Thursday, August 31, 2017

Brown-Haley - Mountain Thins Peanut Butter - Aug. 31, 2017

Chocolate of the Day: 

Brown-Haley
Mountain Thins - Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter
Good
Weight: 1.4 oz. (40 g.) / 5.3 oz. (150 g.) in total bar
Calories: 210 calories in 1 serving
Cost: $3.45 for 1 package/bag
Purchased from: Safeway, Alameda, CA

Welcome to Day #9 of Chocolate and the Wild West and Day #2 of Chocolate and Peanuts Theme Week.

To all you cowboys and cowgirls out there: sadly, this Wild West week is ending too soon. There are still so many good wild west themed chocolates and western towns not covered yet. There will have to be another Western week sometime in the future.

One thing we like about the west, and it's worth mentioning again this week, are the mountains: Sierra Nevada, Cascade Mountains, Rockies, Alaska Range and many more rugged peaks and valleys.

Today's Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Mountain Thins were from Brown and Haley (Brown-Haley) (Tacoma, WA), a company probably most well-known for their Almond Roca confections. (On a clear day, company employees may see Mount Rainier (formerly known as Mount Tacoma), the tallest mountain in Washington state and in the Cascade Range, and an active volcano to boot.)

The name "Mountain Thins" is a tie in with the Brown and Haley Mountain Bar line that first debuted with the Mount Tacoma Bar in 1915. (In 1923, the name Tacoma was dropped.) Conventional chocolate "thins" are generally flat rectangles or squares; but today's thins had a more, well, mountainous surface.

Chocolate and peanut butter are natural partners in edible crime. Together, with some crunchy peanuts and the right dose of sea salt and sugar, these Mountain Thins formed a potentially addictive snack.

The Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Thins had a roasted peanut aroma and well-rounded peanut flavor. And the sweet milk chocolate had a touch of creamy touch of peanut butter-like melt and consistency.

Wednesday, August 30, 2017

Kate's Real Food Grizzly Bar - Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate Trail Mix - Aug. 30, 2017

Chocolate of the Day: 

Tram Bars, LLC
Kate's Real Food - Grizzly Bar
Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate Trail Mix
Good
Weight: 3 oz. (85 g.) in total bar
Calories: 360 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $2.99 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: missing information

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate and Wild West Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate and Peanuts Theme Week.

This morning I felt fueled and ready to go, after finishing a Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate Trail Mix Grizzly Bear Pocket Meal from Kate's* Real Food (Victor, ID).


The once abundant grizzly bears have been driven out of most of the Western U.S. The last of these big, magnificent bears are in the northwest (Alaska, Wyoming, Montana and Idaho).

Ingredients for this big substantial oat bar included: Organic Oats, Organic Honey, Organic Peanut Butter, Rice Nuggets, Organic Dark Chocolate.

The bar was slightly chewy and had just the amount of moistness and compressed heft to hang together during the eating process. There was a good balance between peanutty, fruity and oaty flavors. And, while not the shining star in this bar, a hint of rich chocolate added flavor depth. Rice nuggets provided some nice crunch. And, my favorite part: it wasn't too sweet. (Thank you!)

*The eponymous Kate first moved to Jackson Hole, WY, and was a skier. (Being active outdoors in the mountains of the wild west makes you more conscious of good food.) Eventually, with a mindful focus on ingredients, Kate's Real Food was born and along with it a line of trail mix bars.

Tuesday, August 29, 2017

Oberto - Trail Mix Original Beef with Semi-Sweet Chocolate - Aug. 29, 2017

Chocolate of the Day: 

Oberto
Trail Mix - Original Beef
Good +
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2 oz. (57 g.) total package
Calories: 135 calories in 1/2 package
Cost: $3.59 for 1 package
Purchased from: CBH Travel Center (store, gas station), Belle Fourche, SD

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate and the Wild West Theme Week.

Trail mix is wonderful to take camping, hiking, mountaineering or anywhere else lacking immediate access to a stove or other kitchen amenities. Trail mix can be a snack or a meal in a bag. Leave it up to folks in the wild west to beef up trail mix.

Today's Original Beef Trail Mix was from Oberto Sausage Company (Kent, WA). The company is probably best known for Oberto Beef Jerky (original and other flavors); so it made sense to include small pieces of their jerky in a trail mix.

The mix contained nuts (walnuts and pecans), fruit (dried cranberries, golden raisins), seeds (pumpkin, sunflower) and beef jerky; and it had 12 grams of protein, no artificial ingredients and was gluten free. Oh, and small squares of semi-sweet chocolate.

It was a well-balanced mix that wasn't too sweet or salty. Next time I'll try the Sweet and Spicy Beef with pieces of spicy dark chocolate, or the Teriyaki Chicken flavor with dark chocolate pieces. (All flavors carry a gluten free tag.)


Monday, August 28, 2017

Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch...Old Dog Ranch, Torn Ranch chocolate items - Aug. 28, 2017

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

Old Dog Ranch
Chocolate Walnuts
Good +
Weight: 3 oz. (84.9 g.) / 6 oz. (169.8 g.) in total package
Calories: 495 calories (estimate) in 1/2 package
Cost: $9.00 for 1 package
Purchased from: Cavallo Point Mercantile, Ft. Baker, Sausalito, CA


Torn Ranch
Dark Chocolate - The Original Chocolate Caviar
Good +
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 1.75 oz. (50 g.) in total tin
Calories: 142 calories in 1 oz. (28.3 g.)
Cost: $N/A - gift
Purchased from: N/A - gift

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate and Wild West Theme Week.

Ranches were part of the wild west. My siblings and I grew up in a single-story ranch house in the Western suburbs. Many families felt they had a piece of their own ranch, even though most of these houses were part of early tract home developments in the 1900s. We played in tall walnut trees and ate apricots from trees that were remnants of farms and ranches from a previous era.

Today's two chocolates hail from two different ranches in parts of California with some open space left. While these two ranches may not employ the cowboys of yesteryear, they do produce great edibles.

Old Dog Ranch - Chocolate Walnuts
The Old Dog Ranch (Linden, CA) is the closest to a real ranch. This Northern California operation has been a family farm since 1912; and the company produces sustainably grown, organic Chandler* Walnuts, used to make today's chocolate offering.

And boy, do high-quality ingredients matter. These walnuts had delicious, mild (but complex) 3D nut flavor—with a subtle, very pleasing freshly cut wood note, and without any bitterness that some associate with walnuts. The dusting of chocolate (organic sugar, cocoa powder, salt) served as a subtle accent flavor here adding just a touch of sweetness but not too much.

Torn Ranch - Dark Chocolate Caviar
The Dark Chocolate Caviar with a very subtle hint of vanilla hailed from Torn Ranch (Petaluma, CA) provided a complementary counterpoint to today's Old Dog Ranch walnuts. (Torn Ranch also sells fruits, nuts, baked goods and other chocolates.)

Billed as the "original chocolate caviar" these glossy, dark peals or mild, dark chocolate goodness were enjoyable as an a la carte snack; and could be paired with good food, tea, coffee or adult beverages (brandy, whiskey, wine, etc.) as well.

Thank you GreenTown Los Altos (and Present gift shop, Los Altos) for this Torn Ranch tin (part of a gift basket received earlier).

*California, a large exporter of walnuts, has their own native California Black Walnut tree, which is occasionally used as root stock for other walnuts. However, most of the roughly 500,000 tons of walnuts commercially grown in the state each year are cultivars of Persian (English) walnuts. This includes the popular Chandler walnut, which was introduced by (and named after W.H. Chandler, a Professor at) the University of California, Davis, CA in 1979. 

Mostly Chocolates Dark Buffalo and Chubby Chipmunk pattys; Aug. 27, 2017

Chocolate of the Day: 

Mostly Chocolates, LLC
Dark Chocolate Bison/Buffalo piece
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.5 g. (42 g.) (estimate) / 5-6 oz. (estimate)  in total piece
Calories: 225 calories (estimate) in 1.5 oz. piece
Cost: $11.95 for 1 piece
Purchased from: Mostly Chocolates, Rapid City, South Dakota

Chubby Chipmunk
Dark Salty Patty - Good - Good +
Turtle Patty - Good
Weight: Unknown
Calories: Unknown
Cost: $8.00 (estimate) for 2 pieces
Purchased from: Sugar Sweet Candy Store, Rapid City, SD

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate and Wild West Theme Week.

Today's chocolates were from South Dakota.

Mostly Chocolates - Dark Chocolate buffalo
First, there was a large, molded dark chocolate* iconic bison (buffalo) from Mostly Chocolates (Rapid City, SD). This buffalo was dark, delicious and almost creamy in texture.

Chubby Chipmunk, Deadwood, SD
Second, were two chocolate "pattys" from Chubby Chipmunk (Deadwood, SD)—part of a 4-patty series made by this chocolatier based in one of the wildest gold rush towns (at least in the 1800s) in the west.

I enjoyed the Dark Salty Patty (dark chocolate base, caramel in the middle and topped with a mass of dark lines chocolate to contain the buttery, rich caramel and a light touch of salt.

The second Turtle Patty was made with milk chocolate, caramel and pecans and had the flavor and soft chew of a classic caramel milk chocolate and nut turtle confection.

Sadly, I missed getting Chubby Chipmunk's "Calamity Patty," (a reference to famous Deadwood resident, Calamity Jane) with caramel and toffee. And, more sadly still, I lost my camera and memory card that contained pictures of these chocolates and part of the trip.

*The bison (buffalo) was made from Guittard chocolate.


Sunday, August 27, 2017

Texas Rattlesnake chocolate; Cactus Trail Mix - Aug. 26, 2017

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

(Made for Paradies Shops*)
Texas Rattlesnake Poop
Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 7.8 oz. (221 g.) in total container
Calories: 165 calories (estimate) in 1 oz. serving
Cost: $7.99 for 1 container
Purchased from: Airport shop, DFW Airport, Dallas, TX

Arizona Cowboy Foods
Cactus Trail Mix
Good - Good +
Weight: 4 oz. (113.2 g.) in total package
Calories: 560 calories (estimate) in 1 package
Cost: $4.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: Airport shop at PHX Airport, Phoenix, AZ

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate and Wild West Theme Week.

Travel to South and North Dakota this week meant no photos today. Being in these states presented the opportunity to see jackalopes (at Wall Drug and elsewhere), and to stray into Wyoming to visit Devils Tower. I resisted the urge to buy chocolate jackalope poop on the at Devils Tower Trading Post (Devils Tower, WY), in part because I'd already picked up some Chocolate Texas Rattlesnake Poop in Dallas, TX.

Today's Texas Rattlesnake Poop pieces (sorry, no photos) were, in fact, chocolate-covered sunflower seeds. There were no real rattlesnake ingredients, just compound** chocolate, seeds and other ingredients one might expect with high-volume, novelty items.

I paired theses chocolate seeds with a Western-themed Cactus Trail Mix from Arizona Cowboy Foods (Phoenix, AZ). The mix did not contain chocolate, but it too came from an airport (Phoenix). Airports in multiple states were a great source of Western-themed chocolates this week.

This relatively conventional trail mix contained nuts (peanuts, almonds) and dried fruits (cranberries). It also included pumpkin seeds, banana chips with honey, pineapple bits, dried papaya, and real (prickly pear) cactus candy pieces, which were quite nice (sweet but slightly lighter with more floral flavor than the other dried fruits).

*Paradies Shops, now known as Paradies Lagardere, has travel retail shops in several airports. 

Airport and travel-related shops seem to carry an abundance of chocolate scat pretending to be from local animals these days; and several of these have been featured on Chocolate Banquet in years past. It isn't always clear who is manufacturing all these chocolate-covered droppings (likely several different companies who prefer to private label or remain anonymous); but it must be a big, high-profit business.

** Compound chocolate is made with cocoa, vegetable fat and sweeteners. Today's chocolate ingredients list included: partially hydrogenated palm kernel oil, lactose, cocoa powder, reduced mineral whey powder, non-fat milk powder, soy lecithin and vanillin.

Friday, August 25, 2017

Cocoa Parlor - Cowboy Up 70% Roasted Almonds, Salt bar - Aug. 25, 2017

Chocolate of the Day: 

Cocoa Parlor
Cowboy Up 70 Dark Chocolate bar
Good +
Weight: 1.41 oz. (40 g.) / 2.82 oz. (80 g.) in total bar
Calories: 219 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $5.99 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Missing Information

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and Wild West Theme Week.

Today's Organic and vegan Cowboy Up 70% Cacao Dark Chocolate bar was from Cocoa Parlor (Laguna Niguel, CA) and offered a good well-balanced, down to earth ride.

The Roasted Almonds and Salt bar had a pleasing dark chocolate aroma, a smooth and almost creamy texture; and subtle, pleasing nutty and earthy roasted flavor notes. The roasted almond bits provided a bit of crunchy texture now and then. The amount of salt was just right, and the chocolate* and the salt prevented the bar from being too sweet (thank you!).

I savored this bar on my (car) ride across the plains and hills and into Deadwood, South Dakota, one of a handful of towns west of the Missouri River that epitomized the Wild West.*

*Deadwood became a lively boomtown full of larger than life characters like Wild Bill Hickok (lawman, wild west showman who was shot in Deadwood while playing poker), Calamity Jane (horsewoman, stagecoach driver, wild west show participant and more), Charlie Utter (close friend of Wild Bill Hickok who wrote an epitath on Wild Bill's wood gravestone), Con Stapleton (Deadwood Marshal), Seth Bullock, Potato Creek Johnny, Poker Alice Tubbs; and George Hearst (father of a mining and publishing empire) after gold was discovered there in the 1870s. The entire community is listed on the National Historic Register.







Thursday, August 24, 2017

Tahoe Bar - Peanut Butter Plus High Energy Bar - Aug. 24, 2017

Chocolate of the Day:

King Bars LLC
Tahoe Trail Bar - Peanut Butter Plus High Energy Bar
Good
Weight: 2.61 oz. (74 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 310 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $2.69 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Draeger's Market, Los Altos, CA

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate and Berries Theme Week, and Day #2 of Chocolate and Wild West Theme Week.

What does the phrase the Wild West conjure up for you? Freedom to roam in wide open spaces? Tall mountains, granite boulders and mountain lakes? Cowboys and Native Americans? Exploring new trails, territory and parks that still haven't been fully developed on foot, bike or by horse? There is a mystique to the Western U.S. that still lingers.

Today's Peanut Butter Plus High Energy Tahoe Trail Bar* (South Lake Tahoe, CA) contained peanut butter, chocolate chunks, raisins, cranberries and coconut. This peanut, chocolate and berry combo looked capable of powering** a hike or a western-themed adventure or two. And it did. It was created in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and found its way to the Badlands of South Dakota today.

This gluten-free and vegan energy bar was made with gluten-free oats. It was slightly chewy, substantial and not too sweet (thank you). Dried cranberry bits and coconut offered hints of flavor sparkle. Chocolate chunks were present, but were more of an accent flavor.

* The Tahoe Trail Bar was born in the Hot Gossip coffee shop on the shores of Lake Tahoe in 1995.
**The marketing tagline for this bar read: "fuel for the journey"

Wednesday, August 23, 2017

Brown-Haley - Mountain Thins - Dark Chocolate Wild Berry - Aug. 23, 2017

Chocolate of the Day: 

Brown-Haley
Mountain Thins - Dark Chocolate Wild Berry
Good
Weight: 1.4 oz. (40 g.) / 5.3 oz. (150 g.) in total package
Calories: 190 calories in 1 serving
Cost: $3.45 (sale) for 1 package
Purchased from: Safeway, Alameda, CA

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate and Berries Theme Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate and Wild West Theme Week.

Today's package of Dark Chocolate Wild Berry Mountain Thins from Brown-Haley--also known as Brown and Haley* (Tacoma, WA)--were enjoyed in the mountains of the old West, in the Black Hills of South Dakota, at Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse (a very large statue emerging from a granite mountain) and Rapid City.

These bark-like squares of dark chocolate contained dried blueberries and "raspberry crunch," creating a sweet blend of bright red berry aroma and flavor.

Also enjoyed was a mountainous vanilla ice cream sundae with a Native American inspired berry topping.

*The company is perhaps best-known for Almond Roca, a tiny log-shaped, individually-wrapped confection wrapped in shiny foil with a butter-crunch toffee center, covered in chocolate and then in chopped nuts. The company also makes a Mountain Bar that may have been inspired by Mount Tacoma in Washington State.

Tuesday, August 22, 2017

Lindt - Blackberry with Acai Dark Chocolate bar - Aug. 22, 2017

Chocolate of the Day:

Lindt and Sprungli
Blackberry with Acai Dark Chocolate bar
Good - Good+
Weight: 1.4 oz. (40 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 210 calories in 4 pieces of bar
Cost: $3.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: CVS/Pharmacy, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate and Berries Theme Week.

Today's Blackberry with Acai Dark Chocolate bar from Lindt and Sprungli* was relatively sweet and full of berry flavor.

It contained 47% minimum cacao solids, but could have passed for a higher percentage bar. The bar was sugary, but remained surprisingly well-balanced and uniform. I'd take this over a candy bar any day.

This dark bar had a blackberry candy aroma and pleasant, rich, dark berry flavor. The bar was smooth, dark and had a soft texture, with a slightly buttery melt.

The berry finish lingered for a full minute after the last bite.

*Lindt and Sprungli AG is headquartered in Kilchberg, Switzerland. Today's dark bar was "manufactured in the USA by Lindt and Sprungli (USA) Inc." (Stratham, NH).


Monday, August 21, 2017

Sargento - Sweet Balance Breaks - Dark Chocolate Cranberries - Aug. 21, 2017

Chocolate of the Day: 

Sargento Foods Inc.
Sweet Balance Breaks
Monterey Jack Cheese with Dried Cranberries and Dark Chocolate Covered Peanuts
Good
Weight: 1.5 oz. (42 g.) in 1 snack/container
Calories: 190 calories (estimate) in 1 container
Cost: $2.99 (estimate) for 1 package of three containers
Purchased from: Safeway, San Jose, CA

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate and Berries Theme Week.

Chocolate, cheese and berries are great summer snack foods to enjoy together.

Today's Monterey Jack Natural Cheese with Dried Cranberries and Dark Chocolate Covered Peanuts snack item was part of a line of "Sweet Balance Breaks" snacks (sold in 3-container packs) from Sargento Foods Inc. (Plymouth, WI)—a large producer and marketer of cheeses and now protein snacks.

The cranberries had just the right amount of tart sweet berry flavor and paired nicely with the dark chocolate covered peanuts. And the cheese helped balance out the sweetness and provided some savory protein/umami flavor.










Dagoba - Superberry 74% Cacao dark bar - Aug. 20, 2017

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

Dagoba Organic Chocolate
Superberry 74% Cacao dark chocolate bar
Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) / 2 oz. (56 g.) total bar
Calories: 135 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $1.99 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Hello and welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate and Flowers Theme Week, and Day #4 of Chocolate and Berries Theme Week.

Today's Superberry dark* chocolate bar from Dagoba Organic Chocolate (Ashland, OR; part of The Hershey Company (Hershey, PA) contained blueberries, cranberries, raspberries and acai**.

Today's 74% Cacao Dagoba bar was a blend of bold dark chocolate and bright, slightly tart-sweet berry flavors. The chocolate had a slight bittersweet (almost coffee) finish.

Where are the flowers you ask? While this Superberry bar was all about berries, I used part of a Dagoba Lavender Blueberry bar (featured yesterday) and lavender flowers to amp up a chocolate lavender cake. Mmm. Lavender.

For those who love lavender, this chocolate lavender (gluten free) cake, topped with a dose of aromatic lavender flower buds, couldn't be better.

For those who are reminded of aromatic soaps and oils when they smell lavender, you may have mixed feelings about this edible flower (and cake). Even if you're on the fence, I hope you'll try lavender chocolate edibles some day.

*Note: This 74% cacao dark bar also contained milk.
**Acai berries originated in the rainforests of South America.

Saturday, August 19, 2017

Dagoba - Lavender Blueberry, Roseberry 59% bars - Aug. 19, 2017

Chocolate of the Day:

Dagoba Organic Chocolate

Lavender Blueberry 59% dark bar
Good - Good+
Weight: .707 oz. (20 g.) / 2.83 oz. (80 g.) in total bar
Calories: 95 calories in 1/4 bar
Cost: $1.99 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Roseberry 59% dark bar
Good
Weight: .66 oz. (18.6 g.) / 2 oz. (56 g.) in total bar
Calories: 90 calories in 1/3 bar
Cost: $1.99 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate and Flowers Week and Day #3 of Chocolate and Berries Theme Week.

Today's Lavender Blueberry and Roseberry dark bars were from Dagoba Organic Chocolate* (Ashland, OR). Both bars contained floral and berry flavors (and also contained some milk).

The Lavender Blueberry 59% cacao dark chocolate bar contained lavender essence and wild blueberries. Lavender lovers will appreciate the lovely, natural lavender aroma of this bar.

The Roseberry 59% cacao dark chocolate bar contained "raspberries and rosehips" resulting in a pleasing bright red fruit/raspberry flavor (with tiny raspberry pieces with real seeds) and a gentle hint of tart floral flavor from the rose hips**.

*Dagoba Organic Chocolate was founded in 2001 by Frederick Schilling, and became part of The Hershey Company (Hershey, PA) in 2006. 

In 2012, the company dropped fair trade certification but their cacao beans began bearing the logo of the Rainforest Alliance Certified program. The company buys their cacao beans from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms that have adopted sustainable farming practices.

** Rose hips are the roundish, slightly swollen seed pods of the rose plant located directly below the rose flower. These tiny apple-shaped pods are easiest to see after the rose petals have dropped off; they may be a slightly reddish color. (Roses are related to apples and some call rose hips rose apples.)






Friday, August 18, 2017

Antidote - Ginger + Panela 77% dark bar - Aug. 18, 2017

Chocolate of the Day: 

Antidote Chocolate
Ginger + Panela 77% dark bar
Good - Good +
Weight: 2.3 oz. (65 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 390 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $8.95 for 1 bar
Purchased from: missing information


Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate and Flowers Theme Week, and Day #2 of Chocolate and Berries Theme Week.

Today's Ginger and Panela 77% dark bar from Antidote Chocolate (Brooklyn?, NY) was flavorful, bittersweet, yet smooth with no sharp notes and not overly sweet (thank you). Hints of lightly candied ginger popped up now and then.

Panela (similar to brown sugar) sweetened the bar and gave it some extra flavor.

This Antidote Chocolate bar was created with the company founder's unique blend of 50% raw and 50% roasted cacao. (The Arriba cacao beans used were from Ecuador (Camino Verde).)

After tasting a piece of the bar, I broke the remainder into pieces to include in a (cooked) dessert.

The rest became part of a chocolate pot de creme flavored with ginger and small amounts of additional floral spices: vanilla (flowering orchid), cardamom (spice with fragrant, floral notes), saffron (crocus stamens) and kewra (another flower) water.

This dessert was then topped with blueberries and mango pieces

Thursday, August 17, 2017

Le Belge Chocolatier - Dark Chocolate Raspberry Hibiscus bar - Aug. 17, 2017

Chocolate of the Day: 

Le Belge Chocolatier
Dark Chocolate Raspberry Hibiscus bar
Good +
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total bar
Calories: 146.6 calories (per label) in 1/3 bar
Cost: $6.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Cavallo Point Mercantile shop, Fort Baker, Sausalito, CA

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate and Flowers Theme Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate and Berries Theme Week.

Today's Dark Chocolate Raspberry Hibiscus bar was from Le Belge Chocolatier (Napa, CA).

This bar contained hibiscus flower crystals and freeze-dried raspberry granules (with real fruit and seeds). These two inclusions complemented each other nicely and added refreshing, bright red fruit notes to a smooth dark chocolate base and micro-bursts of crunchy texture.


Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Timothy Adams - Rose, Violet and dark chocolate nut pieces - Aug. 16, 2017

Chocolate(s) of the Day:

Timothy Adams Chocolates
6-piece assortment box included the following bonbons:
  • Rose - Good +
  • Violet - Good +
  • Pistachio Praline - Good 

Weight: 2.5 oz. (70.7 g.) (estimate) in 5 pieces
Calories: 375 calories (estimate) for 5 chocolates
Cost: $16.50 (estimate) for 6 chocolates (box was extra)
Purchased from: Timothy Adams (shop), Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and Flowers Theme Week.
I don't count white chocolate as a "Chocolate of the Day" on this site. Chocolate items need to contain cocoa solids, in part because many "white chocolates" don't contain much cacao (solids or butter).

Because of this rule, I felt compelled to buy an attractively designed 6-piece box of chocolates from Timothy Adams Chocolates (Palo Alto, CA) to ensure some cocoa solids were consumed for the day.

This local shop had Rose ivory* and Violet ivory bonbons that were sweet, decadent and delicious; but both lacked cocoa solids.

So I bought three other dark chocolate covered confections to keep these two ivory floral pieces company, and "counted one of them, a Pistachio Praline chocolate as my daily chocolate.

The Pistachio Praline (dark chocolate covered with a sweet and light, almost a butterscotch ivory center) and topped with pistachio nuts and icing seemed to good match for the two ivory florals.

The two other dark chocolate covered bonbons (a Coconut Cream Caramel and a Nocino (green walnut liqueur) bonbon) were both sweet but quite nice. You may see them featured in the future.

*Some white chocolates may contain little cocoa butter (and/or may substitute other vegetable fats); whereas "ivory" (closer to the color of real cocoa butter) chocolate generally contains more cocoa butter and is considered to be of higher quality.








Tuesday, August 15, 2017

Sunflower Food Co. - Bar du Soleil dark chocolate bar - Aug. 15, 2017

Chocolate of the Day: 

Distributed by Sunflower Food Company
Bar du Soleil
Dark Chocolate with Roasted Sunflower Seeds and Sea Salt
Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) / 2 oz. (57 g.) total bar
Calories: 145 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $3.49 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Draeger's Market, San Mateo, CA

Welcome to Day #2 of Chocolate and Flowers Theme Week.

Today's Bar du Soleil was Distributed by Sunflower Food Company (Lenexa, KS). Smooth, sweet dark chocolate was studded with roasted sunflower seeds and contained a subtle hint of sea salt.

It was a bit of a stretch to include this dark bar in a "flower" themed chocolate week, but without the big, sunny, iconic yellow flowers, you certainly wouldn't have sunflower seeds. (Sunflower petals are also edible, provided they're unsprayed.)




Monday, August 14, 2017

Honey Stinger Mint and Wildflower Waffles - Aug. 14, 2017

Chocolate(s) of the Day:

En-R-G Foods, LLC

Honey Stinger
Gluten Free Organic Chocolate Mint Flavored Waffle
Good - Good +
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) in 1 waffle
Calories: 140 calories in 1 waffle
Cost: $1.50 for 1 package/waffle
Purchased from: REI store, Mountain View, CA

Honey Stinger
Gluten Free Organic Waffle -  Wildflower Honey
Good
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) in 1 waffle
Calories: 140 calories in 1 waffle
Cost: $1.50 for 1 package/waffle
Purchased from: REI store, Mountain View, CA

Welcome to the last day (Day #7) of Chocolate and Honey Theme Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate and Flowers Theme Week.

It's not a huge stretch to transition from a honey-themed chocolate week to one focused on chocolate and flowers. Bees gather both pollen and nectar from flowers. Nectar from flowers is later concentrated down by bees and made into honey.

Today's two different flavors of ulta-slim, round Honey Stinger waffle sandwich confections were manufactured in Canada for En-R-G Foods, LLC dba Honey Stinger (Steamboat Springs, CO).

The makers managed the near impossible. They made a knife-edge thin waffle "cookie" that didn't crumble that was chewy and crunchy, delicate yet rich and flavorful and sweet without being too sweet.

The Organic Chocolate Mint Flavored Waffle was surprisingly tasty with subtle hints of chocolate and mint (peppermint). It was my favorite of the two.

The Wildflower Honey Waffle was a toasty, light golden brown; and the lack of other flavor inclusions allowed more authentic honey flavor to shine through.

Experimental Mint Flower Notes:
Instead of syrup on these "waffles" I sprinkled some almost invisible, experimental mint flower and pollen "pixie dust" from my yard on the last bites of these confections. The tiny spearmint and lemon mint blooms gave the waffles a light flavor boost. Mint flowers are milder than mint leaves and are almost always edible if the plant is unsprayed/safe to eat and is washed first. 

Sunday, August 13, 2017

La Belge Chocolatier - Dark Chocolate Spicy Honeycomb bar - Aug. 13, 2017

Chocolate of the Day: 

Le Belge Chocolatier, Inc.
Dark Chocolate Spicy Honeycomb bar
Good - Good +
Weight: 1.5 oz. (43 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total bar
Calories: 230 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $6.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Cavallo Point Mercantile shop, Fort Baker, Sausalito, CA

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate and Honey Theme Week.

Today's Dark Chocolate Spicy Honeycomb bar was created by Le Belge Chocolatier (Napa, CA), located in the heart of Northern California wine country. The company is known primarily for their chocolate truffle collection(s).

This interesting and appealing dark chocolate bar was peppered with tiny crunchy toffee and honeycomb bits, and was suffused with a subtle, saucy hint of chipotle chili powder.


Saturday, August 12, 2017

Honey Stinger - Mocha Cherry Pro - Aug. 12, 2017

Chocolate of the Day: 

Honey Stinger
Mocha Cherry Pro bar
Good - Good +
Weight: 1.5 oz. (42 g.) in total bar
Calories: 180 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $2.30 for 1 bar
Purchased from: REI, Mountain View, CA

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate and Honey Theme Week.

Today's Honey Stinger Mocha Cherry Pro bar was made in the USA for Honey Stinger (Steamboat Springs, CO).

This dark chocolate covered bar had a natural tasting, chewy, honey nougat-like center* with a hint of mocha. The dark chocolate coating was smooth and relatively mild.

Somewhere in the mix (although not visible) were dried sour cherries with apple juice, that contributed a tiny hint of tart sweetness.

While not labeled as an energy or protein bar, this Honey Stinger bar contained 30 mg. of caffeine, some added vitamins and minerals, and 10 grams of protein.** It tasted satisfying to the last bite and successfully helped fuel a trail hike today.

*While made with gluten-free ingredients it contained the standard industry advisory notice about possible traces of allergens (peanut, wheat, egg and other tree nuts) that one often sees when foods are made in a shared facility. 

**This bar contained whey protein isolate and almonds. 







Trader Joe's - Dark Chocolate Honey Mints - Aug. 11, 2017

Chocolate of the Day:

Trader Joe's
Dark Chocolate Honey Mints 
Good
Weight: 1.1 oz. (33 g.) / 7 oz. (198 g.) in total package
Calories: 140 calories in 3 pieces (approx. 1/6 package)
Cost: $2.99 (estimate) for 1 package
Purchased from: Trader Joe's, Alameda, CA

Hello and welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate and Honey Theme Week.

Today's sweet, refreshing Dark Chocolate Honey Mints from Trader Joe's (Monrovia, CA) had only three ingredients: honey, chocolate liquor and peppermint oil. 

Each individually-wrapped round was filled with a soft, ivory-colored, natural tasting honey and mint center and coated in dark chocolate.

These mints (with a slightly spicy, rich dark chocolate aroma) had a honey sweet beginning and a slightly bittersweet finish. A 3-piece serving satisfied a hankering for something sweet in a relatively healthy way.








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