Bovetti - Dark Rose Petals bar - Dec. 1, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Bovetti Chocolats
Dark Chocolate with Rose Flower Petals bar
Good ++ - Very Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 150 calories in 1 oz. (28.3 g.) bar
Cost: $9.95 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Draegers, San Mateo, CA

Today was Day #5 of Chocolate, Rose and Strawberry Theme Week.

The attractively packaged Dark Chocolate with Rose Flower Petals bar from Bovetti Chocolats (Terrasson, France) was made from 73% cocoa and covered with a generous and beautiful sprinkle of pink rose bits.

Bovetti offers dozens of different chocolate bars with inclusions, including spices, fruits, seeds and ones with flower petals: rose, lavender, jasmine or violet.

Dark, rich and smooth chocolate texture and flavor paired well with sweet, crunchy petal bits.

This classy dark bar inspired me to fix high tea and little sandwiches. And I enjoyed this bar with rosehip tea and strawberry preserves on toast, alongside cucumber and cheese sandwiches. Pip pip, cheerio. Pinkies out and all that.

Bovetti Chocolats - Dark bar with dried fruits - April 20, 2014

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

Bovetti Chocolats
Dark Chocolate Bar with Dried Fruits
Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) total bar
Calories: 150 calories (estimate) in 1 oz. (28.3 g.) piece
Cost: $9.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Draeger's Market, San Mateo, CA

Today was Day #7 of Chocolate and Pistachio Theme Week.

Happy Easter Sunday to those who celebrate this spring holiday that speaks of resurrection. Today we celebrated with a great lunch, colorful fruit sorbets, and pieces of this Dark Chocolate (73% cocoa) with Dried Fruits and Nuts (hazelnuts, almonds, pistachios) bar from Bovetti Artisan Chocolatier/Bovetti Chocolats (France). It was all good. I felt thankful to be able to sit down with family and enjoy a meal together.

Earlier in the day I also sampled a lovely pastel green-colored pistachio gelato (that likely had a little almond extract in it as well), with some gluten-free pistachio and cranberry biscotti, and pistachio nuts. Perhaps having three Easter Sunday desserts today was excessive, but small portions allowed for more variety.

Bovetti - Dark Chocolate Cranberries bar - March 26, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Bovetti Chocolats
Dark Chocolate with Cranberries bar
Good - Good+
Weight: .875 oz. (25 g.) 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in 1/4 bar
Calories: 144 calories (per label) in 1/4 bar (2 squares)
Cost: $9.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Draeger's, San Mateo, CA

Today was Day #4 of Chocolate and Cranberry Theme Week.

This 73% cocoa Dark Chocolate with Cranberries bar from Bovetti Chocolats was made in Terrasson, France, and imported into the U.S.

The chocolate, was smooth, i.e. not terribly acidic given the relatively high percentage of cocoa solids and dark color. A very faint vanilla flavor note suffused the bar. Flashes of burgandy-colored, sweetened dried cranberry bits on one side added visual interest, and a wee bit of concentrated fruit flavor and texture.

ChocolateBet: March 30, 2012

Chocolate of the Day: 

Bovetti Artisan Chocolatier
Dark Chocolate with Espelette Peppers
Good - Good +
Weight: .875 oz. (25 g.)/ 3.5 oz. (100 g.) total bar
Calories: 130 calories (estimate) in 1/4 bar
Cost: $8.99 total bar
Purchased from: Draegers, in San Mateo, CA

Today was Day #5 of Chocolate and Spicy Pepper Theme Week. This 73% cocoa dark chocolate bar with espelette peppers was not spicy, but the crushed espelette peppers sprinkled on the back of this bar from Bovetti (France) did give it an attractive, festive look.

This would be a good bar for eating or for grating, baking, and perhaps even for fondue. However, for those who have become spoiled by the new American maker bars, you may find this dark bar a little flat-flavored. I was convinced I was eating nice dark chocolate (hard snap, smooth consistency), but there was something (flavorings? vanilla? cocoa source? a darker roast time that flattened out acidity?) that was dulling down the flavor arc from the cocoa itself. I've found the same thing in other dark(er) bars from Italy in the last few years. Theories on this phenomenon would be welcome.

ChocolateBet: July 11, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

1 bar
Bovetti (Artisan Chocolatier)
Milk Chocolate - Anis/Aniseed (32% cacao)
Very Good + - It's fairly sweet, but I love the anise flavor
Weight: 100 grams (~3 1/2 oz.) (~ 4 servings)
Calories: 520 calories (estimate) for whole bar
Cost: $7.39 (Canadian)
Purchased from: Le Cartet (boutique alimentaire) in Montreal, Quebec

Le Cartet is a wonderful shop in Montreal. I grabbed a handful of chocolate bars while walking from a business meeting back to the hotel. This aniseed bar became a late night/early morning dinner.

Dinner was eaten before I had a chance to capture the image of this chocolate bar in the wrapper. (See image empty wrapper/container (above right).)