Dark Chocolate Honey Cured Pink and Meyer Lemon Slices; Clif Family White Chocolate Lemon & Ginger (bar) - Nov. 7, 2020

Chocolate(s) of the Day

Dark Chocolate, Honey Cured Pink and Meyer Lemon Slices

(Homemade)

Good + - Good ++

Weight: 1.6 oz. (45.28 g.) for 4 small slices

Calories: 195 calories in 4 small slices

Cost: $ N/A - various

Purchased from: N/A - various (including lemon trees in yard)

Clif Family Napa Valley

White Chocolate Lemon and Ginger (bar)

Good +

Weight: 2 oz. (56 g.) in 1 bar

Calories: 280 calories in 1 bar

Cost: $5.99 for 1 bar

Purchased from: Village Market, Ferry Building, San Francisco, CA

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate, Honey and Citrus Theme Week. 

Homemade honey and lemon dark chocolate slices

I'm drawn to pairing warm, bright flavors with chocolate as the weather cools in November. Fortunately, I live in California and Meyer lemon, sweet pink grapefruit, and other citrus trees are full of fruit now.

For today's first chocolate, I brushed ultra-thin slices of Pink Lemons and Meyer Lemons with honey and later (after a slow curing process) dipped these citrus slices into a melange of melted dark chocolates. I loved the bold bitter dark, and tart lemon flavors together with a subtle honey sweetness.

The second chocolate was a gentler, sweeter implementation of these flavors. 

Clif Family White Chocolate Lemon and Ginger (bar)

The Clif Family * winery and chocolate factory (Saint Helena, CA) are based in the Napa Valley in northern California--a region famous for wine and good food.

Today's White Chocolate Lemon and Ginger 33% Cacao Artisan Chocolate (bar) had authentic ginger flavor and subtle citrus (lemon) notes. (The Clif Family suggests pairing this bar with a Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc wine.)

High cacao (butter) percent white chocolates (sans cacao solids) provide a sweet culinary launchpad for subtle herbs, spices and fruits like saffron, pepper(s), citrus (lemon, orange, lime, kumquat, etc.), members of the mint family, honey and many other flavor inclusions. 

Even ginger and stronger mints and fruits--that can hold their own with dark chocolate (high percent cacao solids)--can be intriguing when allowed to take center stage in a white chocolate base.

As long as the white chocolate is pure and not overly sweet, these flavor blends can be delicious. Today's 33% white chocolate was a balanced, warming ginger and lemon confection suffused with a touch of vanilla. 

Ingredients: "33% White Chocolate Tahitian Vanilla (organic cane sugar, organic cocoa butter, organic whole milk, organic nonfat milk, organic soy lecithin, whole Tahitian vanilla beans), organic crystallized ginger, organic crystallized lemon peel, citric acid."

*The Clif Family operations in Napa are owned by Clif Bar founders, Gary Erickson and Kit Crawford.

Arete Gianduia Spread + Meyer Lemon chocolates - Dec. 16, 2015

Chocolate(s) of the Day:

Arete Fine Chocolate
Gianduia Spread
Good ++ - Very Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 3.6 oz. (100 g.) in total jar
Calories: 150 calories (estimate) in 1 oz. (28.3 g.) serving
Cost: $22.00 for 1 jar
Purchased from: The Chocolate Garage, Palo Alto, CA

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

There was a wealth of high-quality chocolate and hazelnut flavor condensed into this small glass jar of Gianduia Spread from Arete Fine Chocolate (Milpitas, CA).

This spread was made from a revered Northern Italian hazelnut cultivar Tonda Gentile delle Langhe (TGL) hazelnuts and hazelnut oil; organic cane sugar; and Peru Nacional Cacao.

TGL hazelnuts are known for their sweet, round character, lack of bitterness and astringency, and great flavor—especially when mixed with chocolate. This hazelnut flavor surfaced now and then as it intermingled with the sweet fruit acidity of the Peruvian cacao—the latter emerging as the dominant player. Artful balancing act between two high-quality, alpha flavors. The texture was great, as was the melt. It was great on gluten-free warm crepes, pancakes and toast.

Gate Comme Des Filles

Gate Comme Des Filles
Meyer Lemon chocolates
Very Good - Very Good +
Weight: .8 oz. (22.64 g.) (estimate) in 2 pieces

Calories: 120 calories (estimate) in 2 pieces
Cost: $22.00 for 1 small box of 4 pieces
Purchased from: The Chocolate Garage, Palo Alto, CA

I have, in the past, grumbled about anemic flavor inclusions in some chocolates. Today's Gate Comme Des Filles chocolates, however, had a light, creamy but robust, fresh Meyer lemon flavor and each was adorned with a glistening strip of candied lemon peel. Every ingredient, including the chocolate, tasted like it was of the highest quality.

Both chocolates featured today were executed by skilled craftspeople who care very much about quality. The mental image that appeared to me when eating these lemon chocolates: A ballerina gracefully crossing the high wire with a smile on her face; a beautiful balance between bittersweet, dense citrus peel and a sweet, flavorful, almost souffle-like lemon-infused chocolate ganache. An absence of over-sugaring gave the flavors in this chocolate room to blossom.

The tart sweetness of these lemon chocolates paired nicely with a hot cream biscuit and Arete Gianduia Spread (described above). Chocolate, lemon and hazelnut can be a delightful trio. Add a shot of espresso with this combination, and one could imagine sitting in a cafe in Rome, Italy. However, these lemon lovelies would be right at home in Paris, Palo Alto, or anywhere else for that matter.

The name Gate Comme Des Filles (roughly translated means "spoiled like the girls"), is the creation of Alexandra Whisnant (who trained in France and worked at Chez Panisse, a Berkeley, CA, restaurant famous for fresh, seasonal flavors). Alexandra's other truffles include ingredients like fresh walnut, garden thyme, vanilla bean, and other flavors—all best eaten, like most truffles, within 3-5 days of purchase if possible.

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

Compartes Chocolatier - Meyer Lemon Lavender truffle - Nov. 24, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Compartes Chocolatier
Meyer Lemon Lavender
Good + - Very Good
Weight: unknown
Calories: 58 calories (estimate) for 1 truffle
Cost: $25.00 for 10-piece assortment box
Purchased from: Compartes Chocolatier, Los Angeles, CA

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

Chocolate is an "alpha" flavor that can bury timid tasting playmates. So, I celebrated Jonathan Grahm's bold but balanced truffles. Timid they are not. Grahm is the chocolatier behind Compartes Chocolatier (Los Angeles, CA).

Jonathan's 10-piece Signature Collection is a good introduction to Compartes Chocolatier's bright and beautiful line-up. Today's Meyer Lemon Lavender truffle, stenciled across the top with lavender-colored butterflies, had just the natural tasting Meyer lemon + lavender floral punch I wanted.

My only quibble: the 10-piece Signature Collection box was a good sampler, but I would have liked the option to pick my own flavors. (Also, understandably, some intriguing flavors are seasonal and/or may not be available year-round.) I do hope to try the Cactus and other truffles in the future. I'm betting an in-person visit to the company's storefront shop in L.A. might allow for some of these options.

Barlovento - Meyer Lemon Zest - Nov. 21, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Barlovento Chocolates
Meyer Lemon Zest truffle
Good ++
Weight: .4 oz. (11.32 g.) in 1 truffle
Calories: 60 calories (estimate) in 1 truffle
Cost: $2.00 (estimate) for 1 truffle
Purchased from: Barlovento Chocolates (table at Marin Civic Center Thursday Farmers Market)

I'm often asked: "After 7 years, where do I find new chocolates to try?" My answer is: Everywhere! After 7 years, I'm still finding new chocolatiers where I live, in the San Francisco Bay Area, to say nothing of the rest of the world.

Today I drove up to the Marin Civic Center Farmers Market (north of San Francisco, CA) to buy a few Meyer Lemon Zest truffles from Barlovento Chocolates (Oakland, CA). It was worth the drive. I enjoyed meeting the Barlovento rep. and other vendors at the Farmers Market -- and tasting delicious foodstuffs.

The Meyer Lemon dark chocolate truffle, decorated with thin, lemon yellow squiggles, was filled with a very creamy ganache infused with authentic tasting Meyer lemon zest. The Meyer lemon has a sunnier, sweeter flavor than other varieties; and it pairs well with chocolate.

Today was Day #5 of Chocolate and Lemon Theme Week. And Meyer lemons have been well represented thus far.

Coco Polo - Milk Chocolate Cherry - Nov. 19, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Coco Polo
Milk Chocolate Cherry
Good+
Weight: .49 oz. (13.8 g.) (estimate) in 1 sample packet/bar
Calories: 65 calories (estimate) in 1 sample packet/bar
Cost: $ N/A - sample
Purchased from: N/A - sample

The November skies are getting a bit less sunny. Lemons and cherries helped brighten things up, and today's warm chocolate dessert.

I melted part of a milk chocolate cherry bar from Coco Polo (Highland Park, NJ), and used it to top a lemon souffle, along with some chopped almonds and apricot bits.

This stevia-sweetened, 39% cocoa milk chocolate bar had just the right amount of tart-sweet Montmorency cherries (from Michigan and Utah, according to Coco Polo's website) complemented the lemon souffle nicely. The almonds added some satisfying crunchy texture and also helped cut the sweetness. (I used sweet Meyer Lemon Marmalade and Limoncello in the lemon souffle.)

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

Nosh This - Caramels, bacon - April 3, 2013

Chocolate of the Day:

Nosh This
1.) Meyer Lemon Walnut Salted Caramels
Very Good - Very Good +
Weight: (unknown) had 2 caramels / box of 8 caramels total
Calories: unknown
Cost: $18.00 (estimate) for a box of 8 caramels
Purchased from: Nosh This table at the San Francisco Chocolate Salon, San Francisco, CA

2.) Bacon Salted Caramel Sauce
Very Good
Weight: 1 Tablespoon serving / 8 oz. (190 mL) in one glass jar
Calories: unknown
Cost: $ unknown
Purchased from: Nosh This table at the San Francisco Chocolate Salon, San Francisco, CA

Today was Day #3 of Chocolate and Pig Week.

One of the best chocolate and bacon artists in San Francisco is a man named Kai Kronfield. This morning I sampled two treats from his company, Nosh This (San Francisco, CA).

I imagined pigs celebrating* when I opted first for Nosh This's non-bacon offering, Meyer Lemon Walnut Salted Caramels. These caramels tasted very fresh and were flat-out delicious.

The toasted walnut flavor harmonized very nicely with the salt caramel, dark chocolate, and a hint of Meyer lemon. (No wonder those pigs in the hot air balloon were opening bottles of champagne.*)

The pigs likely became less enthusiastic when I unscrewed the lid on the company's second offering: Bacon Salted Caramel Sauce. If you savor the occasional piece of crispy, salty goodness, this bacon caramel sauce was heaven on a spoon.

Bacon fantasies ensued. Bacon sauce over vanilla ice cream with a little drizzle of chocolate sauce and some toasted nuts. A dab of this sauce atop a short stack of pancakes. However, this bacon caramel sauce was also excellent, all by itself. One tablespoon was enough to experiment; I mixed it with a few other foods, and it was rich enough to leave me feeling plenty satisfied.

Other examples of chocolate and bacon artistry available from this same company: a Three Little Pigs assortment box, with three flavors: Bacon Caramels, Bacon Crack, and Bourbon Bacon Rocky Road.

*The "Pigs" image/card, from Post Mark Press, was reproduced from an antique postcard

Luscious Lemon bar - March 10, 2013

Chocolate of the Day:

Chocolate Visions, Inc.
Luscious Lemon bar
Good - Good+
Weight: 1.17 oz. (33 g.) in 1/3 bar / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) total bar
Calories: 165 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $6.95 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Fog City News, San Francisco, CA

Today's "Luscious Lemon" bar from Chocolate Visions (Scotts Valley, CA) was made with a 61% bittersweet chocolate base. The chocolate itself was good, albeit a bit flat. The flavor additions were the main attraction. They included a well executed blend of handmade candied Meyer Lemon peel, Applewood smoked almonds, and lemon oil.

I also enjoyed a piece of this bar with a few grains of smoked salt on the side.

Today was Day #5 of Chocolate and Lemon Theme Week.

ChocolateBet: March 10, 2011

Chocolate of the Day:
1 piece
Tropical Chocolate Company
Meyer Lemon Basil
Good+ - Very Good
Weight: .4 oz. (11.3 g.)
Calories: 58 calories
Cost: N/A - gift
Purchased from: N/A - gift (thank you Alec, Ardis)

Today was Day #4 of Chocolate and Mint Theme Week.  So, you may be wondering about today's Meyer Lemon Basil chocolate choice. Here's where "Actually Man"* jumps in...

Actually, Basil is a member of the very large mint family. (Also part of the mint family: sage, marjoram, oregano, and many other plants that might also be considered cooking herbs.)

Regardless of basil's place in mint botanical correctness, I really liked this chocolate made from Meyer lemon(s) from Arroyo Grande, Organic basil from Paso Robles, and dark chocolate (65%) ganache. The Meyer Lemon and basil flavors were both distinct and nicely balanced. My only crime here: I waited too long to eat this. I'm sure this chocolate would have been even better fresh off the tray. I look forward to the next time I'm in San Luis Obispo (Central Coast area of California); I will drop by Tropical Chocolate's shop to re-sample this chocolate and others.

*Actually Man is a little character we made up at a family dinner recently. Sometimes we're so stuffed with knowledge on a given topic, we just have to share. All of us have the potential to transform into Actually Man (or Woman). I imagine this character being about two-feet tall, having a little asterisk on it's blue and yellow superhero costume, and maybe wearing glasses.