Hawaiian Wildflower Honey Dessert #3 - Papaya, Banana, Mac Nuts, Blood Orange Dark Chocolate - Jan. 16, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Hawaiian Wildflower Honey Dessert #3
Papaya, Banana, Salted Mac Nuts + Ghirardelli Blood Orange Chocolate dessert
Good ++
Weight: 2 oz. (56.6 g.) in total dessert 
Calories: 250 calories (estimate)
Cost: $ N/A - many sources
Purchased from: N/A - many sources

Aloha and welcome to Day #16 of Chocolate and Hawaii Theme Week(s). 

This is the third in a series of small chocolate desserts using Hawaiian wildflower honey and other Hawaii-themed ingredients. The goal of this series: construct and enjoy a series* of tiny blend of beautiful, layered island/tropical flavors in January.

Today's small dessert contained Hawaii papaya, banana, salted macadamia nuts--and 1 square of Blood Orange Dark Chocolate from Ghirardelli Chocolate Company (San Leandro, CA). 

This fruit and chocolate tropical treat was topped with salted macadamia nuts and drizzled with delicious Hawaiian Wildflower Honey from Chico Honey (Chico, CA).** 

The pure tropical fruit, wildflower honey and nut flavors were unadulterated, authentic and refreshing. The sea salted macadamia nut pieces added some additional texture and the salt helped balance the sweetness.

In what was certainly an unfair comparison, the Blood Orange Dark Chocolate was fairly uniform, dense (dark roast, Forastero-like variety cacao), almost flat in flavor, when tasted with fresh and flavorful whole fruit and honey, and nuts. 

There was little bright fruit/flavor, and no green or other complex aroma or flavor notes--beyond what one would expect from a reasonably priced, bulk dark chocolate bar with natural flavors and a bit of vanilla. Not bad, and interesting to try. But, it suffered when compared to the single origin Hawaii chocolates tasted so far this month.

Ingredients: Blood Orange Dark Chocolate: Cane sugar, unsweetened chocolate, cocoa butter, milk fat, rice syrup, blood orange bits, orange peel, natural flavor, coconut oil, soy lecithin, citric acid, vanilla extract, annatto (color), beet juice (color).

Allergen-related information: Contains soy. May contain milk and tree nuts.

* This week's 6-day Hawaiian Honey series was designed to perk up cold and gray winter days, and falls in the middle of a Chocolate and Hawaii Theme Week(s) -- a "week" that grew until it devoured the month of January. Chocolate virtual travel has a way of doing that, especially if that v-travel is to Hawaii.

**The company sources honey from their own hives in California, Hawaii and Montana. 

Ghirardelli - Hot Cocoa "Double Chocolate" + eggnog - Dec. 27, 2022

Chocolate(s) of the Day

Ghirardelli

Hot Cocoa Mix "Double Chocolate" (dry mix, mug set for 2 people)

Good ++

Weight: .85 oz. (24 g.) in one single-serving packet (dry mix only)

Calories: 90 calories in 1 serving (plus added milk)

Cost: $13.99 for 1 set (included 2 packets + 2 holiday mugs)

Purchased from: Safeway, Palo Alto, CA

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

It may be after Christmas, but holiday spirits are still going strong this week. After viewing holiday lights, a winter warmer sounded good. Today's red and white holiday mugs full of Hot Cocoa were made using a dry mix (plus 2 mug set) from Ghirardelli Chocolate Company (San Leandro, CA).

My additions to the Ghirardelli mix included: whole milk, very small amounts of cinnamon and nutmeg, and a small amount of Bourbon Vanilla flavored whipping cream.

I used 8 fl. oz. of hot whole milk (vs. the 6 fl. oz. of milk called for), per mug. The result: very satisfying, creamy cups of hot cocoa. (Thank you to Megan for tasting help.)

This hot chocolate was enjoyed with a square of dark chocolate peppermint bark (topped with white chocolate and crushed bits of candy canes), and a small glass of eggnog (with a small dash of brandy).

Ingredients (dry mix): Sugar, cocoa processed with alkali, unsweetened chocolate, soy lecithin, vanilla extract.

Allergen-related information: (Contained milk as prepared.) "May contain milk, egg, tree nuts, and wheat." 

Ghirardelli Chocolate - 100% Cocoa Dutch Process (powder) - Aug. 13, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Ghirardelli Chocolate Company
100% Cocoa Dutch Process (powder)

Good - Good +
Weight: .21 oz. (6 g.) / 8 oz. (227 g.) in total package
Calories: 15 calories (estimate) in 1 Tbsp/TB serving

Cost: $6.49 for 1 package

Purchased from: Nugget Markets, Tiburon, CA 

Welcome to Day #5 of 100% Cacao and Nibs Theme Week.

Today's 100% Cocoa Dutch Process (powder) was from Ghirardelli Chocolate Company (San Leandro, CA).  

The "dutch process" generally uses an alkaline substance (higher on the pH scale) to reduce sharper, acidic flavor (lower on the pH scale). The alkali(ne) essentially neutralizes its acid opposite(s) and makes the cocoa more loveable--if you like brownies and cuddly, chocolate-y chocolate. (Many people prefer it over the less processed original or raw form.)

A small amount of cocoa powder rapidly transforms almost any item into a brownie-flavored dessert. I mixed 1 Tablespoon of today's cocoa powder into a bowl of mixed nuts (that were lightly coated in coconut oil). The powder instantly coated the nuts and turned the mixture into a rich, ebony-colored, nut brownie-flavored melange. (Success!)

Ingredients: "Cocoa - processed with alkali"

Allergen-related information: "May contain tree nuts, wheat, soy, milk and egg." 

 

Ghirardelli - 100% Cacao Unsweetened Chocolate (bar) - Aug. 10, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Ghirardelli Chocolate Company
Premium Baking 100% Cacao Unsweetened Chocolate (bar)
Good +
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 4 oz. (113.5 g.) in total bar
Calories: 140 calories (per label) in 1/4 bar
Cost: $ missing information for 1 bar
Purchased from: missing information 

Welcome to Day #2 of 100% Cacao and Nibs Theme Week.

Today's Premium Baking 100% Cacao Unsweetened Chocolate (bar) was from Ghirardelli Chocolate Company (San Leandro, CA). 

This bar had an aroma with deep chocolate and sweet green (green tea, green floral and fleeting green floral, homemade marshmallow, green nut/seed and jaguar cacao) notes. 

The flavor was similar to the aroma, but with much more pronounced deep, roasted dark chocolate (lightly singed fudge nut brownie) notes with a dense creamy (finely ground, thick 100% nut (fire roasted almond and peanut butter) texture and mouthfeel. 

The green notes made a subtle return in the light, lingering finish as did a fleeting faint brownie note.

In a word, this bar with well-managed bitterness and acidity was substantial. 

For those who enjoy ultra-dark chocolate, this chocolate is suitable for eating as well as baking (cakes, brownies, and traditional chocolate desserts). It also could be used to make a high-end, paleo fondue with nuts and fruits, an outer coating for dark truffles, or a melted drizzle over vanilla ice cream or sweeter desserts where you're looking for a bit of lively contrast.

Ingredients: "Unsweetened chocolate."

Allergen-related information: "May contain milk, soy, and tree nuts."

Ghirardelli Chocolate Company - Intense Dark Salted Caramel Cascade (bar) - May 17, 2020

Chocolate of the Day: 

Ghirardelli Chocolate Company
Intense Dark Salted Caramel Cascade (bar)
Good +
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 120 calories in 1 serving of bar (2 squares)
Cost: $2.50 for 1 bar (2 bars for $5.00)
Purchased from: Walgreens, midtown Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Intense Dark Salted Caramel Cascade (bar) was from Ghirardelli Chocolate Company (San Leandro, CA).

Most mass market chocolates tend to be very sweet. Add caramel to the mix and one can't taste the chocolate that's covering a mass of sugary goo. Thankfully, this dark chocolate (I wouldn't use the term "intense," but it) was smooth. And the sweetness level was held in check by the inclusion of sea salt.

I liked the thinness of this filled chocolate bar. A layer of crunchy and slightly chewy sweet caramel bits was sandwiched between two ultra-thin layers of dark chocolate, making these balanced flavors rapidly accessible.

Ingredients: Sugar, unsweetened chocolate, glucose syrup (wheat), cocoa butter, milk fat, cream (milk), butter (cream, salt), nonfat dry milk, sea salt, natural flavor, soy lecithin, salt, vanilla extract. 

Note: there may be traces of wheat/gluten in this bar.

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.

Ghirardelli - Peppermint Bark Snowmen - December 27, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Ghirardelli Chocolate Company
Peppermint Bark Snowmen
Good +
Weight: 1.02 oz. (29 g.) / 4 oz. (115.2 g.) in total package
Calories: 160 calories in 1 serving (3 pieces)
Cost: $3.00 (estimate) for 1 package
Purchased from: Safeway, Palo Alto, CA


Welcome to Day #6 of Holiday Tea and Spirits Theme Week.

Today's festive little peppermint bark snowmen were from Ghirardelli Chocolate Company (San Leandro, CA).

The company has been offering individually-wrapped peppermint bark squares for many years, and these snowmen were a fun variation on a Christmas and winter holidays theme.

Crunchy, sweet and pepperminty, this snowman-shaped piece had a thin dark chocolate layer on the bottom and a white chocolate and peppermint candy snowman top layer.

Pair this with an eggnog—or a non-alcoholic and/or non-dairy eggnot—and you've got yourself a very American-looking Christmas holiday chocolate snack. 

Ghirardelli Chocolate - Dark Chocolate Bourbon Caramel Squares - Aug. 21, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Ghirardelli Chocolate Company
Dark Chocolate Bourbon Caramel Squares
Good - Good +
Weight: 1.59 oz. (45 g.) / 5.3 oz. (151 g.) in total bar
Calories: 210 calories in 3 squares
Cost: $2.99 (estimate) for 1 package of 10 squares
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #12 of Chocolate and Spirits Theme Week.

Today's individually-wrapped Dark Chocolate Bourbon Caramel Squares were made by Ghirardelli Chocolate Company (San Leandro, CA).

These squares might hit the spot for those looking for a sweet, smooth, dark chocolate treat with a touch of spirits* infused into a thin layer of soft caramel filling.

No surprise for a caramel chocolate, the number one ingredient was sugar, followed by unsweetened chocolate, corn syrup and sweetened condensed milk.

*"natural bourbon flavor"

Ghirardelli - Intense Dark Hazelnut Heaven bar - March 6, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Ghirardelli Chocolate
Intense Dark Hazelnut Heaven - Dark Chocolate with Roasted Hazelnuts bar
Good
Weight: 1.34 oz. (38 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 190 calories in 1 serving (3 sections of) bar
Cost: $2.50 (sale) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Walgreens, Palo Alto, CA

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

Intense Dark Chocolate Hazelnut Heaven - Dark Chocolate with Roasted Hazelnuts bar was manufactured by Ghirardelli Chocolate Company (San Leandro, CA).

This bar was part of the "Intense Dark" family of dark chocolate bars produced by Ghirardelli. Today's Hazelnut Heaven flavor was a relatively new addition to the lineup.

The large, slim, Intense Dark Chocolate bar (with deeply roasted nibs) contained bits of crunchy, roasted hazelnuts. The marketing pitch: "A little sophisticated, a little nutty, this is the perfect bar for dreamy picnics and elegant nibbling." It was a bit sweet. (There was no percentage listed; I'm guessing in the sixties.) The bar had a balanced roasted mocha and roasted hazelnut flavor and finish.

This bar contained no gluten containing ingredients. Ghirardelli is working to remove gluten from their chocolates and hope to make almost all products gluten free by the end of next year (2020).

Ghirardelli Chocolate - Intense Dark Cocoa Nibs bar - March 6, 2018

Chocolate of the Day:

Ghirardelli  Chocolate Company
Intense Dark Cocoa Nibs bar
Good +
Weight: 1.5 oz. (42.5 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 212.5 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $1.99 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Intense Dark Cocoa Nibs bar was from Ghirardelli Chocolate Company (San Leandro, CA).

Long before the new American chocolate makers* were making small batch, bean-to-bar chocolate, Domenico "Domingo" Ghirardelli was in the Americas, and came to California in 1849 during the height of the gold rush.

Ghirardelli sold chocolate/drinking chocolate to gold rush miners in Stockton (northern) California, and fortunately for us decided to stay after the gold boom.

Ghirardelli Chocolate Company settled in and expanded their facilities in San Francisco, and a household chocolate brand took shape. It is a testament to any company that stays independent for over a century** And, with luck, the Ghirardelli brand will be around for their 200th anniversary in the mid 2000s.

In the meantime, let's enjoy their dark Cocoa Nibs chocolate bar with bits of crunchy, roasted nibs (crushed bits of shelled cocoa beans). The bar was made from semi-sweet chocolate (sugar, unsweetened chocolate, cocoa butter, milk fat, soy lecithin and vanilla) and nibs.

The vanilla and sugar gave the chocolate a sweet flavor and aroma and a warm quality to it. The nibs provided soft crunchy texture.

* The reference here is to the wave of new American chocolate makers that saw an upsurge in the 1990s and has continued.

**In the 1963, the company was sold. And in the early 1990s, The Ghirardelli Chocolate Company became part of a Swiss chocolate maker's portfolio. Ghirardelli Chocolate Company is currently a U.S. Division of Lindt and Sprungli.)

Ghirardelli - Cashew Crescendo Dark Chocolate bar - Feb. 8, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Ghirardelli Chocolate Company

Intense Dark - Cashew Crescendo bar

Good

Weight: 1.75 oz. (50 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total bar

Calories: 237.5 calories in 1/2 bar

Cost: $3.99 for 1 bar

Purchased from: CVS/Pharmacy

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate and Nuts Theme Week.

Today's Intense Dark - Cashew Crescendo bar from Ghirardelli Chocolate (San Leandro, CA) was a "blend of dark chocolate, roasted cashews and coarse crystals of sea salt...a combination of salty and crunchy."

Yes, that is a pretty good summary. I can't top that.

The dark chocolate bar* had a slight, roasted bittersweet, yet fairly uniform flavor.

Take a bite and you'll see several pieces of cashew; however, as is often the case with this tropical nut, the mild cashew flavor was all but eclipsed by the chocolate.

*Ingredients: sugar, unsweetened chocolate, cashews, cocoa butter, milk fat, sea salt, soy lecithin, vanilla

Ghirardelli - Milk Chocolate Jewel City bar - Nov. 27, 2017

Chocolate of the Day: 

Ghirardelli Chocolate Company

Milk Chocolate bar

(Jewel City - Art from Panama Pacific International Exposition)

Good 

Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 4 oz. (113.5 g.) in total bar

Calories: 137.5 calories (per label) in 1/4 bar (2 squares)

Cost: $2.99 for 1 bar

Purchased from: de Young Museum, San Francisco, CA

Welcome to the first day of Chocolate and California Dreaming Theme Week. First a bit of chocolate history about the Golden State, since we'll be virtually visiting here for the next several days.

The Gold Rush and the promise of new opportunities and dreams, drew many people to San Francisco in 1849. One individual, who arrived via South America, was Domenico (Domingo) Ghirardelli.

Ghirardelli first offered chocolate to miners in the Stockton, CA, area, and later opened a second shop in San Francisco. The Ghirardelli Chocolate Company was incorporated in 1852, making it one of the oldest chocolate companies operating in the U.S. 

Later, Ghirardelli's three sons managed the growing operation in a new San Francisco location. And, after successfully weathering the 1906 earthquake, participated in the Panama Pacific International Exposition*, which attracted visitors from around the globe. (Source of stamp shown: Pinterest.)

Ghirardelli California headquarters may now be across the Bay in San Leandro, and they're owned by a Swiss company (Lindt); but their heart and history is still in San Francisco.

The chocolate was sweet, and uniformly even in flavor. The texture was creamy smooth.

*The cover of today's "Jewel City" milk chocolate bar was adorned with an image from an Arthur Mathews oil painting, titled "The Victory of Culture over Force (Victorious Spirit), 1914. This bar (and art) were part of a centennial celebration and art exhibit in San Francisco that commemorated the 1915 Exposition in 2015-2016. One of the major attractions at the historic expo was a Tower of Jewels that was illuminated at night—thus the nick-name Jewel City.

Ghirardelli - Milk Chocolate Pumpkin Spice Squares - Oct. 29, 2016

Chocolate of the Day: 

Ghirardelli Chocolate Company
Squares - Milk Chocolate Pumpkin Spice Caramel
Good
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 5.32 oz. (151 g.) in total package
Calories: 140 calories in 2 squares
Cost: $3.50 (sale price) for 1 package of 10 squares
Purchased from: Safeway, Albany, CA

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate, Sugar and Spice Theme Week, and Day #1 of Trick or Treat Theme Week.

Today's Milk Chocolate Pumpkin Spice Caramel Squares from Ghirardelli Chocolate Company (San Leandro, CA) were composed of sweet milk chocolate.

Take a bite and soft, golden-colored, pumpkin spice-flavored caramel will ooze out. On a hot day, when caramel loves to escape its bonds, you'll be glad these squares come individually wrapped in attractively shiny, sealed packaging, especially if you've forgotten one in your pocket.

Domingo Ghirardelli (1817-1894) was a successful San Francisco chocolatier. The view over the Bay Area from Domingo Ghirardelli's mausoleum up in the Oakland hills (at the Mountain View Cemetery) is beautiful.

As Halloween approaches, I wonder what the company founder might have thought of this modern chocolate world and Halloween trick or treaters* below this week.

*Halloween is celebrated in the U.S. with small children dressed up in costumes who visit neighbors, asking "trick or treat" when neighbors answer the door. Children are most often rewarded with treats—a handful of small candies or chocolates. 

Fun facts found on the Internet: Of the 600 million pounds of candy sold each year in the U.S., approximately 90 million pounds are chocolate items. Americans spend $1.9 billion on Halloween each year.


Note: These squares were the first chocolate item I've seen with a statement (on the packaging) that read: "Partially produced with genetic engineering." Transparency is good.

Ghirardelli - Dark & Sea Salt Caramel squares - May 15, 2016

Chocolate of the Day:

Ghirardelli Chocolate Company
Dark and Sea Salt Caramel - Squares
Good
Weight: .53 oz. (15 g.) / Net Wt.: 5.32 oz. (151 g.) total package/bag
Calories: 70 calories for 1 square
Cost: $0 (coupon for 1 free package); $5.29 for 1 package/bag of 10 squares
Purchased from: Safeway, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate and Salted Caramel Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate, Caramel and Toffee Theme Week.

I thought I might have tried every flavor of individually-wrapped squares from Ghirardelli Chocolate Company (San Leandro, CA).

However, not today's Dark and Sea Salt Caramel. These squares were advertised as "rich, slow-melting dark chocolate and buttery caramel filling enhanced by a touch of sea salt."

Despite the soy lecithin, TBHQ - preservatives, and other extras, I believe this was my favorite flavor in the Ghirardelli Chocolate Squares line so far.

Coincidentally, I was able to share these squares with others at a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of a restored salt marsh area on the shores of San Francisco Bay. *

What I liked about the packaging is that even on a hot day, these were securely wrapped so that people didn't have melted chocolate and caramel everywhere later.


*When Ghirardelli first started making chocolate in the mid-1800s, there were dozens of active sea salt producers still left in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Like many industries that start out with many smaller operations, there was consolidation in salt. Now Cargill is the last company to operate a large-scale sea salt works on San Francisco Bay—one of only two such operations left in the U.S. I believe.

Ghirardelli Chocolate - Milk Chocolate Bunny - Mar. 27, 2016

Chocolate of the Day: 

Ghirardelli Chocolate Company
Milk Chocolate Bunny
Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in 1 bunny
Calories: 152 calories (estimate) in 1 oz. (28.3 g.) of bunny
Cost: $3.50 for 1 bunny
Purchased from: Safeway, Palo Alto, CA

Happy Easter to all who celebrate this Spring (and big chocolate) holiday.

Today I'm featuring Ghirardelli Chocolate Company's blue-ribbon-wearing, milk chocolate bunny named Noe—who was holding what appeared to be a gold Easter egg.

Poor Noe. I've always felt a little guilty biting into any chocolate animal, especially when it has a cute little smile.

To compound my crime, I ate some small, individually-wrapped caramel versions of Noe yesterday (pictured at right). And today we conducted a science experiment by leaving one bun in the sun to see if it would melt into fondue. (It did.)

This classic, hollow milk chocolate rabbit was shared with family and friends.

Thanks to Megan and Jeff for the mini milk chocolate versions of this bunny.

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

Ghirardelli - Milk Chocolate Caramel Bunny - Mar. 26, 2016

Chocolate of the Day: 

Ghirardelli Chocolate
Milk Chocolate Caramel Bunny
Good
Weight: 2 pieces (20 g.) / 4.14 oz. (117.6 g.) in total package/bag
Calories: 80 calories in 2 pieces
Cost: $4.99 (estimate) for 1 package
Purchased from: Safeway, Palo Alto, CA

Happy Spring to all. And Happy Easter Weekend to those who celebrate this holiday.

Rain has brought green back to the San Francisco Bay Area. Green grassy hills as far as one can see (over all the buildings that is). Cows and horses are grazing on the green grass in pastures, and bees are buzzing around flowers in bloom.

Spring is a great time to celebrate life and being outdoors. And, as always, here at Chocolate Banquet, we celebrate with chocolate.

First, let's start with the quintessential Easter bunny. Recently, my mother spotted a rare bunny on her lawn. The mystery bunny returned several times and was finally captured on my brother's cell phone.

Rabbits are often considered yard pests in more rural settings. However, we live in such a developed area, it's highly unusual to have a visit from a real Easter bunny. (Easter squirrels maybe, but not bunnies.)

Today's Milk Chocolate Caramel Bunny is for you mom. The individually wrapped, Milk Chocolate Caramel Bunnies (package of 12) were from Ghirardelli Chocolate (San Leandro, CA).

Each diminutive Ghirardelli milk chocolate bunny (named Noe*) was filled with a soft caramel filling.

Tomorrow I'll be featuring Noe's bigger, 100% chocolate (caramel-less) sibling.

*Noe the bunny also has a back-story. See Ghirardelli website for more. 

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

Ghirardelli - Dark Raspberry Squares; Peet's Milk Chocolate Cherries - Mar. 7, 2016

Chocolate(s) of the Day:

Ghirardelli Chocolate Company*
Squares - Dark and Raspberry
Good
Weight: .53 oz. (15 g.) / 5.32 oz. (151 g.) in total package of 10
Calories: 70 calories in 1 square
Cost: $3.49 for 1 package of 10 squares
Purchased from: Safeway, Palo Alto, CA

Peet's Coffee and Tea
Milk Chocolate Cherries
Good
Weight: .85 oz. (24 g.) / 6.5 oz. (184 g.) in total bag/package
Calories: 114 calories in 3 pieces
Cost: $6.95 (plus tax) for 1 package
Purchased from: Peet's Coffee and Tea, San Bruno, CA

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate, Cherry and Raspberry Week.

National Fruit Compote Day in the U.S. was last week (March 1). Today, I'm belatedly making my own red fruit mix with offerings from two San Francisco Bay Area companies: Ghirardelli Chocolate Company (San Leandro, CA) and Peet's Coffee and Tea (Berkeley, CA).

Ghirardelli Chocolate (founded in 1852 in San Francisco by Domenico Ghirardelli)*, produces a line of small, individually-wrapped, chocolate squares available in a variety of flavors. Each square is a nice size if you just want a few bites of chocolate.

Today's slim dark chocolate square was filled with a raspberry-flavored, soft pink center. Warning: open/handle these squares gently to avoid squish-age, that you may have to lick off your fingers.

The first Peet's Coffee and Tea (and Spices) location was opened in Berkeley in 1966 by Alfred Peet. The company offers some sweets in their stores, such as today's Milk Chocolate Cherries (often made for Peet's by other companies). Today's chocolates contained cherry flavored centers—surrounded by milk chocolate and a sweet pastel confectioners coating.

*Ghirardelli is now owned by parent company, Lindt and Sprungli (Switzerland).

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

Ghirardelli Chocolate - Cherry Tango bar - Aug. 12, 2015

Chocolate of the Day:

Ghirardelli Chocolate Company
Cherry Tango bar
Good - Good +
Weight: 1.75 oz. (50 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 225 calories (estimate based on label) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $3.49 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Walgreens, Mountain View, CA

Welcome to was Day #8 of Chocolate, Fruits and Nuts Theme Week at Chocolate Banquet -- where the definition of a week is an elastic concept. A "chocolate week" here often stretches from 7 to as many as 14 days (and chocolates). I appreciate chocolate, and life in general. I am truly grateful to have access to so many different chocolates, including quite a few with fruit and nuts.

Today's Cherry Tango bar from Ghirardelli Chocolate Company (San Leandro, CA) was part of the company's "Intense Dark" bar series. If you're wary about deep dark or bitter chocolate, don't let the phrase "Intense Dark" scare you; this Ghirardelli semisweet chocolate bar was quite mellow and a bit of added cocoa butter added to the smoothness.

This Cherry Tango bar was studded with tiny almond chips, and had a uniform cherry flavor (dried cherries and "natural flavors"), that reminded me of sweet cherry chocolate candies that had whispers of vanilla and a subtle marzipan/almond extract flavor notes. I have fond childhood memories of these cherry chocolate confections, and this bar evoked some of those memories. The bar was a bit on the sweet side, but not overly so.

Ghirardelli Chocolate - Creamy Almond Crunch bar - June 12, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

Ghirardelli Chocolate Company
Creamy Almond Crunch bar
Good
Weight: 1.67 oz. (47.5 g.) / 3.34 oz. (95 g.) in total bar
Calories: 253.3 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $2.99 (sale) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Walgreens, Los Altos, CA

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

Aptly named, the Creamy Almond Crunch Bar from Ghirardelli Chocolate Company (San Leandro, CA) melted in my mouth. The buttery milk chocolate was balanced by a creamy and slightly crunchy almond filling -- advertised as a "creamy roasted almond filling blended with caramelized almond pieces." There's that word creamy again.

It's creamy, slightly nutty flavor and texture appealed to me today. My only quibble was with the ingredients list, i.e. a there were a few ingredients I'd rather not see, such as "natural and artificial flavors, soy lecithin -- an emulsifier, corn starch, salt, vanilla, TBHQ -- an antioxidant, and corn syrup."

Ghirardelli has a long history when it comes to making and selling chocolates -- beginning in 1852 in the Gold Rush era in San Francisco. Ghirardelli is the oldest continuously operating chocolate maker in the San Francisco Bay Area (and perhaps the U.S). Etienne Guittard soon followed. Both Ghirardelli and Guittard are still making chocolate in the San Francisco Bay Area in San Leandro and South San Francisco, respectively.

Ghirardelli - Milk Chocolate Nutcracker - Dec. 11, 2014

Ghirardelli website

Chocolate of the Day:

Ghirardelli Chocolate Company
Milk Chocolate Nutcracker
Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 4.5 oz. (127 g.) total item
Calories: 150 calories (estimate) in 1 oz. piece
Cost: $4.99 for 1 nutcracker novelty item
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Today kicked off the first day of Chocolates in Toyland Theme Week; and I'll be sampling several holiday novelty chocolate items, most of them neatly encased in festively colorful and fancifully illustrated foil wrappings.

Kicking this week off was the milk chocolate Nutcracker chocsimile* from Ghirardelli Chocolate (San Leandro, CA). Ghirardelli was one of the pioneer chocolate makers in the San Francisco area. The company started making chocolate in San Francisco in 1852.

The dilemma: Is it more polite to bite off the boots or the head first? I went with the boots. While hollow inside, the milk chocolate walls were generously thick, and the boots broke off with a snap and a thunk. The chocolate was smooth and sweet.

The Nutcracker character features prominently in a famous ballet of the same name that's still popular during the Christmas holiday season in the U.S.

It's hard to imagine this 7-inch tall nutcracker magically transforming into a 7-foot tall nutcracker soldier and crossing swords with a man-sized rat king. However, it might make a fun Christmas stocking stuffer.

*A chocsimile is a chocolate facsimile of a person, place or thing.