Happy Valentines Day! Go To Chocolate - filled chocolate assortment - Feb. 14, 2021

Valentines Day Chocolate(s)

Go To Chocolate
Valentines Day filled chocolate assortment
Good - Good +
Weight: 1.15 oz. (32.5 g.) (estimate) in 3 piece box
Calories: 170 calories (estimate) in 3 pieces
Cost: $ N/A - gift from a friend (thank you Toni)
Purchased from: N/A - from Go To Chocolate, San Carlos, CA

Note: This holiday-related chocolate entry is a bonus entry, gratefully wedged into Chocolate and India Theme Week. 

Happy Valentines Day to all who celebrate! Heartfelt thanks to my friend and neighbor Toni for the gift of filled chocolates, in heart and flower form. A seasoned world traveler, she has contributed many new chocolates to Chocolate Banquet in the past decade. 

Today's 3-piece assortment in a petite, purple, heart-shaped box were from Go To Chocolate (San Carlos, CA). Chef and chocolatier Michael Hohenthal has been creating his own small-batch chocolates (filled chocolates and bars) since 2005, and sells them at local farmers markets (a good source for finding new chocolates).

Collectively, the three glossy pieces in this box had a sweet dark chocolate with a very faint coconut aroma. 

• The first heart-shaped filled chocolate had a light, fluffy marshmallow filling with a light citrus-sweet tang.
• The second (also heart-shaped) piece contained a sweet, dark chocolate ganache filling with fudge brownie flavor notes.
• The third, flower shaped, filled chocolate had an intriguing caramelized flavor, with very light floral and fruit notes.

Ingredients: unknown (gift box was not labeled) 

Strawberries and Sprinkles - Strawberries dipped in Belgian dark chocolate - Feb. 14, 2020

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

Strawberries and Sprinkles
Strawberries Hand Dipped in Real Belgian Dark Chocolate
Good ++
Weight: 1.75 oz. (49.5 g.) / 3.5 oz. (99 g.) in total container of 4
Calories: 110 calories estimate for 2 strawberries
Cost: $7.99 for 1 container of 4 chocolate covered strawberries
Purchased from: Safeway, Palo Alto, CA

Happy Valentines Day and welcome to Day #1 of Chocolate and Strawberries Theme Week.
Roses, chocolates and red berries (heart-shaped strawberries fit right in) go together on this romantic February holiday.

Big, plump, sweet ripe strawberries hand-dipped in dark chocolate. These were as tasty as they were visually appealing.

-o-o-o-o-

I also revisited a San Francisco classic...dark chocolate truffles with a hint of burnt caramel from Recchuiti Confections (San Francisco, CA) that I found across the Golden Gate Bridge in Sausalito, CA. Fittingly, these truffles were adorned with images of this iconic bay area bridge.

Recchuiti Confections
(for COA Chocolate, Sausalito, CA)
Filled dark chocolates/truffles (with Golden Gate Bridge designs)
Good +
Weight: .88 oz (24.9 g.) (estimate) in 2 pieces
Calories: 132 calories (estimate) in 2 pieces
Cost: $5.50 (estimate) for 2 pieces
Purchased from: COA Chocolate, Sausalito, CA

Note: Photos have been delayed this month, but will be posted later.

Lula's Chocolates - Marshmallow Treat Dark Chocolate Valentine heart

Chocolate of the Day: 

Lula's Chocolates

Marshmallow Treat Dark Chocolate (Valentine Heart )

Good +

Weight: unknown

Calories: unknown 

Cost: $6.50 for 1 package/heart

Purchased from: Lula's Chocolates, Crossroads Shopping Center, Carmel, CA

Happy Valentines Day to all who celebrate!

Today's heart-shaped, marshmallow-filled dark chocolate beauty, from Lula's Chocolates (Monterey, CA), was a perfect way to celebrate.

A fluffy, fresh-tasting marshmallow filling was encased in a generously-sized, dark chocolate heart decorated with pink decorative sugar icing. All this was wrapped in a clear wrapper with a red ribbon bow. 

Moonstruck - With Love, Heart chocolates - Feb. 14, 2015

Chocolate(s) of the Day:

Moonstruck Chocolate Co.

Chocolate Fudge Buttercream
Good - Good +
Weight: .475 oz. (13.5 g.) in 1 piece
Calories: 75 calories for 1 piece
Cost: $2.50 for 1 piece/$9.99 for 4-piece assortment
Purchased from: Andronico's Community Markets, Los Altos, CA

Hazelnut Praline Heart Truffle
Good - Good +
Weight: .475 oz. (13.5 g.) in 1 piece
Calories: 75 calories for 1 piece
Cost: $2.50 for 1 piece/$9.99 for 4-piece assortment

Happy Valentines Day to all. If chocolate was part of your celebration, I hope you enjoyed it on this heart-shaped day.

These two Valentines Day Chocolates from Moonstruck Chocolate (Portland, OR) were the remaining two pieces in a 4-piece Valentines assortment.

The Chocolate Fudge Buttercream had a bittersweet dark exterior. Stenciled across the top was a pretty "with love" design in white lettering. Inside was an an almost fluffy, whipped creamy, chocolate buttercream center.

The second piece was a beautiful red heart filled with treasure. Inside the Hazelnut Praline Heart Truffle was a wonderful and complex blend of creamy, crunchy, sweet nutty textures and flavors.

Lake Champlain - Valentines hearts - Feb. 12, 2015

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

Lake Champlain Chocolates

Milk Chocolate Caramel Heart
Good
Weight: .4 oz. (11.32 g.) /3.2 oz. (90 g.)
Calories: 55 calories in 1 piece
Cost: $13.99 for 1 package of 8 pieces
Purchased from: Piazza's, Palo Alto, CA

Dark Chocolate Raspberry Heart
Good +
Weight: .4 oz. (11.32 g.) / 3.2 oz. (90 g.)
Calories: 55 calories in 1 piece
Cost: $13.99 (estimate) for 1 package of 8 pieces
Purchased from: Piazza's, Palo Alto, CA

This red and pink, heart-shaped pair of filled chocolates from Lake Champlain Chocolates (Burlington, VT) came nestled in a clear plastic, rectangular 8-piece box, with a short length of bright pink ribbon. tied around the box.

I enjoy slowing unwrapping filled chocolates shapes like this. Eventually you get to bite into a piece and find out what's really in the middle.

Both of today's chocolates offered a sweet center -- especially the milk chocolate heart with a sweet, flowing caramel inside. A bit too sweet for me, but many will enjoy this.

The second chocolate, a Dark Chocolate Raspberry heart had a dark chocolate covering that contained a soft and smooth, fresh-tasting raspberry and chocolate ganache filling.

ChocolaTree - Raspberry raw chocolates - Feb. 11, 2015

Chocolate(s) of the Day:

ChocolaTree

Raspberry Mama
Good - Good +
Weight: .35 oz. (9.9 g.) (estimate) for 1 piece
Calories: 52 calories (estimate) for 1 piece
Cost: $2.22 (estimate) for 1 piece
Purchased from: ChocolaTree, Sedona, AZ

Cosmic Raspberry
Good ++ - Very Good
Weight: .35 oz. (9.9 g.) (estimate) for 1 piece
Calories: 52 calories (estimate) for 1 piece
Cost: $2.22 (estimate) for 1 piece
Purchased from: ChocolaTree, Sedona, AZ

I really enjoyed a recent stop at ChocolaTree (Sedona, AZ). The chocolate display case in this progressive cafe + marketplace oasis beckoned to us as we entered. And the wide range of raw and organic chocolates, made from Ecuadorian cacao, immediately invited a closer inspection.

The chocolates came in attractive molded shapes and natural colors, many with stencil patterns across the tops. Unique chocolates included a white chocolate elephant. This wonderful little elephant came in two flavors when we visited: a rose saffron, or infused with frankincense.* (More on this elephant and these flavors soon.)

Today, because of the proximity to Valentines Day, I selected two ChocolaTree raspberry chocolates. The faceted, dome-shaped "Raspberry Mama" was made with raspberry leaf and, like other ChocolaTree chocolates was mild but flavorful, and not too sweet. (Sorry folks, no sugar buzz, just satisfying natural flavor here.)

The "Cosmic Raspberry" had a delicate stencil pattern across the top that was a little difficult to see until I held it up to the light. It depicted what looked like a cacao pod growing on a tree.

On biting into this chocolate my taste buds were surrounded by a whirlwind of authentic raspberry flavor, and the promised "honey sunburst" came seconds later. A very nice chocolate for Valentines Day, or any other occasion.

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

*Frankincense is a fragrant gum resin from a tree (Boswellia) found on the Arabian peninsula and Northeast Africa, mentioned in the Bible as one of the gifts carried by the 3 wise men (Magi) to Jerusalem. 

ChocolaTree - Goji Bliss, Bee Love - Feb. 10, 2015

Chocolate(s) of the Day:

ChocolaTree

Goji Bliss
Good +
Weight: .35 oz. (9.9 g.) (estimate) in 1 piece
Calories: 52 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: $2.22 (estimate) for 1 piece
Purchased from: ChocolaTree Organic Oasis, Sedona, AZ

Bee Love
Good +
Weight: .35 oz. (9.9 g.) (estimate) in 1 piece
Calories: 52 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: $2.22 (estimate) for 1 piece
Purchased from: Chocola Tree, Sedona, AZ

What could be more appropriate than a little more bliss and love for Valentines Day week. I selected this duo -- the Goji Bliss and the Bee Love -- from ChocolaTree (Sedona, AZ) -- for Day #2 of Valentines Day Chocolates Week.

The Goji Bliss square was a pretty golden ivory (with cacao butter) and pink (goji berries) layer on a dark chocolate base.

The Bee Love square dark chocolate was dusted with tiny grains of yellow pollen and tasted like a spoonful of honey with cocoa butter -- a very pleasing sensation and taste.

Both of these chocolates had a fast, even melt and mouthfeel (think pure cocoa butter or coconut oil) and lacked the "rush" that often accompanies conventional chocolates, as ChocoloTree has sought to avoid processed sugar.

Why raw chocolate? Raw* (unroasted chocolate) typically yields a smoother flavor profile with a gentler finish, often without the more complex, high, low or bitter notes of roasted cacao. Some will like this and others may miss the roasted flavors. Also, theoretically, more of the nutritional elements in cacao are preserved when temperatures are kept lower.

The ChocolaTree Organic Oasis was a combination cafe and marketplace (shop) that offered a range of organic, gluten-free and dairy free entrees, soups, salads, drinks and desserts and -- oh yes, organic, raw* chocolates in a case by the front entrance. The shop also carried local and wild-crafted ingredients and items.

A friend and I ate dinner out back in a patio seating area. Arizona winters are generally mild enough that you can enjoy sunny, warm days and eat outside on milder evenings, while you are reading about far off cities covered in snow.

*Raw chocolate is made with unroasted cacao beans. Instead beans are ground and processed until smooth at temperatures not exceeding a certain temperature -- in this case, 115 degrees Farenheit (46.1 degrees Celsius).

Bixby - Heart's Delight bar - Feb. 14, 2014

Chocolate(s) of the Day:

Chocolate Cherry Cocktail
Made with: Talenti Black Cherry gelato

Bixby and Co.
Heart's Delight
Good
Weight: .75 oz. (21.2 g.) / 1.5 oz. (42.45 g.) total bar
Calories: 110 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $4.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Abe's Market (online order)

Hope you all had a great Valentines Day. I decided to keep it simple -- a modified Chocolate Gatail (cocktail with dark rum, cherry brandy and creme de cacao) and 1/2 of a Heart's Delight bar from Bixby and Co. (Belfast, ME).

The Heart's Delight bar was jammed with large pieces of dried strawberries, and bits of almond, giving the dark chocolate (72%) bar, with a very mild hint of Ceylon Cinnamon, a slightly chewy texture.

Today was Day #10 of Chocolate and Cherries Theme Weeks, and the sight of cherry and other fruit tree blossoms against blue sky was a lovely reminder that Spring was already waiting in the wings.

Theo Chocolate - My Cherry Baby bar - Feb. 12, 2014

Chocolate of the Day:

Theo Chocolate
My Cherry Baby bar
Good + - Very Good
Weight: 3 oz. (85 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 440 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $3.69 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Whole Foods Market, Los Altos, CA

Today was Day #8 of Chocolate and Cherries Theme Weeks.

Two great Limited Edition bars for Valentines Day from Theo Chocolate (Seattle, WA):

1.) Today's My Cherry Baby 45% Milk Chocolate bar
2.) The Cinnamon Love Crunch 70% Dark Chocolate bar (that I'll feature later)

Both bars were made from organic and fair trade ingredients.

The Cherry Baby bar was devilishly good. The kind of creamy, tasty milk chocolate, enhanced with natural cherry bits, that gets gobbled up gleefully and quickly. So beware all virtual eaters, and dieters out there. You may be tempted to fall off the wagon, just a little.

Happy Valentines Day Week to all.

Preview: Elena Chocolate, Valentines Day Heart

Preview Profile: Elena Chocolate
February 14, 2013

I returned yesterday from a trip to Hawaii, the only U.S. state where cacao fruit can really be grown. I was in Kona, Hawaii, located on the west coast of the largest and southernmost island that comprises the state. And, at 18 degrees Latitude North, the Big Island is perhaps the best island for growing cacao, the raw material for the chocolate that we all love.

So, yes, I was on the hunt for cacao fruit, and island grown and made chocolates; but I also enjoyed discovering a few exotic fruits that might be good combined with chocolate. Vi(e) fruit truffles anyone?

I was fortunate to be able to visit the award-winning Green Gecko Coffee Farm in the Kona area. The owners of Green Gecko, Mike Katz and Lawton Allenby, had designed a veritable tropical paradise on a few acres, with coffee, a variety of fruit trees, flowers -- and even a few recently planted cacao trees. I also visited a few different Farmers Markets with them. These outdoor markets were a great way to sample local produce, fruits, macadamia nuts, and other items.

At the Saturday morning Keauhou Farmers Market, I met an evangelist for the Lulo fruit; and Vheissu and Carolyn Keffer, of Kona Origins, a company I will write about next.

However, to celebrate today, Valentines Day, I'd like to give a shout-out to Elena Garcia at Elena Chocolate.

Her Raspberry Liliko'i (passion fruit) heart-shaped chocolates were the perfect chocolate for Valentines Day this week. Elena expounded on her love for both different grades of chocolate and fresh flavor additions -- a combination of skills and interests not always found with chocolatiers -- who may just want to stick with buying one brand of base chocolate, that is easiest to work with.

Elena was more aware of pairing certain types of chocolates with various ingredients. Hats off to Elena, an infectiously creative spirit and artist. The Raspberry Lilikoi chocolate was delicious.

Happy Valentines Day to all!

ChocolateBet: January 15, 2011

Chocolate of the Day:
2 truffles
Hedonist Artisan Chocolates
Raspberry Chocolate Truffles
Good + - Very Good
Weight: .9 oz. (25.47 g.) (estimate) for 2 truffles
Calories: 130 calories (estimate) for 2 truffles
Cost: $N/A - samples
Purchased from: N/A - from Hedonist Artisan Chocolates, Rochester, New York

Today's 5-piece set of Raspberry Chocolate Truffles are from Rochester, New York-based Hedonist Chocolates. Each piece is decorated with a different design. Made from fresh raspberries, raspberry liqueur and semi-sweet chocolate, these lovebird-inspired TweetHeart truffles are a reminder that Valentines Day is one month away.

ChocolateBet: June 23, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

1 serving (4 pieces/"tires")
Frankford Candy & Chocolate Company, for Mattel, Inc.
"Hot Wheels Crispy Chocolaty Tires" ("You Tear up the Track!)
Good
Wt.: 34 grams/2.4 oz. (68 grams) total
Calories: 180 for 4 pieces/1 serving
Cost: ?
Purchased from: Walgreens?

I purchased this chocolate awhile back -- just after Valentines Day, judging from the heart-shaped packaging. I can't find receipt.

Eating chocolate tires is a bit strange when you think about it; but when you're eating goofy chocolates like this, it's probably best not to over-think things.

ChocolateBet: February 14, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

1 serving
Baskin Robbins
"Made with Reeses" Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream
Very Good
Weight: 1/2 cup (73 g.)
Calories: 190 for 1/2 cup serving
Cost: $5.59
Purchased from: Baskin Robbins, Santa Clara, CA

Ate with Valentines dinner. Happy V'day all.

Chocolate in the News:
Also, here's an example of a story where business and social good and chocolate all intersect.
http://www.businessweek.com/innovate/NussbaumOnDesign/archives/2008/02/enter_a_contest.html
Bruce Nussbaum (Business Week) talks about an (Architecture for Humanity) contest/challenge to build a factory and Internet hub for Kallari villages (cacao famers cooperative) in Ecuador, based on an AMD-sponsored dinner Nussbaum attended in Davos. The indigenous Kallari will use the new factory for - the production of organic chocolate, and the Internet hub to help to connect them to markets for this chocolate.

(Architecture for Humanity and AMD) Open Architecture Challenge youtube video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_wQ1z9oy1M