 2016

Chocolate of the Day: 

de Young Cafe
Hazelnut Brownie (gluten free)
Very Good
Weight: 3.9 oz. (110 g.) (estimate) in 1 brownie
Calories: 430 calories (estimate) in 1 brownie
Cost: $4.50 for 1 brownie
Purchased at: de Young Cafe, de Young Museum, San Francisco, CA

Welcome to Day #1 of Chocolate Brownie Theme Week.*

Recently, I attended a Flower Piano day in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. Different pianos were available to play in the different gardens inside Golden Gate Park's Botanical Garden in San Francisco. It was a great idea, and a beautiful day outside.

Lunch at the de Young Museum's de Young Cafe followed; and I picked up a gluten-free Hazelnut Brownie "to go" that I saved for today.

This dense, fudgey, nutty brownie had a very pleasing brownie aroma, flavor and texture. It was populated with visible flecks of nut and had subtle hazelnut flavor.

I wish I could credit who made this brownie, but I don't have this information. Thank you to the Cafe team for providing gluten-free choices and great-tasting, healthy food.

*As with all chocolates on ChocolateBanquet.com, brownies and other chocolate baked goods featured are gluten free.

Small hazelnut chocolate feast - July 18, 2016

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

Cloetta AB
Sperlari Grandperle
Fondente con granella  di torrone - Good
Gianduja con granella di cacao - Good
Weight: .94 oz. (26.6 g.) (estimate) in 2 pieces
Calories: 141 calories (estimate) in 2 pieces
Cost: $n/a from various sources
Purchased from: from various sources

Sjaak's
Hazelnut Butter Bite
Good + - Good++
Weight: .33 oz. (9.42 g.) (estimate) in 1 piece
Calories: 50 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: $0.95 for 1 piece
Purchased from: SweetE Organic, Mill Valley, CA

After extending Chocolate and Hazelnut Theme Week to two weeks, this is the last day of Chocolate and Hazelnut Theme Week(s). It's hard to abandon a great combination like this, but more good things await.

Today's two individually-wrapped chocolate and hazelnut sweets from Cloetta AB's (Kista, Sweden) Sperlari Granperle (from Italy) brand, and Sjaak's (Petaluma, CA) flower-shaped Hazelnut Butter Bite wrapped in light blue foil, were creamy, crunchy and sweet. All good for a post-lunch snack plate today.

The round Fondente con granella di torrone contained a torrone nougat with almond and hazelnut, covered in dark chocolate. (I'd had this chocolate before, but re-tasted with its Gianduja sibling.)

Underneath the sweet chocolate shell of the Gianduja con granella di cacao was a creamy chocolate center with crunchy bits of cacao (nibs I'm presuming). It was a relatively sweet confection, but it was a nice blend of creamy and crunchy. And nibs sometimes tend to balance sweetness.

I'd also sampled Sjaak's Hazelnut Butter Bite before, but it was also re-tasting. It was one luscious, creamy hazelnut butter chocolate. While one could finish this flower-shaped chocolate in one bite, I recommend savoring it and taking at least two.

Tomorrow we transition from hazelnut week to Chocolate Brownie week...with a hazelnut brownie.

NewTree - Milk Chocolate Hazelnut Pralines - July 17, 2016

Chocolate of the Day: 

NewTree
Milk Chocolate Hazelnut Pralines
Good
Weight: .492 oz. (14 g.) / 1.9 oz. (54 g.) in total package
Calories: 68 calories in 2 pieces
Cost: $10.50 for 1 package of 8 pieces
Purchased from: SweetE Organic, Mill Valley, CA

Welcome to Day #15 of Chocolate and Hazelnut Theme Week.

Yesterday I featured Dark Chocolate Hazelnut Pralines from NewTree (Belgium + San Anselmo/San Francisco, CA). And today's I'm featuring the Milk Chocolate version of these same pralines.

Made with 38% cacao (vs. yesterday's 66% cacao dark chocolate version), I expected a big increase in sweetness, but it wasn't too sugary sweet. (Thank you NewTree.)

Like yesterday's dark chocolate pralines, today's milk chocolates were attractively packaged and designed. The hazelnut flavor in this milk chocolate confection was very subtle, and the soft filling had a pleasant slight fruitiness, and a faintly boozy flavor note.

NewTree - Dark Chocolate Hazelnut Pralines - July 16, 2016

Chocolate of the Day: 

NewTree
Dark Chocolate Hazelnut Pralines
Good +
Weight: .492 oz. (14 g.) / 1.9 oz. (54 g.) in total package
Calories: 68 calories in 2 pieces
Cost: $10.50 for 1 package of 8 pieces
Purchased from: SweetE Organic, Mill Valley, CA

Welcome to Day #14 of Chocolate and Hazelnut Theme Week.

The word praline conjures up different images of confections in the U.S., drawn from many different regional traditions.

Today's box of 8 Dark Chocolate Hazelnut Pralines from NewTree (Belgium + San Francisco/San Anselmo, CA in the U.S.) were a compelling take on the praline genre.

After this week's string of gianduja milk chocolates, I half expected a strong hazelnut (butter and nut) flavor when I bit into these filled pralines.

However, these carefully crafted little bars with the NewTree leaf logo were less sweet and more complex than most hazelnut chocolates. (Hurray, less sweet. Thank you.) The hazelnut paste took a back seat to dark chocolate and slightly fruity/raisiny and almost brandy flavors.

Other ingredients included a blend of almond milk + skimmed milk powder, natural praline and vanilla flavorings, and rosemary extract.

Tomorrow I'll sample NewTree hazelnut filled Milk Pralines.

Antica Torroneria Piemontese - Quadrotta Gianduja bar - July 15, 2016

Chocolate of the Day: 

Antica Torroneria Piemontese
Quadrotta -  Cioccolato Gianduja con Nocciole bar
(Chocolate gianduja with hazelnuts bar)
Good
Weight: 1.5 oz. (42.5 g.) / 6 oz. (170 g.) in total bar
Calories: 226 calories (estimate) for 1/4 bar
Cost: $13.95 for 1 large bar
Purchased from: Draeger's, San Mateo, CA

Welcome to Day #13 of Chocolate and Hazelnuts Theme Week.

Today delivered up a large, almost geologic serving of chocolate and hazelnuts from northern Italy—home to a great many chocolate and hazelnut sweets.

The 6 oz. (170 g.) Quadrotta Cioccolato Gianduja con Nocciole bar was from Antica Torroneria Piemontese (Cuneo, Italia), a company located in the heart of the Piemonte (Piedmont) region in northern Italy known for its hazelnuts.

This thick, soft slab of gianduja—sweet milk chocolate (32% cocoa) with hazelnuts (40% of bar's content)—included a generous helping of embedded hazelnut pieces (perhaps roasted with some sugar, although I can't be sure). This chocolate confection was a bit sweet for me, but it was an effective blend of creamy and crunchy, and sweet and nutty.

Clif Bar - Organic Chocolate Hazelnut Butter bar - July 14, 2016

Chocolate of the Day: 

Clif Bar
Organic Chocolate Hazelnut Butter bar
Good - Good+
Weight: 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 230 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $1.79 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Safeway, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #12 of Chocolate and Hazelnut Theme Week(s).

Today's Organic Chocolate Hazelnut Butter bar was from energy bar pioneeer Clif Bar and Company (Emeryville, CA). Hidden beneath a traditional oat-based energy bar exterior was a creamy chocolate nut butter filling (chocolate + hazelnut butter, cashew butter and almond butter).

This bar was part of a new line of Nut Butter Filled bars. (There is also an Organic Chocolate Peanut Butter bar (with chocolate on the outside and peanut butter on the inside).

While not explicitly gluten-free, there were no wheat ingredients listed in this organic bar.

TCHO - Hazelnut Chunk bar - July 13, 2016

Chocolate of the Day:

TCHO
Hazelnut Chunk bar
Good
Weight: .83 oz. (23.3 g.) / 2.5 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 143 calories in 1/3 bar
Cost: $5.29 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Draeger's, San Mateo, CA

Today's Hazelnut Chunk bar was from TCHO (Berkeley, CA)

This bar was made with organic, 53% cacao milk chocolate and it contained an even distribution of diced hazelnuts and hazelnut butter. At only 53% cocoa solids it was a bit sweet for me, but milk chocolate fans may enjoy this bar.

The texture was smooth and cohesive, with a slightly gummy melt. (The bar contained soy lecithin and whole and non-fat milk powder.)

Today was Day #11 of Chocolate and Hazelnut Theme Week(s).

Alda di Provenzano - i Neri hazelnut chocolates - July 12, 2016

Chocolate of the Day: 

Alda di Provenzano
i Neri hazelnut chocolates
Good
Weight: .78 oz. (22.2 g.) / 3.53 oz. (100 g.) in total container
Calories: 117 calories (estimate) in 2 pieces
Cost: $16.95 in 1 container of 9 pieces
Purchased from: Draeger's, San Mateo, CA

Buon appetito and welcome to Day #10 of Chocolate and Hazelnut Theme Week.

Alda di Provenzano (Tuglie, Italy) is located in southern Italy, on Via Aldo Moro.

Today's i Neri hazelnut chocolates came individually wrapped in black wrappers in a metal tin, making them easy to transport and share with friends.

These chocolates had a soft, almost brownie-like filling studded with hazelnut bits.