Friday, January 31, 2020

barkThins - Dark Chocolate Peanut - Jan. 29, 2020

Chocolate of the Day: 

barkThins
Dark Chocolate Peanut
Good +
Weight: 1.4 oz. (40 g.) / 4.7 oz. (133 g.) in total package
Calories: 220 calories in 1 serving
Cost: $ missing information
Purchased from: missing information

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

Today's Dark Chocolate Peanut barkThins were manufactured for Ripple Brand Collective, LLC (New York, NY). These pieces of tasty, smooth dark chocolate bark were embedded with dry roasted peanuts and a trace of sea salt.



Alden's Organic Sasquatch Tracks Ice Cream with peanut butter cups + cacao nib brownie - Jan. 28, 2020

Chocolate of the Day: 

Alden's Organic (Oregon Ice Cream)
Sasquatch Tracks Ice Cream, loaded with peanut butter cups
Good - Good +
Weight: 1/3 cup (48.5 g.) / 14 fl. oz. (414 mL.)
Calories: 125 calories in 1/3 cup (1/2 serving)
Cost: $ missing information
Purchased from: missing information

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate Brownie Theme Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate and Peanuts Theme Week.

The featured Alden's Organic Sasquatch Tracks Ice Cream loaded with peanut butter cups was made by Oregon Ice Cream (based in Eugene, OR; founded in 1938).

Today's ice cream was relatively light in flavor, with a vanilla ice cream base and veins of fudge/ chocolate peanut butter cups.

The ice cream accompanied a homemade brownie with cacao nibs, topped off with a generous, extra sprinkling of nibs atop brownie and ice cream. Nothing amps up authentic chocolate brownie flavor better than chocolatey cacao nibs. And the nibs added rich flavor and a textural dimension to both brownie and ice cream.


Monday, January 27, 2020

Lucky Spoon - Chocolate Buttercream Cupcakes; Dagoba xocolatl drinking cocoa - Jan. 27, 2020

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

1.) Lucky Spoon Bakery
Chocolate Buttercream Cupcakes
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 2 oz. (57) / 8 oz. (228 g.) in total container of 4
Calories: 220 calories in 1 cupcake
Cost: $3.49 (sale) for 1 container of 4
Purchased from: Safeway, Palo Alto, CA

2.) Homemade chocolate brownie with...
Dagoba Xocolatl Drinking Chocolate
Whiskey-soaked cacao nibs and cinnamon and fig

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate Brownie Theme Week.

One can satisfy a chocolate brownie craving via many forms of chocolate, including in rich chocolate cakes, chocolate bars and in homemade brownies.

Today's double entry features a mini chocolate cupcakes that satisfied a brownie craving in the morning, and a mad scientist (homemade) brownie with several toppings.

Lucky Spoon Bakery
The first chocolate, a petite chocolate cupcake topped with buttercream frosting was from Lucky Spoon Bakery (Salt Lake City, UT). This perfectly sized cupcake satisfied chocolate brownie and cake/sugar cravings. It was relatively moist and light, and not too crumbly...in other words, you might never know this chocolate cupcake was gluten free.

Dagoba Xocolatl spicy brownie
The second chocolate, was a homemade brownie, sprinkled with Dagoba* xocolatl drinking chocolate (cocoa/dry mix), and topped with whiskey-marinated cacao nibs and marinated fig, and sliced almonds. It was very satisfying.

A brownie buffet table with unlimited toppings might have also had fresh whipped cream, grated orange peel, allspice and additional items suitable to add this teetering tower of flavors.

*Dagoba's xocolatl drinking chocolate mix (with chili, cinnamon and pieces of dark chocolate) was likely inspired by the original Dagoba xocolatl bar (chocolate with a subtle, warm spicy kick to it).

Note: Dagoba Organic Chocolate, founded in 2001 by Frederick Schilling, has been owned by the Hershey Company since 2006.




Sunday, January 26, 2020

Eat Like a Woman - Love Chocolate Brownie - Jan. 26, 2020

Chocolate of the Day: 

Eat Like a Woman, Inc.
Love Chocolate Brownie
Good 
Weight: 1.59 oz. (45 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 180 calories in 1 bar
Cost: 2 bars for $1 (sale)
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate Brownie Theme Week.

Today's Love Chocolate Brownie was distributed by Eat Like a Woman, Inc. (Burbank, CA).

The company targets their nutrition bars, shakes and books to women, who, they point out, have different nutritional and health requirements. (Women develop heart disease differently than a man might, or metabolize food differently, have different digestive needs, experience different life phases, experience stress differently, etc.)

The look and feel of today's "customized women's nutrition bar" was a cross between a compressed energy/protein bar and a thin brownie.

Ingredients that provided the chocolate brownie flavor included 85% cacao chocolate chips, almond butter and coconut oil, and "cocoa natural flavors."

This bar was slightly chewy, with finely ground ingredients like brown rice protein (#1 ingredient) chicory root fiber, and seeds (chia and hemp) adding some texture.

The sweetness level was relatively balanced. Sweeteners included brown rice syrup, clover honey and stevia leaf extract. 

Tone It Up - Plant Based Protein Bites Chocolate Brownie - Jan. 25, 2020

Chocolate of the Day:

Tone It Up
Plant Based Protein Bites - Chocolate Brownie
Good
Weight: 1.27 oz. (36 g.) / 5.07 oz. (144) in 1 package
Calories: 140 calories in 2 pieces (1 serving)
Cost: $4.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate Brownie Theme Week.

Today's Chocolate Brownie Protein Bites were from Tone It Up (Manhattan Beach, CA).

These small, individually-packaged chocolate brownie protein "bars" had a slightly chewy texture and were very satisfying—thanks to the 9 grams of protein contained in a single serving (of 2 small bars).




Bob's Red Mill - Gluten Free Brownie Mix - Jan. 24, 2020

Chocolate of the Day: 

Bob's Red Mill
Gluten Free Brownie Mix
Good ++
Weight: 1.76 oz. (50 g.) / 21 oz. (595 g.) in total package of dry mix
Calories: 330 calories (estimate) for brownie (+ add ice cream)
Cost: $5.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: The Store House, San Francisco, CA

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate Brownie Theme Week.

Gluten free brownies can be delicious. For those who have suffered through dry, crumbly, dense/heavy gluten free baked goods before, you may have your doubts. However, brownies are more dependent on ingredients like chocolate, sugar and butter (or fat of your choice) and eggs than the type of flour used. 

Today's gluten free brownie mix was from Bob's Red Mill (Milwaukie, OR). The results: a pan of thick, medium rare, slightly gooey, hot, fresh-out-of-the-oven brownies...Add a small scoop of Three Twins vanilla ice cream on the side. Heaven.


Saturday, January 25, 2020

Julia's Table - Bright Brownie (gluten free) - Jan. 23, 2020

Chocolate of the Day: 

Julia's Table
Bright little Brownie (gluten free)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 4 oz. (114 g.) / 8 oz. (228 g.) in total package of 6
Calories: 360 calories in 3 small brownies
Cost: $6.99 for 1 package of 6 small brownies
Purchased from: Safeway, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #2 of Chocolate Brownie Theme Week.

Not all gluten-free baked goods can measure up to their gluten-based original versions. However, brownies make the transition more successfully than most other chocolate baked goods.

There are many fine gluten-free brownies on the market, including today's vegan Bright Brownies from Julia's Table (Salt Lake City, UT).

These miniature, muffin-shaped, brownies were light with chocolate cake-like texture and mouthfeel, with classic rich chocolate brownie flavor.

Ingredients: Organic cane sugar, water, canola oil, white rice flour, cocoa powder, sorghum flour, tapioca starch, potato starch, pure Madagascar vanilla extract, baking powder (corn starch, sodium bicarbonate, monocalcium phosphate), psyllium husk powder, sea salt.

Mariposa Baking Co. - Chocolate Chunk Cookies, Pain au Chocolat, Ginger Spice Biscotti - Jan. 22, 2020

Chocolate(s) of the Day:

Mariposa Baking Co.
(All items listed below were gluten free.)
1.) Chocolate Chunk Cookies - Good ++
2.) Ginger Spice Biscotti - Good - Good +
3.) Pain au Chocolat - Good ++
4.) Bagel with seeds (toasted with cream cheese)
Weight: unknown
Calories: unknown
Cost: $18.00 for multiple items
Purchased from: Mariposa Baking Co., Ferry Building location, San Francisco, CA

Welcome to the last day of Chocolate and Ginger Theme Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate Brownie Theme Week.

Mariposa Baking Co. offers great tasting, gluten-free baked goods that taste like the real deal. (They are not overly heavy, dense, dry or crumbly.)

Today's assortment of gluten-free chocolate and ginger baked goods, purchased at the Ferry Building in San Francisco, CA, were indulgent pleasures.

Previously, ChocolateBanquet.com featured Mariposa's triple chocolate brownies and walnut brownies. Today's Chocolate Chunk cookies were dark, thick and fudge-y with chewy rich brownie-like texture and mouthfeel.

These cookies—and a buttery pain au chocolat (chocolate-filled pastry)—were paired with ginger spice biscotti. And speaking of ginger...Mariposa's ginger molasses cookies were also very tasty, and could easily be dipped in almost any favorite chocolate (fondue, hot chocolate, melted dark chocolate, etc.)



Friday, January 24, 2020

Askinosie Chocolate - Davao, Philippines - Dark Chocolate and Ginger bar - Jan. 21, 2020

Chocolate of the Day: 

Askinosie Chocolate
Davao, Philippines - Dark Chocolate and Orange bar
Good +
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total bar
Calories: 153 calories in 1/3 bar
Cost: $8.95 for 1 bar
Purchased from: SweetE Organic, Mill Valley, CA

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate and Ginger Theme Week.

Pairing yesterday's dark chocolate and salt bar with fresh ginger and honey tea yielded such a surprisingly successful result, I decided to try a Ginger juice blend with today's dark bar.

I sampled today's Dark Chocolate and Orange bar from Askinosie Chocolate (Springfield, MO) bar, first by itself, and then with a sip of Ginger 100% juice shot from Odwalla Inc. (Half Moon Bay, CA). This "small but mighty" bottle of concentrated flavor contained ginger, beet, carrot and cranberry juices, which explained why this pairing was not quite as magical as yesterday's. Too much going on.

The Askinosie bar by itself was quite good, with smooth dark chocolate and a light, authentic orange/sweet tangerine aroma and flavor. Organic orange (peels and fruit) provided the citrus note. And a faint hint of vanilla added a bit of mellow warmth. (Think high-end Creamsicle*.)

The Trinitario cacao (beans) used to make this bar were grown in Davao, in the Philippines. And like most Askinosie bars, today's package featured an image of (and information about) a real person working to produce the cacao beans from the actual source country for a given bar.


*A Creamsicle (R) is currently a Unilever-owned branded product. This frozen dessert is a blend of vanilla ice cream surrounded by frozen fruit juice) on a stick. The orange and vanilla flavor was very popular in California where I grew up. Creamsicles/Popsicles were first invented by a young man named Frank Epperson over a century ago when (legend has it) when he was only 11 years old. Epperson later patented the idea.




Obolo Chocolate - 70% Cacao con Sal de Cahuil (bar) - Jan. 20, 2020

Chocolate of the Day: 

Obolo Chocolate
70 percent Cacao con Sal de Cahuil (bar)
Good
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) / 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 142.5 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $12.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocolate Covered, San Francisco, CA

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

Today's 70 percent Cacao with Cahuil Salt dark chocolate bar was from Obolo Chocolate (Santiago, Chile).

This organic three-ingredient* bar had a pleasing fudge brownie, slightly earthy dark chocolate aroma and initial flavor, followed by a few seconds of tart acidity (acetic acid/vinegar).** It also contained a touch of salt (from Cahuil, Chile).

I paired this bar with warm ginger tea (fresh sliced ginger, honey and hot water). And something very interesting happened. The ginger tea seemed to soften and neutralize the tart acidity mentioned above.

Paired flavors often complement each other nicely. Only occasionally do they rise above this level to create something better than what had existing before. And even more rarely, one item seems to "fix" a potential flaw in the other. Such was the case here.

*Ingredients: organic cacao beans, organic cane sugar, Cahuil salt. (Cahuil is a village in Chile known for its salt production.)

**This tartness often can be traced back to choices made in the cacao fermentation phase of chocolate making. Sometimes it may even be a deliberate choice to create some tartness; although too much is generally undesirable.

Thursday, January 23, 2020

Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate - Pumpkin Spice Latte Truffle bar - Jan. 19, 2020

Chocolate of the Day: 

Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Company
Milk Chocolate Pumpkin Spice Latte Truffle bar
Good
Weight: 1.75 oz. (49.5 g.) / 3.5 oz. (99 g.) in total bar
Calories: 225 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $6.75 for 1 bar
Purchased from Z. Cioccolato, San Francisco, CA


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

Today's Pumpkin Spice Latte Truffle bar was from Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Company (St. Louis, MO).

Pumpkin spice blends almost always include ginger. Today's sweet, filled 34 percent cocoa milk chocolate bar was no exception.*

Sweet milk chocolate surrounded a sweet, velvety ganache. This confection of a bar had a subtle pumpkin spice aroma and flavor. The touch of coffee ("latte") flavor* was very subtle, and overshadowed by sweetness.

*Ingredients: Milk chocolate (fair trade certified cane sugar, milk powder, fair trade certified cocoa butter, fair trade certified chocolate liquor, soy lecithin, natural flavors); fair trade certified cane sugar, corn syrup, white chocolate (sugar, fair trade certified cocoa butter, whole milk, non-fat dry milk, milk fat, soy lecithin and natural vanilla flavor; fresh whipping cream; whey powder; natural flavor; glucose syrup; burnt sugar; 2% coffee extract; modified starch; pumpkin; cinnamon; allspice; nutmeg; ginger; mace; cloves; invertase.








Tuesday, January 21, 2020

Libeert - Organic Dark Chocolate Lemon and Ginger (bar) - Jan. 18, 2020

Chocolate of the Day:

Libeert - Belgian Chocolate Creators
Organic Dark Chocolate Lemon and Ginger (bar)
Good - Good +
Weight: 1.76 oz. (50 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 266 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $2.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate and Ginger Theme Week

Today's Organic Dark Chocolate Lemon and Ginger bar was from Libeert (Comines, Belgium).

Libeert (founded in 1923) offers a range of chocolate figures, tablets (bars) and pralines; and they produce their chocolates using what they call "The Family Recipe"—a description that includes not just constituent ingredients, but also how they do business in a broader context.

This Lemon and Ginger dark bar consisted of a smooth (in flavor and texture) organic dark chocolate base that was embedded with tiny micro-bursts of flavor—bits of refreshing sweet, slightly tart lemon and hints of spicy ginger.




Divine - Organic Dark Chocolate 85% Cocoa (Sao Tome) with Turmeric and Ginger bar - Jan. 17, 2020

Chocolate of the Day:

Divine Chocolate
Organic Rich Dark Chocolate 85% Cocoa (Sao Tome) with Turmeric and Ginger bar
Good +
Weight: 1.4 oz. (40 g.) / 2.8 oz. (80 g.) in total bar
Calories: 226 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $4.75 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Easy Foods Company, Mountain View, CA

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and Ginger Theme Week.

Today's Organic Dark Chocolate with Turmeric and Ginger 85% Cocoa bar made in Germany and was from Divine Chocolate (London, UK).

This 85 percent cacao dark bar was made with cacao grown in Sao Tome.* It had an authentic fresh ginger aroma, a very slight granular texture (from the spices) and a rich chocolate, ginger and turmeric flavor.

While most 85 percent bars are quite bold and dark, this organic and fair trade chocolate tasted relatively smooth and mild. (A blind taste test might result in a guess of 70 percent cocoa solids. However, the sweet ginger granules** offered a slight sweet uptick.)

*Sao Tome is part of the two-island nation (Sao Tome and Principe) on the Equator, on the central African west coast (Gulf of Guinea). 

**Ingredients: Organic cocoa mass, organic sugar, 9 percent ginger granules (sugar, 30 percent organic ginger), organic cocoa butter, organic turmeric powder, organic ginger extract.

Monday, January 20, 2020

Honey's Mama's - Ginger Cardamom Cacao Nectar Bar - Jan. 16, 2020

Chocolate of the Day: 

Honey Mama's 
Ginger Cardamom Cacao Nectar Bar
Good - Good +
Weight: 2.5 oz. (70.75 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 351 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $6.99 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: New Leaf Markets, Half Moon Bay, CA

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

Iced ginger ale and iced ginger beverages offer bracing refreshment in the summer. However, ginger is also a welcome, warming spice in winter.

Today's Honey Mama's Ginger Cardamom Cacao Nectar Bar was from Portland, Oregon. This gluten-free vegan bar had a light chocolate and ginger spice cookie aroma, and a velvety melt and texture (coconut oil and honey).

If refrigerated or left in a cold room it might develop a soft, slight chew (a situation where you might notice the shredded coconut surrounded by relatively mild/smooth alkalized Organic cocoa.

A balanced hint of Himalayan pink salt rounded out the flavor arc in this bar.


Homemade Chocolate Ginger Spumoni - Jan. 15, 2020

Chocolate of the Day: 

California Spumoni desserts
1.) Homemade Chocolate Ginger fudge sauce - Good - Good +
2.) Signature Select Ginger Zinger Trail Mix - Good
Weight: 4 oz. (113.2 g.) in 1 serving (small bowl)
Calories: 226 calories (estimate) for 1 small bowl
Cost: $N/A - various ingredients
Purchased from: Safeway, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate and Hazelnuts Theme Week and Day #1 of Chocolate and Ginger Theme Week.

Today's ice cream might be best described as California spumoni ice cream, with cherries (fresh and dried) nuts and chocolate...and with a wake-up zing of spicy ginger.

Authentic spumoni ice cream is often a layered parfait of cherry pinks, pistachio greens and cream-colored chocolate (and possibly vanilla), interspersed with bits of fruits and nuts.

Today's homemade ice cream sundae with Ginger Zinger Trail Mix and chocolate ginger sauce, as well as a homemade frozen parfait could be considered California-style Spumoni deserts.

The latter contained dried cherries, hazelnuts and candied ginger (provided by the same Ginger Zinger Trail Mix + some chopped frozen cherries).




Wednesday, January 15, 2020

Jason Scott LLC - Christmas Cocoa Assortment; Belgian Chocolates- Jan. 14, 2020

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

Jason Scott LLC
Christmas Cocoa Assortment (3 flavors)
Vanilla with Hazelnut
Good - Good +
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) / 3 oz. (84 g.) in total package of 3 flavors
Calories: 100 calories in 1 packet
Cost: $2.99 for 1 package of 3 flavors
Purchased from: Ross Stores in Mountain View, CA

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate and Hazelnuts Theme Week.

Today's Christmas Cocoa Assortment of three festively packaged miniature mixes was from Jason Scott LLC (Boca Raton, FL). Nothing warms one up quite like a good cup of hot chocolate. The vanilla (mix) added comfort and joy to a sweet hot cocoa sipping experience.

Belgian Chocolate Assortment 
I also sampled four filled chocolate truffles from a Belgian chocolate assortment holiday box.

While they mentioned hazelnut fillings, none of the chocolates I sampled had extremely strong hazelnut flavor.

See photo (at right) for a picture of the four flavors that seemed to have the most detectable hazelnut flavor.

Unlike many similar chocolate assortments, these did not contain gluten/wheat ingredients.





Tuesday, January 14, 2020

Ghirardelli Chocolate - Milk Chocolate Caramelized Hazelnuts - Jan. 13, 2020

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

Ghirardelli Chocolate Company
Milk Chocolate Caramelized Hazelnuts
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) 4.8 oz. (136.2 g.) in total package
Calories: 150 calories in 1 serving
Cost: $7.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: Michael's, Mountain View, CA

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

Today's Milk Chocolate Caramelized Hazelnuts from Ghirardelli Chocolate Company (San Leandro, CA) were an addictive blend of sweet rich milk chocolate, nuts, and a wee bit of salt.

The nuts had a slightly roasted flavor and a soft crunchy texture, contrasting with smooth chocolate coatings.

Experimental research...
Other chocolate research is frequently being conducted at Chocolate Banquet headquarters. For example, two experimental batches of pumpkin ice cream blended with pie spices, toasted hazelnuts and almonds, and chocolate fudge pieces, were created today. (The "fudge" pieces were created using melted, untempered dark chocolate and coconut oil.)

The verdict? More research is needed to perfect this ice cream. (I might try vanilla bean and honey ice cream next time.)

We'll stick to polishing off the Milk Chocolate Caramelized Hazelnuts today.

Trader Joe's - Belgian Truffle Ballotin Box - 2 pcs. - Jan. 12, 2020

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

Trader Joe's
Belgian Truffle Ballotin Box
1.) Chocolate truffle (square) - Good +
2.) White chocolate covered with milk chocolate and feuilletine* filling - Good
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) / 3.53 oz. (100 g.) in total assortment box
Calories: 140 calories in 2 pieces/truffles
Cost: $ N/A - holiday gift from a friend (Thank you Joy!)
Purchased from: N/A - holiday gift (Trader Joe's)

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

I enjoyed the last two filled chocolate truffles (pictured at right) in an 8-piece holiday assortment box today.

Filled chocolate confections can be a tad sweet, but hazelnuts and other nuts can help balance out the sweetness. And it's fun to mix it up every once in awhile, especially during the darker winter months when sugar seems a bit more appealing.**

*Feuilletine denotes small bits of wafer mixed into the chocolate filling. And these bits usually contain wheat.

**Generally, I eat at least a piece of a high-percentage single origin bar each day. Living in a high-percentage, high-flavor world is enjoyable, even if one has to be more careful about ingesting too much theobromine (a stimulant in chocolate), and sugar, late in the day before sleeping. 


Trader Joe's - Belgian Truffle Ballotin Box - Hazelnut Leaf - Jan. 11, 2020

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

Trader Joe's
Belgian Truffle Ballotin Box
1.) Chocolate Leaf (hazelnut filling) - Good +
2.) Dark chocolate covered "snail" with milk chocolate feuilletine filling - Good
3.) Filled chocolate truffle - caramel filling - Good
Weight: 1.32 oz. (37.5 g.) / 3.53 oz. (100 g.) in total assortment box
Calories: 210 calories in 3 pieces/truffles
Cost: $ N/A - holiday gift from a friend (Thank you Joy!)
Purchased from: N/A - holiday gift (Trader Joe's)

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate and Hazelnut Theme Week.

Today's three Belgian truffles came from an 8-piece assortment Ballotin Box that I received as a holiday gift from a friend.

The first truffle sampled was shaped like a leaf, that enveloped a tasty hazelnut chocolate ganache/filling. The second "snail" shaped truffle had a milk chocolate filling with what I'm guessing were tiny bits of wafer (feuilletine style).* The third chocolate (pictured at bottom left of photo) was filled with soft, flowing caramel.

*Those who are very sensitive to wheat might want to sample a small bite of each truffle first before taking a larger bite.

Trader Joe's Belgian Truffle Ballotin Box - Hazelnut Heart - Jan. 10, 2020

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

Belgian Truffle Ballotin Box
1.) Milk chocolate heart (hazelnut filling)
2.) Dark chocolate filled cocoa pod
3.) White chocolate covered flower
Weight: 1.32 oz. (37.5 g.) / 3.53 oz. (100 g.) in total assortment box
Calories: 210 calories in 3 pieces/truffles
Cost: $ N/A - holiday gift from a friend (Thank you Joy!)
Purchased from: N/A - holiday gift (Trader Joe's)

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and Hazelnut Theme Week.

There is something decadent and wonderful about chocolate hazelnut filled chocolates. Thank you to Joy for this lovely assortment box of chocolate truffles with hazelnut.

Of the 8 different truffles in this box, some of the fillings had more pronounced hazelnut flavor than others. (The number one ingredient listed on the back was "hazelnut filling."

The chocolate heart in this 8-piece assortment was filled with chocolate hazelnut ganache that was somewhere between an Italian gianduja/gianduia and a Nutella filling. (I have positive memories of both.)

The cocoa pod shaped and textured truffle added an authentic touch. I wonder how many people might recognize this as the "mother" fruit that contains the seeds used to make chocolate?

Note: Some of these chocolates contained tiny bits of wafer or wheat.

Thursday, January 9, 2020

Roshen - Dark Chocolate chopped hazelnuts 56% cocoa (bar) - Jan. 9, 2020

Chocolate of the Day:

Roshen
Dark Chocolate chopped hazelnuts 56% cocoa (bar)
Good - Good +
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 3.18 oz. (90 g.) in total bar
Calories: 180 calories in 1/3 bar
Cost: $1.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Crossroads Specialty Foods, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Dark Chocolate chopped hazelnuts 56% cocoa (bar) was made by Roshen (Ukraine), and imported by Roshen USA LLC (Cranbury, NJ).

This dark bar had a sweet chocolate aroma with a slight pleasant smoky, roasted nut note. Hazelnut pieces added a soft, crunchy nutty texture and flavor.








Taza Chocolate - Dark Chocolate Covered Hazelnuts - Jan. 8, 2020

Chocolate of the Day: 

Taza Chocolate
Dark Chocolate Covered Hazelnuts
Good +
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) / 4.2 oz. (119 g.) in total package
Calories: 170 calories in 1 oz. serving
Cost: $7.95 for 1 package
Purchased from: SweetE Organic, Mill Valley, CA


Welcome to Day #8 of Hit the Trail with Chocolate Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate and Hazelnuts Theme Week.

Today's Dark Chocolate Covered Hazelnuts were from Taza Chocolate (Somerville, MA).


The 55% cacao chocolate was stone ground, Organic, Direct Trade, Non GMO Project Verified, Certified Gluten Free, Kosher Pareve, dairy free, soy free, and vegan.

The roasted, organic hazelnuts was crunchy and flavorful and complemented the slightly rustic, flavorful dark chocolate. This was a great winter walk snack and not too sweet (thank you!).

Today's walk outside was extra beautiful. Rainbows by the Pacific Ocean and a walk on the beach to look at elephant seals and surfers. And chocolate.

Ingredients: Organic dark chocolate (organic cacao beans, organic cane sugar, organic cocoa butter, organic vanilla beans), organic roasted hazelnuts.

Wednesday, January 8, 2020

Nestle - Winter Dark Chocolate and Mint Morsels - Jan. 7, 2020

Chocolate of the Day: 

Nestle
Toll House - Winter Dark Chocolate and Mint Morsels
Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 10 oz. (283 g.) in total pkg.
Calories: 161.7 calories in 1 oz. of morsels
Cost: $1.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #6 of Hit the Trail with Chocolate Theme Week.

Today's Nestle Toll House Winter Dark Chocolate and Mint Morsels were distributed by Nestle Baking, a division of Nestle USA, Inc. (Solon, OH).

How might these morsels best be transformed into a portable outdoor snack? What other ingredients would they be compatible with? This was this morning's self-inflicted challenge.

The morsels had a pronounced mint and sweet dark chocolate aroma and flavor, but, surprisingly made for a good snack mix that also contained:
  • Chocolate Chex (rice) cereal 
  • green pistachios and pumpkin seeds
  • homemade bits of almond sesame crackers w/ sea salt 
The mint gave this treat an extra refreshing kick during a winter waterside hike today.

Monday, January 6, 2020

Hu Kitchen - Hu Chocolate-Covered Hunks Almonds + Sea Salt - Jan. 6, 2020

Chocolate of the Day: 

Hu Kitchen
Hu Chocolate-Covered Hunks Almonds + Sea Salt
Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) /4 oz. (113 g.) in total package
Calories: 170 calories in 1 oz. serving
Cost: $6.95 for 1 package
Purchased from: SweetE Organic, Mill Valley, CA

Welcome to Day #5 of Hit the Trail with Chocolate Theme Week.

Today's Hu Kitchen Almonds + Sea Salt Chocolate-Covered Hunks, distributed by Hu Products LLC (NY, NY), made for a high-end trail snack.

Hu Kitchen offers chocolate bars, hunks, gems and gluten-free crackers -- snacks made with simple, healthy ingredients for hu(mans).

The "hunks" (pieces) consisted of whole almonds coated with rustic-looking chocolate (made with house-ground cacao) that lacked the glossy exterior that many chocolate covered items have. By avoiding confectioners glaze, the ingredients list* was made shorter and perhaps more benign. (Hu founders (and siblings), Jordan Brown and Jessica Karp, wanted to leave out glaze that was largely "chemically-treated insect goo" and other iffy additives and substances.)

The chocolate coating (no percent listed) tasted authentic and smooth. Sweetened with coconut sugar, these weren't too sweet (thank you!). And a well-balanced touch of sea salt added a perfect hint of savory.

Ingredients: Almonds, organic cacao, unrefined organic coconut sugar, organic fair-trade cocoa butter, sea salt.


O Organics - Organic Bittersweet Chocolate Chunks - Jan. 5, 2020

Chocolate of the Day: 

O Organics
Organic Bittersweet Chocolate Chunks
Good - Good +
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 10 oz. (283 g.) in total package
Calories: 150.9 calories in 1 oz. (28 g.) serving
Cost: $3.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: Safeway, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #4 of Hit the Trail with Chocolate Theme Week.

I made my own organic trail mix today, combining an ounce of Organic Bittersweet Chocolate Chunks from O Organics (distributed by Lucerne Foods Inc., Pleasanton, CA)* with a handful of O Organics Organic Cranberry Nut Trail Mix.

The dark chocolate helped perk up the trail mix, which provided some quick, concentrated energy for a day outside at the Palo Alto Baylands. The combination of smooth dark chocolate, bright dried fruit and crunchy nuts
was appealing, if for no other reason, because of the bright variety of tastes and textures.


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