Chocolate of the Day: Valenza Chocolatier
Tartaruga
Good +++
Weight: 2 oz. (56.6 g.) (estimate) in 1 piece
Calories: 298 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: N/A - sample from Valenza Chocolatier
Purchased from: N/A - sample from Valenza ChocolatierWelcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and Italian Holiday Theme Week.
Thank you to Amy Jo Pedone at Valenza Chocolatier (Costa Mesa, CA) for sending along three extra chocolate items—after I ordered her Valenza chocolate holiday sleeve (6-piece holiday assortment) for this week's theme week.
Among these three additional chocolates was today's Tartaruga (Italian for turtle). A turtle in confection parlance refers to a chocolate-covered caramel patty with nuts. Usually there are four nuts that protrude from the patty making the piece resemble a turtle. (Pecan halves make the most convincing turtle feet.)
The Valenza Tartaruga with pecans was a high-end version of a traditional caramel turtle, made with smooth 61% cacao Venezuelan single origin, Fair Trade dark chocolate.* (The prize-winning turtle was awarded a Fair Culinary Arts Blue Ribbon in 2013.)The interior golden caramel (sugar, organic butter, organic cream, corn syrup and vanilla) tasted authentic and richly substantial.
*Valenza Chocolatier specializes in Italian inspired single bean origin and fair trade chocolates and confections, with no preservatives. Chocolate creation magic is conducted at the Hood Kitchen Space in Costa Mesa, CA.
