Bissinger's - Strawberry Caramel with Peanuts bar - April 6, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Bissinger's 

Strawberry Caramel with Peanuts bar

Good - Good +

Weight: 1.5 oz. (42.5 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total bar

Calories: 225 calories in 1/2 bar

Cost: $6.00 for 1 bar

Purchased from: Chocolate Covered, San Francisco, CA

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

Today's Strawberry Caramel and Peanuts bar from Bissinger's (St. Louis, MO) was a balanced, sweet confection of a bar with a smooth dark chocolate base. The bar was made using cocoa and cocoa butter from Rainforest Alliance Certified Cocoa farms.

The 60 percent dark chocolate encased a thin layer of flowing caramel that was infused with a light strawberry (puree) flavor. A sprinkle of roasted peanut pieces adorned the back of the bar and added a slight nutty flavor and crunchy texture accent.

The bar contained milk, peanuts and soy (lecithin), but no gluten-containing ingredients.

Bissinger's Dulce de Leche bar - May 13, 2016

Chocolate of the Day: 

Bissinger's
Dulce de Leche 38% milk chocolate bar
Good
Weight: 1.5 oz. (43 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total bar
Calories: 200 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $2.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate and Salted Caramel Theme Week.

Dulce de Leche is a cooked down caramel confection (made with either milk and sugar, or sweetened condensed milk).

This caramel featured prominently in today's Dulce de Leche bar from Bissinger's (St. Louis, MO).

This "38% milk chocolate, creamy caramel, cinnamon and a touch of smoked fleur de sel" bar contained pockets of soft caramel—the kind of filling that forms tiny, sweet golden brown "icicles" after you bite into the chocolate.


On the back of this gluten free, bar made with Non-GMO ingredients was a constellation of tiny, twinkling smoked sea salt (fleur de sel) crystals.

The content and images in this post belong to ChocolateBanquet.com.

Bissinger's - Peanut Butter and Maple Oat Crunch - Nov. 5, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

Bissinger's
Peanut Butter and Maple Oat Crunch bar
Good
Weight: .375 oz. (10.6 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total bar
Calories: 60 calories in 1 square (1/8 of bar)
Cost: $4.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bristol Farms, San Francisco, CA

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

Charles Schulz's famous cartoon strip "Peanuts" has been part of the "funny papers" for decades. One popular chocolate quote attributed to Charles Schulz: "All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt," may not have come from Schulz,* but it's a sentiment many people share.


Hats off to "Peanuts" and to peanuts—the humble legume that pairs so nicely with chocolate. Beginning today, I'll be paying tribute to this chocolate and peanut butter, and peanuts in various combinations.

Today's Peanut Butter and Maple Oat Crunch bar from Bissinger's (St. Louis, MO) was an example of absolute truth in advertising. When I opened the inner wrapper, the intertwined scents of genuine maple sugar, oats, peanut butter, and chocolate, came gently wafting toward me.

The layered sweet flavors and textures were pleasant, and if you like peanut butter, crunchy sweet things, and (60% dark) chocolate, this attractively designed bar, emblazoned with a "B" on the one side of each square, would be a fun bar to try.

*This quote often appears on the Internet with a picture of Snoopy (the famous beagle in Peanuts comic strips). I called the Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center in Santa Rosa, CA, to check this quote. Apparently there was a Hallmark card with this quote, but it's unclear whether Schulz himself used this phrase, or whether a writer crafted this quote.

Bissinger's - Chocolate and Almonds bar - June 11, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

Bissinger's
Chocolate and Almonds bar
Good - Good +
Weight: 1.5 oz. (43 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total bar
Calories: 240 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $ lost information
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #3 of Chocolate and Almonds Theme Week.

This Chocolate and Almonds bar from Bissinger's (St. Louis, MO) was an attractive bar, with the "B" for Bissinger's elegantly embossed on each square of the bar's front side. On the reverse side, whole California almonds were pressed into a 60% dark chocolate base.

The Bissinger family name has a long history in chocolate. The company had its origins in France (Paris in the 1600s), and was established in in the U.S. in 1845.

The Art of Nuts
Nuts handled well can be heavenly. But, like any flavor addition, care needs to be taken to achieve a successful complementary taste and texture balance between nuts and chocolate. Sometimes the underlying chocolate may be too strong for more delicate nut flavors. Under-roasted or over-roasted nuts can distract from an otherwise great experience; too much or too little salt in some chocolate and nut blends might be a consideration.

How big should flavor addition pieces be, nuts or otherwise, to created a layering of flavors? While pulverized herbs may release more flavor, not so with most nuts. Some chocolate bars with almonds will incorporate the nuts as tiny pieces, giving the bar a uniform mild crunch, but while adding texture, more delicate flavors may be lost.

Today's Bissinger's bar with whole roasted almonds gave the bar a more noticeable crunch, and made it easier to actually taste the slightly sweet, nutty flavor of the almonds, even with an otherwise smooth dark chocolate base with slightly bitter and earth notes.

I also liked that this bar wasn't too sweet. Too much sugar can also overpower subtle flavors.

This Chocolate and Almonds bar was made with Rainforest Alliance Certified cacao from the Ivory Coast, and was gluten free, and contained, from what I could tell, mostly Non-GMO ingredients.

Quinoa Agave Crunch bar - Sept. 28, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Bissinger's
Quinoa Agave Crunch bar
Good + - Very Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 150 calories (estimate) in 1 oz. (28.3 g.) serving
Cost: $ 4.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Sigona's Farmers Market, Palo Alto, CA

I enjoyed this "puffed quinoa splashed in agave" dark chocolate bar from Bissinger's (St. Louis, MO). It lacked the faintly bitter* taste present in some quinoa offerings; and it was a perfect blend of dark, sweet flavors and crunchy texture.

This bar also paired well with a variety of snacks and a cocktail - St. George Spirits Qi orange and white tea liqueur over ice with a lemon peel. (This afternoon was brought to you by the letter Q.)

*Quinoa (seeds) are naturally coated with saponin, a bitter substance that helps deter insect pests. This coating is generally removed with light processing.

Coffee Toffee Dark bar - July 21, 2013

Chocolate of the Day:

Bissinger's
Coffee Toffee Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good
Weight: .583 oz. (16.4 g.) in 1/6 bar / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 90 calories (estimate) in 1/6 bar
Cost: $3.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Miki's Farm Fresh Market, Palo Alto, CA

Today was the third day of Chocolate and and Coffee Theme Week. I love the taste of coffee, but caffeine makes me hyperactive. So, much as I've loved tasting chocolate + coffee items the past few days, I've already needed to take a few deep breaths and slow down.

Despite the challenges of being in a state of perpetual caffeination this week, my chocolate research continues...with today's Coffee Toffee Dark Chocolate bar from Bissinger's (St. Louis, MO).

Bissinger's used "100% African (cocoa) Beans" to make this (gluten free) dark chocolate bar, that was decorated with a festive shower of toffee pieces pressed into the bar's backside. The coffee in this bar came from Rainforest Alliance* Certified farms.

The dark chocolate base as deep, almost impenetrable thicket of darkness. Brighter fruit notes (often found in chocolate made with Madagascar beans) might have added some interesting notes. But, interesting isn't always better if you have a lot of different flavors interacting already. In this case, the rather homogenous dark chocolate in this bar did blend seamlessly with the dark coffee flavor.

*The Rainforest Alliance is an organization that focuses on teaching sustainable practices -- that are "good for farm families, the community, the environment and wildlife."

Coconut Caramel bar + Lemon - March 8, 2013

Chocolate of the Day:

Bissinger's
Coconut Caramel with Red Hawaiian Sea Salt bar
Good - Good +
Weight: 1.75 oz. (49.5 g.) in 1/2 bar / 3.5 oz. (99 g.) in total bar
Calories: 240 calories (estimate) for 1/2 bar
Cost: $3.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Miki's Farm Fresh Market, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #7 of Chocolate and Butter Theme Week, and Day #3 of Chocolate and Lemon Theme Week...and a Shotglass Dessert Day as well, where I squeeze tiny amounts of sweet things into a little glass. Portion control and good, creative fun, in equal measures.

The first thing I noticed when I opened the packaging for today's milk chocolate, Coconut Caramel bar from Bissinger's (St. Louis, MO) was the back side of the bar, which was adorned with (sulfite-free) toasted coconut shreds.

I broke off a piece, and saw pocket of soft caramel center, made with real butter and palm sugar. The Red Hawaiian Sea Salt combined with the coconut and caramel reminded me of a sweet coconut curry I'd had once, and it made me want to melt part of this bar down with a savory/spicy peanut sauce to use as an Asian dipping sauce or fondue.

Bissinger's used cacao beans from Africa in this gluten-free bar. The company also teamed with the Rainforest Alliance to support sustainability programs that are "good for farm families, the community, the environment and wildlife."

A company statement on the packaging read "Bissinger's uses 100% African cocoa beans, for a richer, more satisfying chocolate taste." It's harder to taste the pure flavors of cacao with milk chocolate and where there are additions to bars, but I'll look forward to sampling Bissinger's plain, dark chocolate in the future with this in mind.

Shotglass Dessert - "Love on a Lemon Coconut Cloud" 
The foundation, or bottom, layer for this shotglass dessert was a Lemon Burst cookie (chopped; with no wheat or gluten, but a bit of butter) from WOW (With-Out Wheat) Baking Company (Kent, WA).

On top of the crumbs, I gently pressed in some coconut milk frozen dessert (you could also use ice cream). I sprinkled a few more Lemon Burst cookie crumbs on top of that; topped with bits/shards of Coconut Caramel bar from Bissinger's (St. Louis, MO); and garnished with a fresh Meyer lemon peel.

Bissinger's - Peppermint Chocolate Bar - March 8, 2012

Chocolate of the Day: 

Bissinger's
Peppermint Chocolate Bar
Good + - Very Good
Weight: 2.5 oz. (71 g.) total bar
Calories: 360 calories
Cost: $4.99 total bar
Purchased from: Piazza's Fine Foods, in Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #2 of Chocolate and Mint Theme Week. This Peppermint bar from Bissinger's (St. Louis, MO) was made, in a gluten-free facility, with both dark and white chocolate. The very natural tasting peppermint flavor helped boost my enjoyment of this bar that was decorated with crunchy flecks of peppermint candy.

ChocolateBet: October 13, 2010

Chocolate(s) of the Day:

1.) Bissinger's Naturals
Dark Chocolate Covered Molasses Puffs
Good +
Weight: .39 oz. (11.25 g.) / 6 oz. (170 g.) total package
Calories: 45 calories in 1 piece, or puff
Cost: $8.99 for total package
Purchased from: Draegers, in San Mateo, CA

Today is Day #7 of Chocolate and Air Theme Week. These puffs were similar to chocolate-coated honeycomb pieces, and were described as "light, airy puffs of molasses covered in Bissinger's Dark Chocolate." This product was also gluten-free.

----------------------

Postscript: Later in the day, I flew East for Chocolate #2 of the day...


2.) The Eiffel Tower Restaurant
Grand Marnier Souffle with chocolate and Grand Marnier sauces
Very Good + - Yum
Weight: 4 oz. (estimate) for 1 serving
Calories: unknown (sometimes it's better not knowing)
Cost: Approximately $15.00 + tax, tip
Purchased from: Eiffel Tower Restaurant, Paris, Las Vegas, NV

To celebrate the end of Chocolate and Air Theme Week, and the beginning of Chocolate and Orange Theme Week, there was really only one choice: fly directly to Paris, where the souffles are magnifique.

High atop the city, in the Eiffel Tower Restaurant, I enjoyed a Grand Marnier Souffle, expertly finished with chocolate and Grand Marnier sauces by Noel at the bar. Does it matter that I was in Paris, Las Vegas, instead of France? No, not one bit.

This souffle was excellent, and the view was too.

ChocolateBet: December 13, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

1 serving (4 pcs.)
Bissinger's Handcrafted Chocolatier
Chocolate Covered Black Sesame Crunch
Very Good +
Weight: 29 grams/5 oz. (142 g.) in total package
Calories: 180 calories for 29 g., 4-pc. serving
Cost: $6.49 for total package
Purchased from: Central Market, in Plano, TX

These dark chocolate covered Black Sesame Crunch pieces (filled with a nice blend of almonds and sesame seeds) from Bissinger's (St. Louis, MO) were very satisfying. Even better: no wheat, and no artificial colors or flavors.

ChocolateBet: December 10, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

6 pieces/1 box
Bissinger's
Salted Margarita Caramels
Good + - Very Good
Wt.: 2.2 oz. (62 grams)
Calories: 225 calories in 6 pieces
Cost: $7.99 total box (6 pieces)
Purchased from: Central Market, in Plano, TX

I've enjoyed salted caramels infused with lavender, rosemary, and other flavorings. The Margarita (tequila extract and slight citrus) flavor gave these Bissinger's chocolate covered caramels an interesting twist, and blended authentically with the salt crystals on top.