Palmer - "You Mooove Me" (Cow) - Mar. 28, 2016

Chocolate of the Day: 

Distributed by R.M. Palmer Company
You Mooove Me - Milk Chocolate Cow
OK+
Weight: 1.16 oz. (33 g.) / 3.5 oz. (99 g.) in total package
Calories: 170 calories for 1/3 cow
Cost: $2.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: Walgreens, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to a spring celebration of chocolate animals this week.

The last few days featured chocolate Easter bunnies, in part inspired by real rabbits seen enjoying green grass* in the area. And, today, I'm moving on to other chocolate critters.

Today's "You Mooove Me" Hollow Milk Chocolate cow was distributed** by R.M. Palmer Company (Reading, PA). This item came from the chocolate vault, where chocolate animals from holidays past were hiding.


This well-rounded, slightly goofy-looking, foil-wrapped cow was not one you'd typically see in a pasture. And the chocolate is not super top quality. But the design was great. The cow was a traditional milk chocolate novelty candy item that included dextrose candy, and both natural and artificial chocolate flavors.

But wait, there's more. Inside this hollow milk chocolate cow, there was a whole herd of tiny "Chocolate Milk Flavored Candy Cows" that had a faint, hot cocoa confection flavor.

*I was inspired by the beautiful green grass we've been experiencing following actual rain...something we haven't seen for 4-5 years, due to a serious drought. And I get a kick out of chocsimiles (chocolate facsimiles) of animals and other nouns.

**"Dextrose candy made in Malaysia" -- I'm guessing this refers to the tiny candy cows in the middle.

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

Santa's Treats - Fun 'n Games maze; Venchi cigar - Dec. 16, 2014

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

Santa's Treats
Fun 'n Games Double Crisp
OK+ - Good
Weight: .25 oz. (7 g.) / 2.5 oz. (71 g.) in total package
Calories: 37 calories (estimate) in 1/4 oz. piece
Cost: $0.49 for 1 item
Purchased from: lost receipt (CVS?)

Today was Day #6 of Chocolate in Toyland Theme Week, and I celebrated with two chocolates: one for all ages, and one for grown-ups.

The first chocolate was a Fun 'n Games Double Crisp -- a 30% milk chocolate rectangular, edible maze from Santa's Treats (distributed by CVS Pharmacy, Inc.).

The second chocolate today was a chocsimile of a Venchi Cuba, Cacao Aromatico, cigar, made in Italy.

Venchi S.p.A.
Venchi Cuba, Cacao Aromatico chocolate cigar
Good ++ - Very Good
Weight: 1.17 oz. (33.3 g.) / 3.52 oz. (100 g.) total cigar
Calories: 176 calories (estimate) in 1/3 cigar
Cost: $8.79 for 1 cigar
Purchased from: Crossroads market, Palo Alto, CA

I'm not a smoker, but I made an exception for today's "toy" chocolate cigar from Venchi S.p.A. (Italy).

Today I hit a home mortgage pay-off milestone. Hurray. This called for celebrating with a generously sized, fine-flavored dark chocolate "Cuban" cigar made with cacao from New Guinea and ground Piedmont hazelnuts. It was dark, nutty, slightly fudgey and smoky, and entirely delicious.

Gamesformotion - Candy Land Chocolate Edition - Dec. 12, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Gamesformotion
Candy Land - Chocolate Edition
Good
Weight: .176 oz. (5 g.) / 5.4 oz. (154 g.) in total package
Calories: 26.5 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: $9.99 in total box/game
Purchased from: CVS Pharmacy, Mountain View, CA

Today was Day #2 of Chocolates in Toyland Theme Week.

Candy Land, a popular children's board game from Milton Bradley was a childhood favorite and chocolate was a favorite childhood flavor. Together, in today's chocsimile* of the board game from the mid-1900s, this novelty item evoked a certain amount of candy-sweet nostalgia.

Candy Land -- the Chocolate Edition -- consisted of a game board, 4 paper pawns, and 32 milk chocolates (two-sided playing "cards") that allow players to race around the board; and one golden trophy (round gold foil covered medallion).

Today's Candy Land game was made by Gamesformotion (in Deventer, Netherlands).
The company, through licensing agreements, also produces chocolate editions of other popular games, such as Monopoly, Trivial Pursuit, Twister, Scrabble, Pictionary, etc.

The milk chocolate square (inside a purple tile marked playing "card" wrapper) was eaten before I could advance to the next purple square on the board; but it was fun to play this game.

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

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.

Art Sensation - Girl with a Pearl Earring chocolate - August 1, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Art Sensation - Anat Ratzabi
Girl with a Pearl Earring chocolate
Good +
Weight: .25 oz. (7 g.) / 1 oz. (28.3 g.) (estimate) total package
Calories: 37.5 calories (estimate) for 1/4 package
Cost: N/A - gift from friend
Purchased from: N/A - gift from friend traveling in Netherlands

In the spirit of sharing great works of art, I'm happy to feature today's Art Sensation chocsimile (chocolate facsimile) of an homage to painter J. Vermeer's "The Girl with a Pearl Earring."

Coated with a pearly, edible bronze finish, this smooth, creamy (53.8% cocoa) Belgian chocolate, designed by sculptor Anat Ratzabi, looked suitable for framing. (Pearl earring not included.)

Thank you Toni for bringing this back from The Netherlands!

Island Princess - Dolphins with macadamia nuts - July 16, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Island Princess
Dolphins - Chocolate Covered Macadamia Nuts
OK++ - Good
Weight: .49 oz. (14 g.) / 4 oz. (113 g.) total box
Calories: 77 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: $ (unknown)
Purchased from: (unknown)

Today was Day #5 of Chocolate Surprise Theme Week.

What a pleasant surprise reminder of a (past) Hawaii trip it was, when I found this shimmering blue box of Chocolate Covered Macadamia Nuts (Hawaii Dolphins) from Island Princess (Honolulu, HI) -- way in the back of my chocolate vault.

Molded into small, milk chocolate dolphins, each piece in this box harbored a dry roasted macadamia nut in the center. 

Gosanko - Four-Leaf Clover - March 13, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Gosanko Chocolate Art
Four-Leaf Clover
Good - Good +
Weight: .75 oz. (21 g.) in 1 piece
Calories: 112.5 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: $2.95
Purchased from: Draegers, San Mateo, CA

My expectations are not always high for molded chocolates, as there can be added paraffin, wax, or other additives that help preserve/hold the shape of objects, that can make chocolates less tasty.

However, this four-leaf clover from Gosanko Chocolate (Auburn, WA) exceeded my expectations. Wrapped in shiny green foil, this solid milk chocolate clover was smooth, almost creamy, with no waxy mouthfeel. The relatively thin thickness allowed the chocolate to melt easily in my mouth and to access flavor that tasted like quality milk chocolate.

Gosanko Chocolate specializes in what I call "chocsimiles," facsimiles of animals, objects and other novelty items, crafted in chocolate; both art and technical skills are required. Gosanko uses chocolate from Guittard Chocolate (Burlingame, CA). And using quality ingredients does make a difference.

Today was Day #8 of Chocolate and Green Theme Week.

Mackenzies - Airplanes - May 23, 2013

Chocolate of the Day:

Mackenzies Chocolates
Airplanes (Milk and Dark Chocolate)
Good
Weight: .5 oz. (14.1 g.) x 2 / 2 Airplanes
Calories: 150 calories (estimate) in 1 oz. worth of airplanes
Cost: $2.50 (for 2 small airplanes)
Purchased from: Mackenzies Chocolates, Santa Cruz, CA

Today was the last day (Day #7) of Chocolate and Transportation Theme Week.

Planes, trains and automobiles. We are blessed with multiple modes of travel in the U.S.; and Mackenzies Chocolates (Santa Cruz, CA) has made chocsimiles (chocolate facsimiles) of just about every mode possible, including today's milk chocolate and dark chocolate airplanes -- not to mention trucks, flying saucers and jet rockets (not pictured here).

And, speaking of (chocolate) trains, congratulations to the master chocolatier from Malta, Andrew Farrugia, who constructed the world's longest structure/train (recognized by Guinness World Book of Records), made of 2,755 pounds of Belgian chocolate, this past year. Impressive. 

Mackenzies - Sailboat - May 22, 2013

Chocolate of the Day:

Mackenzies Chocolates
Sailboat
Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) piece / 3.84 oz. (108.6 g.) total sailboat
Calories: 152 calories (estimate) in 1 oz. serving
Cost: $5.95 for 1 sailboat
Purchased from: Mackenzies Chocolates, Santa Cruz, CA

Today was Day #6 of Chocolate and Transportation Theme Week. I would be remiss if I didn't include at least one chocsimile (chocolate facsimile) of a sailboat, given that I live in the San Francisco Bay Area, and we're ramping up for the America's Cup races this coming month, with practice sessions and trials already underway.

Pictured is a solid milk and dark chocolate Sailboat (6.75 x 4.5 x .25 inches) made by Mackenzies Chocolates (Santa Cruz, CA).

It's doubtful that a chocolate sailboat would last in the San Francisco Bay, or the Pacific Ocean. However, as a post-sailing snack, it would be just fine. 

Mackenzies - Surfboard - May 21, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Mackenzies Chocolates
Surfboard
Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) piece / 2.08 oz. (58.8 g.) total surfboard
Calories: 155 calories (estimate) in 1 oz. serving
Cost: $3.95 for 1 surfboard
Purchased from: Mackenzies Chocolates, Santa Cruz, CA

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

Surf's Up! I wanted to say. Only I was sitting, working at a desk, inside. So, instead, I settled for part of a solid milk chocolate Surfboard, from Mackenzies Chocolates, located in Santa Cruz, CA -- a city that knows a thing or two about surf and surfboards.

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to observe a few hundred sea lions and a large "raft" of 39 sea otters (in the water, south of Santa Cruz). A few lucky people in kayaks, plus one man on a (surfboard like) stand-up paddleboard, were quietly navigating around the otters. It was hard to imagine a better mode of transportation on a day like that.

Note: I haven't spotted any chocolate sea otters, or sea lions, yet; but I'm sure they do exist.)

Mackenzies Chocolate Motorcycle - May 20, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Mackenzies Chocolates
Motorcycle
Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 4.64 oz. (131.3 g.) in 1 Motorcycle
Calories: 150 calories (estimate) in 1 oz. piece
Cost: $5.95 for 1 motorcycle
Purchased from: Mackenzies Chocolates, Santa Cruz, CA

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

Happy Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month (May). And, National Ride (your motorcycle) to Work Day is just around the corner (June 17).

In honor of these days, it was time to unwrap the box with the pretty green bow from Mackenzies Chocolates (a family-run shop in Santa Cruz, CA) -- so I could take a bite of their dark chocolate motorcycle chocsimile (chocolate facsimile).

This medium-sized (5 x 2.5 inch) replica looked so beautifully detailed and authentic, I hesitated ruining it. But, all things chocolate come to an end, generally sooner rather than later. Like many molded confections, the chocolate base was good, but not super high-end, single origin chocolate. I did enjoy the (less sweet) dark chocolate a bit more than the the milk chocolate items.

Mackenzies Chocolate Horse - May 19, 2013

Chocolate of the Day:

Mackenzies Chocolates
Horse - Standing
Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 4.8 oz. (135.8 g.) total horse
Calories: 155 calories (estimate) in 1 oz. serving
Cost: $7.50 total piece/horse
Purchased from: Mackenzies Chocolates, Santa Cruz, CA

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

While we travel by "iron horses" and other motorized vehicles these days -- and we're more likely to see horses at sporting events than in our neighborhood streets -- horses deserve a shout out for transporting humans for hundreds of years.

The Preakness, Chocolate Horses

Yesterday (Sat., May 18, '13) was the 138th running of the Preakness, the second of three horse races that comprise the Triple Crown in the U.S. Each race is held in a different city and has its own colors (and signature drink). This year's winning horse at the Preakness, held at Pimlico racetrack in Baltimore, MD, was a deep brown (I'd say 80% cacao colored) horse named Oxbow, ridden by a 50-year old jockey, and grandfather, (Gary Stevens), who came out of retirement to win this race. Inspiring.

Virgin Black-eyed Susan

Today's sweet, milk chocolate horse (purchased long before this race) was closer to the color of  "Orb" -- the favored horse in yesterday's race. While Orb fans were denied the opportunity to see their favorite become a Triple Crown race winner, they were among many who enjoyed sipping on Black-eyed Susans, the "official" drink of the Preakness Stakes (named for a flower). Black and yellow sunflowers also adorned a beautiful, big black and white "helper" horse assisting riders on the track. I couldn't find a photo of this horse, but I'd love to see a chocsimile (chocolate facsimile) of this horse. Which begs the question...

The Kentucky Derby (first race of the Triple Crown series) has chocolate pecan pie, bourbon balls and other chocolate desserts. Why there isn't a Black-eyed Susan chocolate truffle or dessert for the Preakness?

What? No Preakness Dessert?

If someone has heard of such a thing, please write and let me know, and I'll be happy to feature it next May (2014). Below is a recipe for a Black-eyed Susan (drink), in case anyone is interested in creating a chocolate dessert with these ingredients. Although, when I sat in the infield at the Preakness many years ago, the recipe for a Black-eyed Susan was considerably simpler: vodka and lemonade over ice.

Black-eyed Susan recipe
1.25 oz. Finlandia Vodka
0.25 oz. St. Germain Liqueur
2 oz. Lemon juice
3 oz. Lemongrass and Blackberry simple syrup
6 drops Angostura bitters
Garnish with one sage leaf

(Above recipe created by Gina Chersavini Dundee; from Preakness website)

Mackenzies Chocolates

Thank you for Mackenzies Chocolates (Santa Cruz, CA) for making 52 different molded chocolates under the category "Transportation." (Although, technically, this horse was under the company's "Animals" category -- that lists well over a hundred different chocolate items.)

Madelaine Chocolate Cars - May 18, 2013

Chocolate(s) of the Day:

The Madelaine Chocolate Company

1.) Mini Car
Good
Weight: .5 oz. (14 g.) - 1 car
Calories: 75 calories (estimate) in 1 car
Cost: $0.95 for 1 car
Purchased from: MacKenzies Chocolates, Santa Cruz, CA

2.) Super Racing Car
Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) - 1 car
Calories: 150 calories (estimate) in 1 car
Cost: $1.25 for 1 car
Purchased from: MacKenzies Chocolates, Santa Cruz, CA

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

I live in California, and we love our cars here. It's no fun to be stuck on a freeway at rush hour in the big cities; but cars allow us to cover vast distances -- making chocolate research, a visit to the beach, and a hike in the mountains possible -- all in one day if you're an early riser.

In Silicon Valley, home to electric car companies and alternative vehicle research, it's fun to think of a future car that might be powered by plant matter (sugar cane bagasse?), if not cocoa bean hulls or chocolate.

Today, I'll settle for eating these sugary sweet milk chocolate cars from Madelaine Chocolate*, and will let them power my walk to the store.

Being the CCE (Chief Chocolate Eater) at Chocolate Banquet, I got a kick out of the Mini Car with "Chief" emblazoned across the doors and hood. And, who wouldn't like a chocolate Racing Car with racing stripes or flames? It's times like this when I could almost talk myself into ordering a license plate holder for the back of my (real) car that reads: "My Other Car is Made of Chocolate."

*Note: The Madelaine Chocolate Company (Rockaway Beach, NY) has been making chocolate cars and other chocsimiles (coins, poker chips, cigars, roses, holiday and birthday items) for many years. Despite damage from Hurricane Sandy, this family-run business is recovering and is back to producing chocolates.

Oscar Night - February 24, 2013

Chocolate(s) of the Day:

1.) Poco Dolce 
Popcorn Toffee
Good + - Very Good
Weight: 1.2 oz. (33.96 g.) / 8 oz. (227 g.) in 1 tin
Calories: 180 calories (estimate) in 1.2 oz. (33.96 g.) serving
Cost: $16.00 for 1 tin
Purchased from: Poco Dolce, San Francisco, CA

Tonight a group of us watched the annual Academy Awards Ceremony. This event began with watching stars arrive and sashay up the red carpet on their way to an auditorium. And it ended when the last golden Oscar statuette was handed out three or four hours later (depending on when you tuned in).

Many chocolates were nominated to star this evening, but we enjoyed tasting small squares of Popcorn Toffee from Poco Dolce  (San Francisco, CA); nibbling on the head from a chocolate figurine; and munching on some smoked bacon popcorn.

All these items were part of Day #2 of Chocolate and Umami or Bacon Theme Week.

2.) Once Upon a Chocolate
Oscar Style Statue (golden chocolate man)
Good
Weight: .75 oz. (21.2 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) (estimate) in 1 statue
Calories: 112.5 calories (estimate) in top part of of statue
Cost: N/A - gift
Purchased from: N/A - gift

What a delight to have a chocsimile (chocolate facsimile) of the golden man himself (Oscar style statuette) on hand for the ceremonies. Although he did lose his head during the after-party. He was last heard to say: It was an honor just to be nominated. Thank you Megan for this gift!

3.) Fabrique Delices
Natural Uncured Bacon Butter
(Bacon butter + popcorn + smoked Alderwood salt)
Very Good
Weight: .5 oz. (14.1 g.) / 3 oz. (84.9 g.) in 1 container
Calories: 50 calories (estimate)
Cost: $6.99 for 1 container
Purchased from: La Fromagerie, San Francisco, CA

Fabriques Delices (Hayward, CA) natural uncured bacon butter (made with fully cooked bacon) was a hit -- drizzled over freshly popped popcorn. We added a pinch of Alderwood smoked salt to this batch, and we were riding high on the hog.

Umami flavors (often called the fifth sense of taste -- and more recently discovered than the first four: sour, sweet, bitter and salty) include fat, smoke and salt. Expect to see this bacon butter and smoked salt in combination with chocolate again, in the next few days.

ChocolateBet: November 23, 2007

Chocolate of the Day:

1 bite
Goetze's
Chocolate Cow Tales
Good
Weight: (1 bite of) 1 oz./28 gram sized Cow Tale
Calories: Approx. 15 calories for 1 bite
Cost: $ 0.39 (a bargain)
Purchased from: Surf Super (market) in Gualala, CA

This Chocolate Cow Tale was a very sweet, taffy-like, long rope (or tail) shape. The chewy chocolate caramel from Goetze's Candy Company (made in Baltimore, MD) was a bit sticky to unwrap, but it was something fun and different -- with a chocolate caramel "tail" wrapped around a white creamy center (bone?).

Note: This contained wheat flour and was not gluten-free.

ChocolateBet: September 22, 2007

Chocolate of the Day:

1 bite

Mackenzies Chocolates

California Banana Slug

Good

Weight: about 1 oz. per slug

Calories: one bite = 60 calories (estimate)

Purchased from: University of California, Santa Cruz, campus bookstore

Yesterday my daughter moved into her college dorm (about an hour away) to the University of California at Santa Cruz (UCSC). The UCSC mascot is the banana slug.

In honor of her departure and her new school, I ate a bite of a very realistic-looking yellowish banana slug -- which was filled with, to my relief, dark chocolate.

I bought this chocolate slug earlier this month when we first took a trip to look at her dorm room and went to the UCSC bookstore. (The slugs that came in three or four different chocolate flavors/versions.) The slug was so convincing, that I could only manage to eat one bite of the slug's tail.

Mackenzies Chocolates is a local Santa Cruz chocolatier.



The California Banana Slug (about 1 oz. per slug) is made by Mackenzies Chocolates of Santa Cruz.

ChocolateBet: April 11, 2007

Chocolate of the Day:

Palmer Company
Animal Expressions (card with chocolate)
Good
Weight: .4 oz./11 g.
Calories: 60 calories

Cute puppy card with red foil wrapped chocolate lips/"kiss"

Later on the way home, I watched little apricot-colored puff clouds being blown across the evening sky. OK, I realize this is a random addition. But, it's important to enjoy the moment, chocolate or otherwise. Thank God I can still do this.

I'm starting to read "Best American Travel Writing (short stories edited by Tim Cahill)." This should either help feed or help satisfy my travel lust. And, with travel will come chocolate field trips.