ChocolateBet: May 22, 2012

Chocolate of the Day: 

Mink Chocolates
No Grumpy
Very Good
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) /1.76 oz. (50 g.) total bar
Calories: 150 calories in 3/5 bar
Cost: $6.25 + tax
Purchased from: Mink Chocolates, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

This morning I was running around, trying to get things done. I felt much better after taking a break and enjoying some of this "No Grumpy" bar from Mink Chocolates (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada) -- a breakfast beverage in solid form.

This organic, dark chocolate bar contained just the right grind of organic espresso -- not too coarse and crunchy, but enough to add a little texture and flavor. The 70% cacao bar base was just right for this blend of two flavorful, dark roasted beans (cacao and coffee) that have much in common.

Today was Day #6 of Chocolate Beverage Theme Week.

ChocolateBet: April 26, 2012

Chocolate of the Day: 

Mink Chocolates
Chai (bar)
Good + - Very Good
Weight: .176 oz. (5 g.) / 1.76 oz. (50 g.) total bar
Calories: 25 calories for 1/10th of a bar
Cost: $7.00 (estimate), including tax, shipping
Purchased from: Mink Chocolates, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Today was Day #4 of Chocolate Beverage Theme Week.

And today's beverage was a hot cup of chocolate chai, and a bite of  "Chai"- a dark chocolate bar from Mink Chocolates (Vancouver, B.C.), flavored with black tea, ginger, cinnamon, black pepper, cardamom, clove and star anise, in a dark chocolate ganache. No one flavor dominated; it was a very pleasing chai tea blend. The tea and spices in this 70% cacao bar were organically grown.

ChocolateBet: January 23, 2012

Chocolate of the Day:

Mink Chocolates
1.) Queen Cake bar - Good+
Weight: .176 oz. (5 g.) / 1.76 oz. (50 g.) total bar
Calories: 24 calories
Cost: $7.00
Purchased from: Mink Chocolates, Vancouver, BC, Canada

2.) Pas de Deux bar - Very Good
Weight: .176 oz. (5 g.) / 1.76 oz. (50 g.) total bar
Calories: 23 calories
Cost: $7.00
Purchased from: Mink Chocolates, Vancouver, BC, Canada

Today was Day #2 of Chocolate and Almond Marzipan Theme Week.

I'm working my way through the last of several cleverly named Mink Chocolates bars from Vancouver, British Columbia (Canada). Both of today's filled bars were covered with 70% cacao dark chocolate.

The Queen Cake bar was stuffed with marzipan almond paste, and the Pas de Deux bar, my favorite of the two, contained Amaretto and dried cherries in a chocolate ganache base.

ChocolateBet: January 1, 2012

Chocolate of the Day:

Mink Chocolates
"Of Course Siam"bar
Good+ - Very Good
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.)/1.76 oz. (50 g.) total bar
Calories: 132 calories
Cost: $7.50 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Mink Chocolates, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Happy New Year to all, and I hope you all enjoy pursuing your passion in 2012, whatever it may be.

I had plans to mix a coconut-themed bar and a caramelized pecan in maple syrup bar for Day #8 of Chocolate + Coconut + Caramel week. Both bars were from Mink Chocolates of Vancouver (British Columbia, Canada).

The first bar -- the cleverly named "Of Course Siam" dark (70% cacao), with a passion fruit puree and thai coconut milk ganache, tasted perfectly fine, even after a few months in the chocolate vault. The passion fruit was very subtle and blended well with a light coconut flavored filling.

Unfortunately, the second ("Greetings from Canada: Wish you were here" milk chocolate) bar was no longer fresh enough to evaluate. I should have refrigerated it for the last few months. I look forward to trying it in the future.

The Caramel portion of today's theme week was provided by a cup of hot Creme Caramel decaf tea from Stash Tea (Portland, OR), with milk and coconut cream.

ChocolateBet: October 29, 2011

Chocolate of the Day:

1/5 bar
Mink Chocolates
"Open in Case of Emergency" bar
Good - Good+
Weight: .352 oz. (10 g.) / 1.76 oz. (50 g.) total bar
Calories: 46 calories
Cost: $7.00 (approx.)
Purchased from: Mink Chocolates, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

OK, it was not a true emergency. But, it was Day #6 of Chocolate and Whisk(e)y Theme Week.

So I broke open this "Open in Case of Emergency" dark (70% cacao) bar -- made with fresh mint and Kentucky Bourbon whiskey -- from Mink Chocolates (Vancouver, B.C., Canada).

I ordered a whole library of Mink bars awhile back after visiting their store in Vancouver (a few blocks up from the Convention Center). I've been gradually sampling these fun bars, in small chocolate sips. I may have to reorder the last few volumes in the cleverly titled set, as it's been a few months -- and, unlike a good hardcover book, fresh or filled chocolates are more perishable.

ChocolateBet: October 3, 2011

Chocolate of the Day:

1 bar
Mink Chocolates
Taj Masala bar
Weight: 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 280 calories
Cost: $7.00 (estimate)
Purchased from: Mink Chocolates, in Vancouver, B.C., Canada

As the weather cooled off, and the first fall raindrops hit the pavement this afternoon, this lively Taj Masala spice bar from Mink Chocolates was a highlight in an otherwise gray day. Bright, perfectly sized flecks of cinnamon, cardamom, pepper, clove, ginger and tumeric -- embedded in a hand-made milk chocolate (38% cacao) base -- each made an appearance as I was eating this bar.

Today was Day #2 of Chocolate and Cinnamon Theme Week. 

ChocolateBet: October 1, 2011

Chocolate of the Day:

2/5 bar
Mink Chocolates
Ginger or Maryanne? (bar)
Good+
Weight: .7 oz. (20 g.)/ 1.76 oz. (50 g.) total bar
Calories: 103 calories (estimate)
Cost: $7.00 (estimate)
Purchased from: Mink Chocolates, Vancouver, B.C., Canada

There was a U.S. television show called "Gilligan's Island" back in the last century. After a 3-hour boat tour that went awry and left seven individuals stranded on an island. Over the course of three seasons, viewers got to know this group of castaways, that included two young women: Ginger and Mary Ann. And they were left to ponder which one was more attractive -- the seductive Ginger, or the wholesome Mary Ann. This cleverly named dark bar (70% cacao) from Mink Chocolates contained organic candied ginger.

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

ChocolateBet: Sept. 4, 2011

Chocolate of the Day:

3/5 bar
Mink Chocolates
The Girls' Favourite (bar)
Good - Good +
Weight: 1.056 oz. (30 g.) / 1.76 oz. (50 g.) total bar
Calories: 180 calories
Cost: $7.00
Purchased from: Mink Chocolates, in Vancouver, B.C., Canada

From my Mink Chocolates vault comes: "The Girls' Favourite" -- a great, original name for a chocolate bar. What is it exactly? A milk chocolate (38% cacao) bar that contains French Hazelnut and Almond Praline filling inside each segment.

Today was Day #6 of Chocolate and Almonds Theme Week, and Day #2 of Chocolate and Hazelnut Theme Week.

ChocolateBet: September 2, 2011

Chocolate of the Day:

1 bar
Mink Chocolates
A.B. & J. Bar
Very Good
Weight: 1.76 oz. (50 g.) total bar
Calories: 250 calories
Cost: $7.00
Purchased from: Mink Chocolates, Vancouver, B.C., Canada

This Almond Butter and Organic Grape Jelly (A.B. and J.) milk chocolate (38% cacao) bar from Mink Chocolates (Vancouver, B.C.) took me directly back to my elementary school lunchroom -- where I was eating a nut butter and jam sandwich that had been carefully wrapped and tucked into my lunch, by my mom. Such is the power of food to transport.

Each rectangular section of this bar was filled with layers of almond butter and grape jelly.

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

ChocolateBet: August 29, 2011

Chocolate of the Day:

2 small pieces
Mink Chocolates Inc.
Peelers
Good +
Weight: .5 oz. (14.1 g.) 4.5 oz. (128 g.) total package
Calories: 65 calories
Cost: $13.25
Purchased from: Mink Chocolates, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Today was Day #6 of Chocolate and Orange Theme Week. Technically these dark chocolate coated, lovely long citrus peels were from oranges, lemons and grapefruits, but that was fine by me.  Dark chocolate combined with lemon can be heavenly if bitter flavors are balanced properly. (Think lemon curd in a small dark chocolate "cup", or espresso with a lemon peel.)

However, in this case, the the peels seemed a bit too bitter, at least for a breakfast chocolate this morning. These are labor-intensive chocolates, and chocolate is expensive. So, be prepared to spend some money for this type of chocolate and dried fruit treat as well. Ounce for ounce, they are about the same price as a very large high-end chocolate bar ($13.25). These might make an elegant garnish for an elaborate cake or dessert.

ChocolateBet: August 26, 2011

Chocolate of the Day:

1/5 bar
Mink Chocolates
Navel Gazing (bar)
Very Good
Weight: .35 oz. (10 g.)/ 1.76 oz. (50 g.) total bar
Calories: 50 calories in 1/5 bar
Cost: $7.00 (approx. w/ tax)
Purchased from: Mink Chocolates, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Today was Day #3 of Chocolate and Orange Theme Week. I wish I had time for a little navel gazing today. But, today's sizzling work schedule did not allow for any such thing.

So, I enjoyed taking a break in name only with an organic, dark chocolate (70% cacao) bar from Mink Chocolates. While this bar suffered a bit from some heat in the car, Mink's "Navel Gazing" barre de chocolat was still very good -- with tasty bits of candied orange zest (with just the right amount of sweetness and texture, and a pleasant, almost malty taste) embedded (by hand if I'm not mistaken) in each of its raised compartments (squares).

ChocolateBet: August 12, 2011

Chocolate(s) of the Day:


Mink Chocolates


1.) Mermaid's Choice bar - 1/4 bar
Very Good - Very Good +
Weight: .45 oz. (12.5 g.) in 1/4 bar/ 1.79 oz. (50 g.) total bar
Calories: 50 calories
Cost: $7.00 ($6.25 + .75 HST in Canada)
Purchased from: Mink Chocolates, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

2.) ...By Any Other Name bar - 1/4 bar
Good +
Weight: .45 oz. (12.5 g.) in 1/4 bar/ 1.79 oz. (50 g.) total bar
Calories: 70 calories
Cost: $7.00 ($6.25 + .75 HST in Canada)
Purchased from: Mink Chocolates, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Today was Day #9 of Chocolate and Salt Caramel Theme Week, and Day #3 of Chocolate and Flower Theme Week.

Salt caramel and chocolate together make for a robust flavor combination, and any flower flavors, e.g. lavender or rose, need to be amped up, if they are to be noticed. I was wanting to add extra flower flavorings to salt caramel + flower bars earlier this week. (Flower catsup?).

Today, I decided to go back to two different bars, both from Mink Chocolates (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada) -- one salt caramel bar with rosemary, and a separate (white) chocolate bar with rose. Mink offers numerous bars with different fillings and flavor combinations.

What's with the mermaid you ask? The rosemary in the first "Mermaid's Choice" bar was lovely, and strong enough to stand up to the burnt caramel filling, fleur de sel, and the dark (70% cacao) chocolate bar base/coating. These flavors were all very well balanced.

The second Mink Chocolates bar that I tried was a white chocolate bar called "...By Any Other Name"and was embedded with pretty, organic rose petals. I don't normally eat white chocolate, and could taste the higher fat content in this bar. Unfortunately, I couldn't taste the rose, which, had it been stronger, would have balanced this "fat" taste out. This bar is of high enough quality that it could certainly be repurposed. I will try to make a hot beverage or mousse from this bar later. And, I will likely add rosewater. I do like my flavors/additions.