The Plant - Spicy Chewy Chocolate Cookies - Oct. 6, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

The Plant Cafe Organic
Spicy Chewy Chocolate Cookie(s)
Good ++ - Very Good
Weight: 2.1 oz. (59 g.) (estimate) for 2 cookies
Calories: 375 calories (estimate) in 2 cookies
Cost: $1.65 x 2 = $3.30 for 2 cookies
Purchased from: The Plant, Strawberry Village, Mill Valley, CA

Today was Day #6 of Chocolate and Gluten Free Cookie Theme Week.

It's been a pleasure to try so many great-tasting gluten-free cookies this week. When I stopped eating wheat and gluten, 15+ years ago, there weren't many wonderful gluten-free baked goods. Times have changed.

The Plant Cafe Organic (San Francisco) has been a reliable source of organic, vegan and gluten-free chocolate dessert options.

The Spicy Chewy Chocolate Cookies from The Plant Cafe location in Mill Valley, CA, were light, crunchy, crispy and -- as advertised -- spicy and chewy as well. It was a perfect interplay of chocolate with these flavors and textures.

I was worried that the "spicy" in this case might be the hit-you-in-the-face variety. But, the spices were wonderfully mysterious and intriguing. Was that a hint of chili? A glimmer of ginger?

Espresso Roulade - Feb. 23, 2013

Chocolate of the Day:

The Plant Cafe Organic
Espresso Roulade
Good + - Very Good
Weight: unknown
Calories: unknown
Cost: $4.50 for 1 piece/container
Purchased from: The Plant Cafe Organic, Strawberry Village, Mill Valley, CA

The Plant Cafe Organic got its start in San Francisco, CA. The company recently opened a new location in Mill Valley (Marin County). No surprise that this small chain is expanding, as they offer some of the freshest, tastiest food around -- including gluten-free items, like today's Espresso Roulade. I picked up this roulade in the company's "to go" section.

To produce this lovely creation, I'm guessing The Plant Cafe's dessert chef created a moist, lighter-than-air, chocolate cake layer, frosted with a thick layer of whipped cream, then carefully rolled it up and cut it into slices.

I barely had to chew this cake. Each bite was flavorful and airy, and melted in my mouth. Generally, gluten free items are relatively heavy or dense. Not this time.

Today's flourless, chocolate dessert (lightly flavored by decaf espresso) followed a two-course pasta entree that I made at home.

Mushroom and Truffle Linguini

Since today was the last day of Chocolate and Truffle Theme Week, I made a truffle pasta dish with Viviana (gluten free) Wild Mushroom Linguini and two different sauces. The first, a white sauce, consisted of sauteed mushrooms, shallots and garlic, Fabrique Delices white truffle butter, and white truffle cream and parmesan cheese. The second was a red sauce with artichokes, walnuts and a bit of truffle butter. Fresh rosemary was a great flavor enhancer for both.

Today was Day #7 of Chocolate and Truffle Theme Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate and Umami or Bacon Theme Week.

ChocolateBet: April 9, 2012

Chocolate of the Day: 

The Plant Cafe Organic
Raw Brownie Bite
Very Good
Weight: .5 oz. (14.1 g.) (estimate)
Calories: 75 calories (estimate)
Cost: $1.75?
Purchased from: The Plant Cafe Organic, Embarcadero location, San Francisco, CA

As part of a walk along the waterfront in San Francisco today, I stopped at TCHO (S.F. chocolate maker) and also at The Plant Cafe Organic.

The Plant Cafe specializes in healthy, and local, organic food. Their menu offered several gluten-free items -- including a raw brownie, and its diminutive cousin, the raw brownie bit/bite-sized square. Thank you to the staff member who pointed out the smaller version. It was the perfect dessert item to follow a great chicken salad I picked up there.

This smooth, creamy, bite-sized chocolatey square, that was sweetened with agave, and also contained finely chopped dates, had a slight coconut taste, and was very satisfying.