Graeter's - Black Raspberry Chocolate Chip Ice Cream - Aug. 27, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Graeter's Ice Cream Co. 
Black Raspberry Chocolate Chip Ice Cream
Good +
Weight: 2/3 cup (144 g.) / 1 Pint (473 mL) in total container
Calories: 390 calories in 2/3 cup serving
Cost: $8.49 for 1 container
Purchased from: Piazza's, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #5 of Cold Chocolate Theme Week, featuring frozen and refrigerated items with chocolate.

Today's Black Raspberry Chocolate Chip Ice Cream is from Graeter's Ice Cream Co. (Cincinnati, OH). 

The family-owned company's origins stretch back five generations to 1870. They still use a "French Pot Process" where small batches are made in small, very cold pots (and stirred by hand with a paddle, if the picture on the website is correct).

I have fond childhood memories of eating black raspberry chocolate chip ice cream in the back yard in the summer. So, I may be biased. I really enjoyed this version--made with real black raspberries grown in Oregon's Willamette Valley. (The company cites today's flavor as their "signature" and "most beloved" flavor.)

Tart sweet, dark berry flavor (and lovely dark berry color) harmonized with a sweet creamy base (cream is the first ingredient listed) and dark chocolate chips that were dark enough to create a pleasing, satisfying contrast.

Ingredients: Cream, milk, cane sugar, black raspberry puree, chocolate chips (sugar, chocolate liquor processed with alkali, cocoa butter, expeller-pressed non-GMO soy oil, milk fat, soy lecithin, natural flavors), skim milk, eggs, carob bean gum, guar gum, citric acid.

Allergen-related information: "Contains milk, egg, and soy." "Gluten Free" and "Star D (dairy) Kosher Certified"

Bindi Gelato - Chocolate and Cream Swirl - Aug. 26, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Bindi Gelato 
Chocolate and Cream Swirl
Good - Good +
Weight: 3.2 oz. (90 g.) in 1 cup
Calories: 180 calories in 1 serving/cup
Cost: $2.99 for 1 container
Purchased from: Piazza's, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #4 of Cold Chocolate Theme Week, featuring frozen and refrigerated desserts and bars with chocolate.

Today's Chocolate and Cream Swirl (cup) was made in Italy* distributed by Bindi North America (Kearny, NJ). 

Bindi desserts had their start with the Bindi family in Italy in 1946; and were, at the very beginning, delivered by bicycle. Currently, they offer a line of different, Italian-inspired gelato flavors in single-serving cups. (The Limoncello flavor also looked good; however, I could not find other flavors in my local store.)

Today's sundae style gelato in a cup had a creamy and light (almost whipped) texture and mouthfeel--light contrasting visually with the dark, swirl(s) of dark chocolate. It was a nicely balanced blend and a convenient serving size for an frozen snack.

Ingredients: Rehydrated skim milk, sugar, water, butter, glucose-fructose syrup, cream glucose syrup, lactose, sorbitol, chocolate (sugar, chocolate liquor, cocoa butter, soy lecithin, natural vanilla flavoring), cocoa processed with alkali, milk proteins, modified starch, mono- and diglycerides, artificial flavorings, locust bean gum.

Allergen-related information: Contains milk and soy. May contain traces of eggs, wheat and tree nuts. (Note: contains artificial flavors.)

*Italco Food Products, Inc. owns the Bindi brand.

Kind - Dark Chocolate Almond Sea Salt Plant Based Creamy Frozen Dessert - Aug. 25, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Kind LLC
Dark Chocolate Almond Sea Salt Plant Based Creamy Frozen Dessert
Good +
Weight: 2/3 cup (124 g.) / 1 Pint (473 mL) in total container
Calories: 290 calories in 1 serving (2/3 cup) 
Cost: $7.99 for 1 Pint container
Purchased from: Piazza's, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #3 of Cold Chocolate Theme Week featuring frozen and refrigerated items with chocolate.

Today's Dark Chocolate Almond Sea Salt plant-based creamy frozen dessert was from Kind LLC (NYC, NY). 

Kind's line of frozen pint flavors has mirrored their earlier/original nut and fruit snack bar flavors. And the newer line(s) of plant-based frozen pints and frozen bars are true to these original snack bars in spirit and flavor.

Today's frozen dessert had a smooth texture and a generous helping of crunchy nut pieces (chopped almond). The dark chocolate chunks were relatively flavorful given the chocolate was made with alkalized cocoa (with dark, even slightly earthy notes). The base had a faint fruity note. (The first ingredient was pear juice.) 

My only quibble: the vegetable gums (see below in ingredients list), even if these gums did help ensure a smooth and ice-cream like texture.

Ingredients: Pear juice (from concentrate), water, almonds, sugar, dried tapioca syrup, coconut oil, chocolate processed with alkali, chicory root fiber, cocoa butter, sea salt, gum acacia, natural flavor, soy lecithin, carob bean gum, tara gum, guar gum, salt.

Allergen-related information: "Kind Frozen Pint ingredients do not include gluten. However, Kind Frozen Pints are made on shared equipment with products containing gluten ingredients."