Donnelly Chocolates Rose, Lavender Dark Chocolate bars; Sweet55 Florentiner; Only Child Chocolate Rose bar - June 6, 2019

Chocolate(s) of the Day:

Richard Donnelly Chocolates

Rose Dark Chocolate Bar
Good ++++ - Very Good
Weight: .4 oz. (11.25 g.) / 1.6 oz. (45 g.) in total bar
Calories: 60 calories (estimate) in 1/4 bar
Cost: $7.50 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Donnelly Chocolates, Santa Cruz, CA

Dark Chocolate Lavender Bar
Good ++
Weight: .4 oz. (11.25 g.) / 1.6 oz. (45 g.) in total bar
Calories: 60 calories (estimate) in 1/4 bar
Cost: $7.50 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Donnelly Chocolates, Santa Cruz, CA

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

Today's Rose Dark Chocolate Bar and Dark Chocolate Lavender Bar were created by Richard Donnelly and team at Donnelly Chocolates (Santa Cruz, CA). The bars were attractively packaged (with beautiful outer craft paper wrappers). A version of these two Donnelly flavors were enjoyed in bark form several years ago. Both bars were suffused with natural, balanced floral scents. Today's Rose bar was especially creamy and smooth in melt and texture as well.

But, that's not all...Also sampled as part of our Chocolate Banquet bouquet today: two other West Coast "floral" chocolates, as we reluctantly conclude this two-week long theme "week." Not all chocolate fans appreciate floral flavors inclusions. We love trying flowers paired with, and botanical adds to, chocolate.

Sweet55 - Swiss Chocolates and Confections

Sweet55
Florentiner
Very Good
Weight: .35 oz. (10 g.) / 2.8 oz. (80 g.) in total box of 8
Calories: 55 calories (estimate)
Cost: $12.00 (estimate) for 1 box of 8 florentines
Purchased from: Sweet55, Half Moon Bay, CA

Sweet55 is a relatively new, Swiss chocolate shop in Half Moon Bay, CA (worth the trip over to the coast to enjoy their chocolates and views of the Pacific Ocean.)

If you are in the neighborhood, one item at Sweet55 I'd recommend highly would be the Sweet55 Florentiner.

Sold in a package of 8, these rich, dark chocolate, orange and almond (flourless) florentines were a cross between a flavorful mendiant*-style confection and a dark chocolate "cookie"—with a soft, chewy crunch from very thinly sliced almonds, natural orange bits (with a faint, refreshing pineapple note)—all precisely layered on a slim dark chocolate disc.

The image currently adorning the top of the first page of the Sweet55 website featured chocolates surrounded by a red rose, and rose petals.

I'd suggest "pairing" (any of) the company's fine chocolates with roses if you're looking for a classy, high-impact gift experience. (Continuing on the floral them, Sweet55 also offers a chocolate bar "Thank you card" with daisy-style chocolate flowers.)

Only Child Chocolates - white chocolate bar with rose

A bonus shout out today to the "Rose Colored Sunglasses" bar we sampled from Only Child Chocolate (Portland, OR).

This pretty pink and sweet "White Chocolate with Cranberry, Rose and Pistachio" bar did not contain cocoa solids (i.e. the darker brown colored portion of the cocoa bean). However, it was fun to look at and interesting to try.

Yana, Only Child's chief chocolatier, and self-described lover of puns and all things chocolate, also makes milk and dark chocolate bars.

*Mendiants are French-style chocolate discs topped with fruit and nuts.